by John Mckinsey

Created on: September 14, 2009   Last Updated: September 17, 2009

The beach. By far this is the most popular reason people move to beautiful San Diego, CA. San Diego offers some of the best beaches in California. And, of course, where there are beaches there are surfers - lots of them. But not all beaches are the same; they are all nice and unique in terms of what they offer the public. So, these are some guidelines for the surfers out there.

For the beginners:

Del Mar- This is by far the best and most popular beach for those learning to surf. Del Mar has large exposure to decent swells. Locals say the swells are pretty consistent and good size. Also, beneath the waves, Del Mar has an entirely sand floor which is more forgiving than the reefs and rock bottoms neighboring beaches have.

Intermediate surfers:

South Mission Beach/ Pacific Beach - When you're ready this beach is a great place to step up your game. For those ready to take it to the next level, this section of coastline by the Jetty offers larger swells than the rest of Pacific Beach.

Cardiff- Another great, less popular spot for mid level surfers is the pipes. Set right in the middle of two reefs, it has steady sets of shoulder high waves. This is a location quickly attracting growing crowds of regulars.

Experienced:

La Jolla - For the more experienced surfers in San Diego, La Jolla is the place to surf. It has the reputation for "The Best Wave in San Diego." This beach is well known for its large swells, frequently, the swells become too large and too dangerous for less that intermediate surfers.

Ocean Beach (Sunset Cliffs) - A closely guarded secret for locals. The cliffs offer a similar setting as La Jolla but with less traffic. There are rough swells and rocky reefs so this area can be very dangerous for less than average surfers.

California has a world renowned reputation for is great surfing. Every year surfers come to California to see national and international surf champions compete for various titles. Although Huntington Beach is the long standing "Surf City" it's not the only beach that draws in crowds of beach goers. San Diego is building up it's tourism to rival Orange County's beach lifestyle and Los Angeles County's rich culture. With increased police presence, more rental opportunities and more strict rules at practically all beaches in San Diego County, the community is setting the scene for the perfect family vacation.

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