Scuba Diving in San Diego

San Diego's life has revolved around the sea from surfing to sailing to even just sun bathing; add in San Diego's wild life parks and world class restaurants and it is San Diego's dive sites that are often overlooked. San Diego offers some famous dive sites and boasts some of the best kelp bed forests that the seas have to offer. All that can be explore with San Diego's almost year around summer. This article offers three companies that can help you explore San Diego dive sites. These businesses offer dives for every level from beginner to expert to either shore trips to boat (open water) dives. Some of San Diego's dive sites include:

(a) Wreak Alley. The premier attraction of San Diego dive sites. This area just a mile off the coast is a man made reef of three different ships and one research platform that was destroyed in the 1988 El Nino. This reef was created in partnership with the Dive Boat Operators, San Diego Oceans Foundation and the Department of Fish and Game. It is now home to anemones and other sea life. There is no hunting unless it is with a camera.

(b) Kelp beds. Also known as kelp forests, the kelp can grow up to 200 feet high and is the perfect home to starfish, crabs, shrimp and sea squirts. Many forms of kelp grow here including Bullwhip, Palm and Feather Boa kelp. The only other location that closely matches the sheer size and beauty of the San Diego Kelp Beds is located in New Zealand.

(c) Los Coronado Islands. These islands offer clear waters for great visibility from 50 feet to up to 150 feet viewing pleasure. These islands are home to harbor seals, sea lions, horn sharks, octopus, moray eels and purple coral just to name a few things that one can see and experience. Two of the more popular dive sites are known as the Keyhole and the Lobster Shack which boasts its own ship wreck for exploration.

These sites are all offered by the following scuba diving companies:

1. San Diego Excellent Adventures. www.sdexcellentadventures.com. Offers snorkeling tours of the La Jolla Cove Underwater park as well as shore dives from La Jolla Shorts to the Marine Room and Boat Dives from Wreak Alley (man made reefs that encompass over five different ships for all levels) to Los Coronado Islands. San Diego Excellent Adventures also offers open water certifications and refresher courses to bring your diving back up to par. The tour prices range from $80 to $700, but all prices include equipment. You also can rent additional equipment to help you enjoy your experience.

2. Scuba Diving in San DiegoCounty (aka Power Scuba). www.meetup.com/scuba-diving-san-diego/ This group is free to join up to meet others who share a passion for scuba diving in San Diego. Here you can make new friends and find scuba buddies to explore San Diego. Their site details their next adventure as well as prices to attend and they welcome all levels. Some of their past trips include the Point Loma Kelp Beds and Wreck Alley. They also help out with the environment and offer boat diving trips.

3. Scuba Dive 4 Fun.www.scubadive4fun.com Owned and operated by a United States Merchant Marine Officer. This dive company offers classes and certification that will fit around anyone's schedule, including classes if you have a backyard swimming pool. Classes are either two to four days depending on the course. The dives include Wreck Alley, the kelp beds and Los Coronado Islands