What is happening on Southern California beaches right now. Official notices come from the National Weather Service, county health departments, ocean observing programs, and our own data. Community posts come from divers and swimmers who were standing there.
Bioluminescence has been reported in Mission Bay on 16 nights since September 18. Someone just off the water called it super bright at De Anza Cove on October 9, after glowing fireworms surfaced there on the evenings of October 7 and 8.
OngoingMission Bay
25 days in a row
Last reported Oct 11
Photo: Mariana Rocha De Souza (San Diego Snorkel Report)
OngoingMission Point Park and La Jolla
20 days in a row
Last reported Oct 10, 6:45 AM at Mission Point Park
Photo: Casey Cole
NauticalNickCaptain
Bioluminescence in mission bay, and fish are the ones playing in it. Credit: @erikjepsen on instagram
NauticalNickCaptainBioluminescent fireworms
Beach dive a the shores and went out to the North Wall at about 5:30pm. Visibility was a solid 20ft with an abundance of lobster with several large lobsters in the mix as well as lots of local sheepshead and other species hanging around. Water temp at North Wall was 68 degrees at 78ft. Also hit the secret garden and the water temp dropped slightly to 64 degrees at 100ft.
NauticalNickCaptainStrong bioluminescence still in mission bay. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeLwvrQyqLf/?stkn=Ymg0N2hjZ2I0d244 Fireworm photo: Mariana Rocha De Souza (San Diego Snorkel Report)
NauticalNickCaptainBioluminescent fireworms at mission bay now in addition to regular dinoflagellate bioluminescence. The both creates this beautiful sight. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeLMyw8hUGS/?stkn=ZWp2ODdhMDZuMHB0
NauticalNickCaptainStill very strong bioluminescence in the bay. The best spot is being reported as Ski Beach.
NauticalNickCaptainAnother night of very strong bioluminescence at mission bay. People are reporting it’s concentrated in deeper water, about 100 feet from shore. If you go to fiesta island you can get to deeper water without having to swim out as far.
NauticalNickCaptainAn Orca whale was spotted in the shallow water of Mission Point Park, Mission bay, San Diego. This happened in the morning. The observer stated that the orca swam around the bay for a bit then left through the channel. This is likely a tropical orca, which have been moving up to SoCal due to El Niño overheating their home range. Credit: Casey Cole on Facebook.
NauticalNickCaptainBioluminescence at 8pm, 9.28 Specifically Fiesta Island of Mission Bay
NauticalNickCaptainBioluminescence in mission bay still! Looks really strong. Glad to see it hasn’t faded. Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd3B9sIJvgM/?stkn=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
bio luminescence at Crownpoint Shores this morning at 4 AM
NauticalNickCaptainBioluminescence again in mission bay. Really strong too. Link to video: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=936464702420026&id=100065040300112&mibextid=wwXIfr
NauticalNickCaptainBioluminescence in Mission bay again last night. Thursday 9/24
NauticalNickCaptainBioluminescence reported on Wednesday the 23rd. Fainter than on the 22nd.
NauticalNickCaptainBioluminescence in mission bay! This was on Tuesday 9/22. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTyLPdS4G/
NauticalNickCaptainBioluminescent fireworms are being reported in mission bay on the local Facebook groups! For anyone wondering what those are, they're a type of seaworm, roughly 1.2 inches, that typically live on the seafloor of bays. On rare occasions at night they perform a mating ritual where the females release a glowing trail behind them and swim around in tight circles. The display only lasts 30 min.
NauticalNickCaptainBioluminescence in mission bay! Credit: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdX5xc2BIC9/?stkn=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
🌅 El Nino Sighting: Dozens of mobular rays off Point Loma Peninsula! My buddy and I took his boat out to a few spots today to find mobular rays after seeing it on the news. Only saw them near Point Loma, about a half mile offshore from Cabrillo Monument. We saw SO MANY. And they were breaching like crazy! And we also saw a TON of flying fish!
NauticalNickCaptainKelp forest died off due to el nino. Kelp can't withstand the warmer temperatures. People are reporting the whole kelpforest off of la jolla cove died off.
NauticalNickCaptainPhytoplankton bloom. Green water. It’s decent visibility though regardless
NauticalNickCaptain🚨 Rip tides and strong currents at Torrey pines. Lifeguards posted warning signs not to swim. I swam anyway and got stuck in one and had a tough time getting out. The waves were big too - and I kept getting sucked back into crashing waves when I was trying to get out. Watch out!
Massive amount of leopard sharks and one hammerhead spotted close to shore!
NauticalNickCaptainPhytoplankton bloom. Water has been dark green for a couple days. Z
NauticalNickCaptainThresher shark sighting reported off of la jolla shores, swimming over the edge of the canyon. The reporter, local diver Stephen Wright, posted pictures and videos of the sighting to the San Diego Dive Report Facebook group. Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/897456667743935/permalink/2268186337337621/
