Page 400 - California Diving and Surfing
P. 400
SUNSET CLIFFS: Sunset Cliffs main- ous breaks & reefs this unique area IMPERIAL BEACH: Imperial Beach
ly produces waves during the fall is occupied by a multitude of finicky is the uncrowded alternative to other
& winter when NW ground swells waves. During large swells Point spots throughout San Diego County.
erupt over its various reefs. Find the Loma can turn on in the blink of an Sporadic sandbars transform this
right reef at a low-medium tide & eye. The real challenge is travers- stretch of coast into hollow, A-Frame
chances are you’ll score some sur- ing the cliffs and steep terrain to get peaks in the right conditions. It can
prisingly powerful waves doing their down to the beach. Be prepared, handle any direction of swell but
impersonation of a point. A thick long, arduous paddle-outs are the really shines during a solid, SW
kelp bed outside makes it the ideal norm. Some of the best spots here groundswell. Best Season: Summer.
place to surf when other beaches are such as RALPH’S, are only available Swell Direction: SWSize: 4’-6’. Tide:
blown to shreds. Best Season: Fall, with boat access. Intermediate Medium. Wind: E. Bottom: Sand.
Winter. Swell Direction: W, NW. Size: CORONADO ISLAND: Very fickle Rating: Intermediate.
4’-8’. Tide: Low-Medium. Wind: E. beachbreak. Large, hurricane driven TIJUANA SLOUGHS: Located
Bottom: Rock. Rating: Advanced. swellsproduce a rare left off the point. right above the border, this board-
GARBAGE BEACH: Located just It’s a right place at the right time type snapping beachbreakhas unlimited
before Navy Base Gate. of wave. Rating: Intermediate potential for satisfying surf, but the
NORTH GARBAGE is entered via SILVER STRAND STATE BEACH: bacteria-infested water keeps most
broken steps. It’s split peaks are best Summer & Fall peaks come to life people away. Rating: Advanced
for rights. Handles knee-high to over sandbars when the S & SW
double-overhead. swells kick up, otherwise it takes a di-
SOUTH GARBAGE has a danger- rect W hit to produce the possibility
ous entry at high tide, but handles all of a nice A-frame. Almost guaranteed
westerlies to 12’+. Advanced. to be uncrowded over this extremely
POINT LOMA: Home to numer- long stretch of beach. Rating: Inter-
mediate
