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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.

Naval Training Center Channel:

There is a 54-acre channel in San Diego Bay, adjacent to the Liberty Station Development. This area is under the jurisdiction of the United States Navy. Although the Harbor Police enforces applicable laws in the channel and responds to emergency situations in the area, the Navy is ultimately responsible for any hazards to navigation within the channel, including sunken or abandoned vessels.

 NTC Channel near Liberty Station 9-11 (252.16 kB)