General Bay Information

San Diego Bay is under the jurisdiction of the Port of San Diego and the San Diego Harbor Police.

There are four Port District maintained launch ramps throughout San Diego Bay. These are in:

• San Diego - Shelter Island
• National City - Pepper Park, adjacent to the 24th Street Marine Terminal
• Chula Vista - In the J Street Park
• Coronado - Adjacent to the Municipal Pool in Glorietta Bay

United States Coast Guard Inland Rules apply within San Diego Bay.

San Diego Bay is accessed through the Main Shipping Channel that runs roughly North/South and is marked by lighted red and green buoys. Boaters are cautioned to stay in the channel near the mouth of the bay as there are several submerged reefs outside the channel.

San Diego Bay is an active commercial harbor with two commercial wharves operated by the Port of San Diego, and numerous commercial fishing wharves as well. There is also heavy vessel traffic from the U.S. Navy. As a result, boaters need to operate with caution in the bay. Watch for large vessels, as well as smaller ones and be familiar with the rules of the road for boating.