Premium San Diego whale watching, snorkeling, and offshore trips. Roomy boats, real bathrooms, 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

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

Elizabeth R
Elizabeth R
Hands down the best scuba charter I've ever experienced (and have dove in Florida, Panama, Brazil, Hawaii, Cozumel). Zach and the crew are incredibly skilled, safe, and kind. The captain even made homemade bluefin ceviche in addition to ensuring hot soup and hot shower water between cold November dives. I can't recommend their dive charter to Coronado Mexico enough, and can't wait to dive with Waterhorse again already!
Serena Zheng
Serena Zheng
Took a dive trip out to Coronado Islands. Impressive dive company with a phenomenal team. They have top tier service getting into your gear and into the water. They try to get you as much time with the sea lions as possible! By popular demand, we got to do the sea lion dive twice!! Even got to do some whale watching on the way back. 1000% recommend!!
Jake Baker
Jake Baker
I’ve done a couple dives with Waterhorse and they have been great. Dive master Brennan is the man and very knowledgeable.
CAPT R.T. Rushton, USN, ret.
CAPT R.T. Rushton, USN, ret.
Two good dives yesterday on Orion. First was in the kelp off of PT Loma. Vis was 20-25 ft. Second was on the Rube-E. Had to work through a green layer, but vis opened to 15 ft at the hull. The crew was great as usual. This dive was to test a new backplate and bladder + wt check.
William Alton
William Alton
I’ve booked three boat dives with Waterhorse and my California dive experience has been excellent . I did chose the option to hire a dive guide. The guides were very helpful assisting with weight checks. A big thanks to Ben and Hunter for guiding me through kelp forest and wrecks. I still have another dive left with this company as im writing this review. I’m usually a warm water diver with a 3 mm suit on. I would hope that all cold water dive operators operate like Waterhorse. If diving in San Diego do chose this company. Oh they actually have warm soup and snacks after the first dive. So far all the heads (toilets) are functional. Warm water showers as well. 👌
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 girlfriend, 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 initially heard about Waterhorse Charters from an instructor in Hawaii and the Azul Unlimited YouTube channel, so my expectations were high—and they met or exceeded every one of them. If you’re looking to dive cold water in the San Diego area, Waterhorse Charters is the way to go.
Kristian Marquez
Kristian Marquez
I recently had an incredible experience with Waterhorse Charters on a trip to the Coronado Islands! The crew made the entire day exceptional from start to finish. Gaby was attentive and ensured that everyone felt welcome and prepared, offering all the support we needed throughout the trip. Ben was incredibly knowledgeable about the islands and their marine life, making every stop interesting and educational. Brandon’s professionalism and friendly attitude added to the overall comfort and enjoyment of the journey. And a big shout out to Charles, who kept everything running smoothly and made sure we had a safe and memorable adventure. Thank you, Waterhorse Charters, for a wonderful day on the water. I highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to explore the beauty of the Coronado Islands with a top-notch crew!
Brendan
Brendan
Why go somewhere else? The location of the boat means you get in and out of the harbor quickly. Thorough safety and dive briefing. The hot shower ensures you're warm and comfortable for second and third dive. Don't underestimate the wonder of the hot soups. They convert surface intervals from a mere necessity to something to look forward to and warm you up for the next dive
jonathan cummins
jonathan cummins
Zach and the Waterhorse crew are outstanding and safety conscious dive professionals! When I want to go boat diving I go to Waterhorse first. They take us to the best sites and offer in depth dive site briefings and always have the best interest of the divers! If you only have one day to dive go to Waterhorse!
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.

FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE:Our ocean-going fleet includes two boats: one for up to 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!

$283.50/guest (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 September through December 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

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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Orion

21 guests

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