La Jolla Dive Forecasts

Friday, March 6 | Grade: B

  • Conditions: Morning offshore winds at 3-5 mph with WNW swell at 2-3 ft. Clouds clearing through the day.
  • Outlook: Good visibility expected with improving light penetration. The 8-11 second swell period keeps water relatively clean.
  • Estimated Viz: 15-20 ft

Saturday, March 7 | Grade: B+ ⭐ BEST DAY

  • Conditions: Calm morning with light offshore flow. WNW swell settles to manageable 2-3 ft with longer 11-13 second period.
  • Outlook: Best day of the week with clean water and excellent light conditions. Minimal plankton expected.
  • Estimated Viz: 20-25 ft

Sunday, March 8 | Grade: B

  • Conditions: Slight onshore wind build to 8-10 mph WNW. Swell holds steady at 2-3 ft.
  • Outlook: Still good visibility but surface chop may reduce perceived clarity. Best diving in the morning.
  • Estimated Viz: 15-20 ft

Monday, March 9 | Grade: C+

  • Conditions: Wind increases to 10-12 mph WNW with potential afternoon onshore flow. Swell begins to fade.
  • Outlook: Moderate chop and reduced light penetration will limit visibility. Experienced divers only.
  • Estimated Viz: 10-15 ft

Tuesday, March 10 | Grade: C

  • Conditions: New WNW swell begins building (3-4 ft) with 10-12 mph winds. More sand churn expected.
  • Outlook: Bigger surf will stir up bottom sediment. Visibility drops as the day progresses.
  • Estimated Viz: 8-12 ft

Wednesday, March 11 | Grade: C

  • Conditions: Swell continues at 3-4 ft with WNW winds 10-14 mph. Persistent surface chop.
  • Outlook: Conditions remain challenging with ongoing sediment suspension. Early morning best bet.
  • Estimated Viz: 8-12 ft

Thursday, March 12 | Grade: B-

  • Conditions: Swell begins to ease back to 2-3 ft as winds calm to 6-8 mph. Recovery period begins.
  • Outlook: First day of improving conditions after the mid-week bump. Visibility starting to clear.
  • Estimated Viz: 12-17 ft

🔎 Forecast Methodology

We don't just guess; we model our forecasts using a 2–3 day post-swell recovery lag calculation combined with:

  • Wind/Clouds: OpenWeather
  • Waves: Surfline (Height + Period)
  • Chlorophyll: NOAA CoastWatch Satellite data
  • Temp: Scripps Pier Buoy

Last updated: March 5, 2026 at 4:30 PM UTC