SAN DIEGO TIDES

San Diego tides with an online San Diego tide chart

Water . . . water . . . everywhere

San Diego enjoys more than 150 miles of beautiful coastline on the Pacific Ocean, Mission Bay and San Diego Bay. If you're a surfer, swimmer, boater or just someone who loves to walk on the beach, this page is for you. See the chart for San Diego tides.

What causes the San Diego tides?

Tides are the alternating rise and fall of the sea level, produced by the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun. The Sun has a bigger mass than the moon and exerts a stronger gravitational attraction on the earth. However, it's further away than the Moon. This relative closeness of the Moon to the earth makes its gravitational pull more than twice that of the Sun. As a result, the Moon has more effect on the San Diego tides than the Sun.

What other factors affect the tides in San Diego?

Many other elements influence the San Diego tides including: coastline shape, water depth, ocean-floor topography, barometric pressure, winds and weather. These factors alter the times of tides, their range and the interval between high and low water. The tidal cycle is 24 hours, 50 minutes which causes the high and low tides in San Diego to occur 50 minutes later each day.

The different types of San Diego tides

When the Moon is full or new, it's lined up with the Earth and the Sun. This alignment creates exceptionally strong gravitational forces that cause the tides in San Diego to be very high and very low. These are known as Spring Tides (nothing to do with the season). On the other hand during the Moon's quarter phases, the Moon is at right angles to the Earth-Sun lineup. This cancels out some of the gravitational forces and the tides are weaker. These are called Neap Tides. Spring Tides and Neap Tides are about 20 percent higher and lower than normal. See the chart for San Diego tides.

San Diego Proxigean Spring Tide

A rare and exceptionally high tide occurs when the Moon is both unusually close to the Earth (at its closest perigee) and in the new moon phase (when the Sun, Moon and Earth are aligned). This is called a Proxigean Spring Tide and occurs at most, once every 18 months.

San Diego tide predictions

The online chart for San Diego tides shows the predicted tidal heights under average weather conditions. The actual sea level may be different during unusual weather conditions. Generally, prolonged onshore winds or a low barometric pressure produces a higher sea level than predicted. Conversely, offshore winds or a high barometric pressure causes a lower sea level than expected.

Be sure to take these conditions into account when making tide-critical decisions. When storm surges or extreme weather conditions are approaching, be safe and sure by checking the San Diego Weather Forecast to see how it may influence the San Diego tides.

Tide predictions are important for fun and safety

There are many situations when it's important to know the exact time, height and extent of San Diego tides. See the chart for San Diego tides.

Fishing, boating, surfing, diving and other water-related sports activities.
When enjoying a walk on the beach, looking for rocks/shells and exploring San Diego Tide Pools.
When navigating through intra-coastal waterways, estuaries, bays and harbors.
For harbor engineering projects, construction of bridges, docks, breakwaters and deep-water channels.
Charting data for hydrology and setting base lines for ocean-front property boundaries and territorial limits.
For planning underwater demolition and other military engineering projects.

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Free pocket chart for San Diego tides

The online San Diego tide table is a great resource when you're at the computer. But, what about when you're already at the beach or on the water and want to know the high and low tide schedule? Order this free, easy-to-read pocket chart for San Diego tides for your wallet, car or boat. It's just what you need when walking on the beach, looking for rocks/shells or exploring San Diego Tide Pools.

To get your free pocket chart for San Diego tides, simply mail a stamped, pre-addressed, #10 envelope to: Neal Hribar - tide chart @ Keller Williams Realty

6005 Hidden Valley Road, Suite 200

Carlsbad, CA 92011. You'll receive it in the mail within a couple of days. Feel free to re-order a new pocket chart for San Diego tides every year.

Looking for a home closer to the beach?

Click here to search the San Diego MLS for a new home.

Keller Williams Realty
6005 Hidden Valley Road, Suite 200

Carlsbad, California 92011
Office: 760-496-7935

Cell: 760-822-8690