San Clemente Island
San Clemente Island in Southern California is a hidden gem for divers. While most people choose to dive at popular spots like Catalina Island or the Coronados, San Clemente offers an excellent opportunity for a short liveaboard trip from San Diego.
One of the highlights of diving at San Clemente Island is the chance to encounter sea lions. These playful animals are frequently spotted in the area. In addition, divers can explore the diverse marine life found in the kelp forests, such as garibaldi, opaleye, sheepshead, Cabazon, rockfish, gobies, and more.
With its clear waters and abundant marine biodiversity, San Clemente Island is a paradise for divers. The visibility typically reaches up to 12 meters, allowing for a captivating underwater experience. Divers can explore depths of up to 16 meters, making it suitable for both beginner and advanced divers.
Located in Los Angeles County, California, San Clemente Island offers a unique diving experience within the United States. Whether you are a beginner looking to explore the underwater world for the first time or an experienced diver seeking new adventures, San Clemente Island is the perfect destination for you.
One of the highlights of diving at San Clemente Island is the chance to encounter sea lions. These playful animals are frequently spotted in the area. In addition, divers can explore the diverse marine life found in the kelp forests, such as garibaldi, opaleye, sheepshead, Cabazon, rockfish, gobies, and more.
With its clear waters and abundant marine biodiversity, San Clemente Island is a paradise for divers. The visibility typically reaches up to 12 meters, allowing for a captivating underwater experience. Divers can explore depths of up to 16 meters, making it suitable for both beginner and advanced divers.
Located in Los Angeles County, California, San Clemente Island offers a unique diving experience within the United States. Whether you are a beginner looking to explore the underwater world for the first time or an experienced diver seeking new adventures, San Clemente Island is the perfect destination for you.
Diving Conditions Score for San Clemente Island
3.8
PoorPoor conditions, not recommended.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for San Clemente Island
Depth
16m
Visibility
12m
Experience Level
beginner
advanced
Weather Conditions for San Clemente Island
Wave Height
1.28m
Wind Speed
13.5 m/s
Water Temp
19.2°C
Visibility
300m
Cloud Cover
99%
Wave Period
13.05s
Air Temperature
15.9°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for San Clemente Island
Alpha
Dive Score Chart for San Clemente Island
Best time to dive: 8:00 with score 6.164885123966943/10. Water conditions: Waves 1.26m, Wind 15.1 m/s.Best night dive time: 2:00 with score 5.625880626780627/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Sunrise at San Clemente Island: 06:00
Sunset at San Clemente Island: 18:00
Optimal diving conditions at San Clemente Island are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Best Overall
8:00Score: 6.2/10
Waves: 1.26m (12.1s), Wind: 15.1 m/s
Best Night
2:00Score: 5.6/10
Waves: 1.24m, Wind: 24.8 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for San Clemente IslandAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at San Clemente Island
The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.
Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Seasonal DiveScore Chart
This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Best Season for San Clemente Island
Winter
Avg. Score: 9.1/10
Winter offers the best overall diving conditions with calmer seas and better visibility, despite cooler temperatures.
Best Months for San Clemente Island
January
Score: 9.4
December
Score: 9.1
February
Score: 8.8
Ideal Conditions for San Clemente Island
Water Temp
17.2°C / 63.0°F
September
Visibility
16.2m / 53.1ft
January
Wave Height
0.7m / 2.3ft
January
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for San Clemente Island
San Clemente Island shows typical northern hemisphere patterns with September being the warmest month (17.2°C) and December the coldest (7.4°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in January with average wave heights of 0.7m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in January with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). January is usually the driest month with 0.0mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during January to March, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.
Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 16, 2026
Note: This dive site is not a verified dive site. Please dive with caution. This dive site might have incorrect information by the community.
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