Dive Sites

South Casa Cove is right next to Children's pool and since both dives are shallow 20-25' deep many people do both on a single tank.
The trick to this dive is to enter on the sand channel you see in the picture. It is down the stairs on the right side of the lifegaurd tower and then at the south end of the beach. The Riptide will help you at to sea.
Swim out and then south and exit at wipeout beach. Wipeout beach is the next beach south (100 feet away) it gets its name from the shore break. So prepare to be deposited in an uncivilized manor on the beach.

This is a boat dive.
NOSC tower is the most fun dive to do in san diego. It is an underwater jungle gym for divers and is covered in shellfish, starfish and regular fish.

New Hope Rock is an excellent dive and is the shallowest boat dive in San Diego. This makes it a perfect spot for people from out of town who are not used to rugged southern california diving. New Hope Rock features great rock structures, cool kelp forest and lots of colorful fish.

La Jolla Shores is the most protected of all the beach dives and is most likely to have good conditions.
Take La Jolla Parkway west to La Jolla Shores Drive then make a left on Vallecitos street. Most people meet on the corner of Vallecitos street and Camino Del Oro.
Enter the water in front of Vallecitos street and swim out till you are even with the end of the pier. When you drop down you should be in 25-30 feet of water. The canyon starts at 35 feet and you want to spend most of the dive between 60-90 feet deep.

La Jolla Cove:

A great dive located in the southern part of the San Diego Underwater Reserve. La Jolla Cove is one of the oldest ecological reserves and is covered with life A must do.
La Jolla Cove is a park so it does not show up on mapquest. Type in the La Jolla Cove Inn which is a hotel directly across the street and follow the directions to it.
When you get there set up on the grass park near the restrooms then walk down the stairs and into the water. This dive is best if you swim a 1/4 mile out to the first yellow can. You can stop and dive anywhere along the way but if you make it all the way to the can you will be glad you did.

Children's pool is one of the few beach dives in San Diego that is for beginners. If you are new to San Diego or new to beach diving I would recommend this site.
There are some loony's here that may try to harass you for diving here since there are seals. I would strongly recommend only diving this site when a Lifeguard is on duty. Go talk to the Lifeguards before you do it and they will make sure that no one bothers you.
That bummer aside it is a beautiful dive and you are guaranteed to see seals.