Coronado Central Beach
Coronado · San Diego County · California
Visibility Breakdown
Scripps Pier cam readings translated to this spot's Post Break zone · latest cam read 13 ft
Break Zone: The range of water where the waves break and sediment is stirred up.
Post Break: The range past where any waves are forming, where the water starts to have a significant increase in visibility. There might be some sediment here, but swell energy is diffused and the water is calmer.
Open Water: This zone is far out enough from the shore that the water is at its clearest. It’s deep enough that sediment is not disturbed by the wave energy at the surface.
Solid = measured by a diver · outlined = estimated from the Scripps cam
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Today's forecast
Estimated from the Scripps cam · reviewed 5:01 PM PT today · September 11, 20267-Day Forecast
Map · getting there
32.682° N · 117.184° W
Coronado, CA 92118
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Open in Apple MapsAbout Coronado Central Beach
Coronado Central Beach is the lifeguarded stretch of the long sand beach on the Pacific side of the Coronado peninsula, running south from the main lifeguard station at the foot of Isabella Avenue down to the Hotel del Coronado at 1500 Orange Avenue. The sand is fine at the upper berm and slopes gradually to the waterline. Naval Air Station North Island closes off the coast to the north, Coronado Shores Beach picks up south of the hotel, and the off-leash dog beach known as North Beach sits about half a mile north of the central section.
The bottom is sand from berm to waterline, the shorebreak is mild, and no reef or kelp holds offshore, which makes this a surf zone biome. Swimming and surfing account for the daily use, hook-and-line surf fishing is common, and a few spearfishers work the shallows on flat days. Without structure to hold fish, snorkeling and scuba are uncommon.
Free street parking on Ocean Boulevard fills early on weekends and through summer. Free public lots sit at the south end near the hotel off Avenida de las Arenas, and the Hotel del Coronado offers valet for a fee. Fishing and spearfishing are legal here under standard California regulations.
Surf Zone
The surf zone biome consists of sandy beaches and breaking waves. The action of surf disturbing the sand and kicking it up exposes marine invertebrates, buried in their shallow dens. This natural exposure of invertebrates attracts all kinds of fish, looking for an easy meal. Learn more about this biome and the species found in it by clicking the link below.
Learn more in the Biome GlossaryTarget Fish Species
Spot strategies
Nearby beaches
Rocky Reef
Kelp Forest
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