Premium San Diego whale watching, snorkeling, and offshore trips. Roomy boats, creature comforts, no crowds.

Embark on a private Ocean Safari through La Jolla, the Coronado Islands, or the Pacific with fully customizable snorkeling and wildlife charters—or join our public Coronado Islands trips for an unforgettable sea lion snorkeling experience. With a personable, nature-loving crew and top-notch amenities, we create a unique adventure tailored to your exploration goals, going far beyond typical whale watching tours.

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Included

Captain and tour guide

Snorkel gear

Hot soup, snacks, bevs

Sea sickness help

Curated coordinates for sites of interest.
BYO wetsuit or rent from us.
Boats depart from 1617 Quivira Road.

Ammenities

Hot shower

Enclosed galley

Full marine bathroom

Second deck for views

6-guest fast boat: no hot showers or restrooms.

Price range (per guest)

$55 - $113 (La Jolla private)

$76 - $189 (half-day offshore private)

$90 - $189 (Coronado Islands private)

$105 - $248 (all-day offshore private)

$283.50  (Coronado Islands public trip)

All fees included
Recommended for ages 8 and up
Boats are priced per activity, not by guest

Paul Laybourn
Paul Laybourn
My dive guide, Shane was knowledgeable, resourceful and personable. My daughter and I had two awesome dives at the Old Ingraham Bridge site and Yucon Wreck capturing several nice pictures. I highly recommend Waterhorse Charters for San Diego boat and shore diving.
Katie Deodat
Katie Deodat
Waterhorse is our favorite scuba dive charter company in San Diego! My family and I have booked with them several times over the years and they consistently have friendly and professional staff, safe and clean boats, and always provide a comfortable and fun experience all around! I highly recommend Waterhorse to any local or visiting divers to San Diego!
Stetson Davis
Stetson Davis
Once again whaterhorse charters put together a fantastic trip to dive the HMCS Yukon! Very helpful getting in and out of the water, hits and tricks to find cool things, and a huge supply of snacks on boat! i will ALWAYS use Waterhorse Charters when diving out of Mission Beach!
Darrin Kloostra
Darrin Kloostra
Loved the dives. The crew is very knowledgeable about all the dives sites and does a greaet predive briefing to maximize your dive.
Flo Li
Flo Li
My mono-fin free diving buddy found Waterhorse Charters when I told him I wanted to free-dive the Point Loma Kelp Forest. I have since gone several times with this charter and each time I'm so grateful for the level of service and attention to details they provide. I feel safe and taken care of from booking, to check-in, loading, putting on my gear, feeling safe in the water to come back getting my camera soaked in the fresh water bucket, hot shower on board, and hot coffee/cocoa/soup they provide. Truly exceptional. Highly recommend for Scuba and Free-diving.
Ariana Silva
Ariana Silva
I had an absolutely fantastic experience with Waterhorse Charters on Sunday, February 2nd, for a scuba diving trip to the Yukon with Bernard. From start to finish, everything was smooth, professional, and well-organized. The nitrox tanks were prepared and ready for analysis upon arrival, making the process seamless. Brendon and Brandon were an incredible crew—knowledgeable, friendly, and super helpful. They provided an excellent briefing on the wreck, the marine life we’d encounter, and the best way to navigate the dive. Their passion for diving and customer service really stood out. They were also more than willing to assist with gear whenever needed, making the experience even more enjoyable. The highlight of the dive was the fantastic visibility—20 to 30 feet on the Yukon! It made exploring the wreck even more exciting, allowing for some amazing underwater views. Overall, this was an outstanding trip, and I highly recommend Waterhorse Charters to anyone looking for a top-tier dive experience in San Diego. Can’t wait to book my next trip with them!
Zachary Hupp
Zachary Hupp
My first time diving in California, and the crew at Waterhorse made is so great! So much so, that I booked TWO days of diving with them during my trip to San Diego. Zach made sure we had everything we needed before and during the dives. We had hot soup waiting for us during our surface intervals, with a lot of other snacks for the taking. I will absolutely be booking more charters with Waterhorse the next time I get back to San Diego!
John George
John George
This is the best dive company in San Diego hands down. I have been diving with Waterhorse charters for almost three years now and every trip it never ceases to amaze me how helpful, kind, and attentive the crew is. Zack helped out last week to get lobster season rolling and I came home with four of them! Don’t look anywhere else if you are wanting to dive in San Diego. Update: Just had another great trip with out to the Ruby E and Yukon with Capt. Zach and Capt. Brandon. Everything was discussed prior to entering the water which made for safe and fantastic diving! Always recommend diving with Waterhorse over any other company out there.
Markus Sturkey
Markus Sturkey
Waterhorse Charters truly exceeded my expectations and provided the best dive charter experience I’ve ever had. From the owners to the crew, everyone is top-tier. I had the pleasure of meeting Zach, one of the owners, at the Scuba Show, and I corresponded with his wife Karina over email to make changes. The entire booking process was seamless and professional. My spouse, who often accompanies me on dive trips, mentioned that Captain Charles was the nicest captain she’s ever met. The divemasters I had, Brandon and Jon, are probably the best dive guides I’ve ever had. I can confidently say they gave me my favorite dives of all time so far. I had heard nothing but good things from multiple people, so my expectations were high—and they met or exceeded every one of them. If you’re looking to dive in the San Diego area, Waterhorse Charters is the way to go.

FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE: Our ocean-going fleet includes three boats: one for up to 6 guests, one for 21 guests and another for 24. For smaller groups, we suggest our public Coronado Islands trips.

EXPERT GUIDANCE: Our crew is made up of experienced scuba divers who know the ocean inside and out. Their advanced safety training will give you an insightful and secure experience.

WELL SUITED FOR: Wildlife photographers, marine researchers, educators, birdwatchers, shark, whale, and dolphin enthusiasts, and snorkelers seeking a hassle-free alternative to shore-based tours.

Ocean Safari Seasonal Highlights

Sea Lion Season

Coronado Islands, Mexico

Our favorite time of the year is here: world-class Baja California sea lion snorkeling. The pups are curious tweens ready to check you out!

$275 (public trip)

Requires valid passport

Underwater Park

La Jolla

The clearest visibility of the year is here, and as the only San Diego snorkeling boat, we’ll bring you to prime sites with minimal kick-out.

$55 - $113/guest (private charter)

Boats are priced per activity, not by guest

Ocean Safari Activity Options

(5 hours)

24-guest boat
 $1,936 - $2,701

21-guest boat $1,310 - $1,843

🧑🏻‍✈️ Crew tip: Fall offers the best local visibility, and snorkeling by boat is a treat you won't find anywhere else in San Diego.

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Half-Day Offshore

(5 hours)

24-guest boat
 $2,904 - $4,529

21-guest boat $1,513 - $2,064

👨🏼‍✈️ Crew tip: This trip is ideal if you're open to spotting dolphins, whales, mola-molas, and birds without focusing on any specific species.

(7 hours)

24-guest boat
 $2,904 - $4,529

21-guest boat $1,799 - $2,299

👩‍✈️ Crew tip: Visit the islands from Sep - Dec when sea lion snorkeling and San Diego whale watching is world-class!

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All-Day Offshore

(10 hours)

24-guest boat
 $3,195 - $4,953

21-guest boat $2,100 - $2,760

👩🏾‍✈️ Crew tip: This trip is ideal if you're ready to commit to finding specific species or venture far into the ocean, experience recommended.

All in one Mission Bay shop
Check-in, rental gear fitting, boat boarding

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We'll keep you safe
Crew trained with quarterly drills and safety debriefs

We'll treat you right
Kindness is contagious is our life and work essence

We'll make it easy
Help with gear and guiding you to the best spots

San Diego Whale Watching & Offshore Marine Life

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WHALE SPECIES
Blue whales (May - November)
Gray whales (mid-December - April)
Humpback whales (year-round)
Minke whales (year-round)
Fin whales (year-round)

SHARK SPECIES
Leopard sharks (summer months)
Blue sharks (rare)
Mako sharks (rare)
Thresher sharks (rare)
Great white sharks (extremely rare)

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DOLPHIN SPECIES
Long-beaked common dolphins (common)
Short-beaked common dolphins (common)
Pacific white-sided dolphins (common)
Bottlenose dolphins (common)
Risso dolphins (rare)

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OTHER SPECIES
California sea lions (common)
Mola-molas (common)
Elephant seals (rare)
Harbor seals (rare)
Green sea turtles (rare)

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SEABIRD SPECIES
Pelicans (common)
Cormorants (common)
Seagulls (common)
Terns (common)
Black skimmers (common)
Brown boobies (rare)
Albatrosses (rare)
Shearwaters (rare)

Destinations

Fleet

Makai

6 guests

Fast and covered, our partner RIB center console ensures private and thrilling wildlife encounters.
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Orion

21 guests

Cozy and private, our Newton 38' provides for an intimate experience and indoor comfort.
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Humboldt

24 guests

Comfortable and safe, our Newton 46' Special flagship is a local favorite that ensures easy entry and exit.
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Money back on weather cancelations
Full refund up to 30 days

"Fulfilled my dream of seeing sea lions! The boat is very nice, snacks, lunch. Everything is amazing, I highly recommend it!"

Joy Augusto
San Diego, CA