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Bodysurfing is good at Coronado and Mission and Pacific Beaches. See also the surfing sections in La Jolla and North County. Oceanside and La Jolla both have great surf breaks.

Diving & Snorkeling

Off the coast of San Diego County, divers will find kelp beds, shipwrecks (including the Yukon, a WWII destroyer sunk off Mission Beach in 2000), and canyons deep enough to host bat rays, octopuses and squid. For current conditions, call 619-221-8824.

Fishing

The most popular public fishing piers are Imperial Beach Pier, Embarcadero Fishing Pier, Shelter Island Fishing Pier, Ocean Beach Pier and Crystal Pier at Pacific Beach. Generally the best pier fishing is from April to October, and no license is required. For offshore fishing, catches can include barracuda, bass and yellowtail and, in summer, albacore. A state fishing license is required for people over 16 for offshore fishing – one/two/10 days costs $11.50/17.75/35.50, plus $4 if ocean fishing.

Many companies run daily fishing trips year-round. Prices start at about $40/30 per adult/child for a near-shore half-day trip and can be many times that for a full-day trip far offshore. These companies are reputable:

H&M Landing (Map; 619-222-1144; www.hmlanding.com; 2803 Emerson St) On Shelter Island.

Islandia Sportfishing (Map; 619-222-1164; www.islandiasportfishing.com; 1551 West Mission Bay Dr)

Point Loma Sport Fishing (Map; 619-223-1627; www.pointlomasportfishing.com; 1403 Scott St)

Seaforth Sportfishing (Map; 619-224-3383; www.seaforthlanding.com; 1717 Quivira Rd) In Quivira Basin on Mission Bay.

Boating

You can rent power- and sailboats, rowboats, kayaks and canoes on Mission Bay. Try either Mission Bay Sportcenter (Map; 858-488-1004; www.missionbaysportcenter.com; 1010 Santa Clara Pl), or Resort Watersports (Map; 858-488-2582; www.resortwatersports.com), which is located at the Bahia and Catamaran resort hotels.

Ocean kayaking is a good way to see sea life, and explore cliffs and caves inaccessible from land. Family Kayak ( 619-282-3520; www.familykayak.com; ) has guided tours (from $40 per adult and $15 per child for three hours) and lessons (from $65). Inquire about longer tours.

Experienced sailors can charter yachts and sailboats for trips on San Diego Bay and out into the Pacific. Charter operators around Shelter and Harbor Islands (on the west side of San Diego Bay near the airport) include the following:

Harbor Sailboats (Map; 619-291-9568, 800-854-6625; www.harborsailboats.com; 2040 Harbor Island Dr, Suite 104)

San Diego Yacht Charters (Map; 619-297-4555, 800-456-0222; www.sdyc.com; 1880 Harbor Island Dr)

Shelter Island Sailing (Map; 619-222-0351; www.shelterislandsailing.com; 2240 Shelter Island Dr)

Whale-Watching

Gray whales pass San Diego from mid-December to late February on their way south to Baja California, and again in mid-March on their way back up to Alaskan waters. Their 12,000-mile round-trip journey is the longest migration of any mammal on earth.

Cabrillo National Monument is the best place to see the whales from land, where you’ll also find exhibits, whale-related ranger programs and a shelter from which to watch the whales breach (bring binoculars).

Half-day whale-watching boat trips are offered by all of the companies that run daily fishing trips Click here. The trips generally cost $20/15 per adult/child for a three-hour excursion, and the companies will even give you a free pass to return again if you don’t spot any whales. Look for coupons and special offers in the Reader Click here.

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SLEEPING

High-season (summer) rates for double-occupancy rooms are listed here; suites cost more. Prices drop significantly between September and June.

Coronado

A stay at the southern end of Coronado (around the Hotel del Coronado) puts you close to the beach, shops and restaurants. The northern end is an easy walk to the ferry to downtown San Diego. The lower the building number, the closer you are to the ferry.

BUDGET

Coronado Village Inn (Map; 619-435-9318; www.coronadovillageinn.com; 1017 Park