Bestseller

Explore San Diego Tide Pools with a Marine Biologist

4.98

5.0(240 reviews)

1 hour

English

Mobile ticket

Show all 13 photos

Overview

Available languages

English

1 hour

Mobile ticket

Family-friendly experience where you can learn about life in tide pools from a marine biologist with over 20 years of combined science and education experience. Great for all ages!

Adventure with a marine biology educator along the coast and learn more about wildlife living in the intertidal zone of San Diego. Great for all ages and skill levels. There are some stairs and lots of uneven terrain we will walk on, so this is not a wheelchair-friendly activity.

**Important: After booking you will receive a welcome message with important details. Be sure to have notifications and/or emails from your booking platform turned on!**

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What To Expect

Explore the fascinating world of tide pools and discover the incredible variety of animal and plant life that inhabit these unique ecosystems! With guided tours for all ages, you'll learn about different species that live in the tide pools, their adaptations to survive in this environment, and what you can do to protect them. So come join us and experience the wonders of the tide pools! Tide pools, or rocky intertidal zones, are small collections of ocean water trapped by rocks as the ocean level recedes. This area is covered by the ocean half of the day- during high tide- and the pools are exposed at low tide, which creates a unique, yet fragile, habitat for lots of small invertebrates and fish. At our meeting spot, you will receive a brief talk on safety and tide pool rules, as all San Diego tide pools have a strict "no collection" policy. Once we understand how to tide pool safely and respectfully, the adventure begins! Any living animals found will be left on their own; we do not interfere, touch, or handle any living marine life, following Viator's Animal Welfare Policy.

Options

Explore San Diego Tide Pools with a Marine Biologist

What‘s Included

Digital photo album

Gratuities

closed-toe shoes/strapped sandals that might get wet (required to participate)

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

4.98

240 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

236

Amazing tour
haleyh981,Jun 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Matt was lovely and super knowledgeable. The tour started on time and kept me and my children so entertained! Love!
Very knowledgeable and...
Jason N,Jun 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Very knowledgeable and experienced guide. He was on time and very hands on during our adventure. Very nice guide.
Definitely recommend
H5269QRchrisw,May 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a great time, convenient location and do educational and fun
Great activity for anyone who wants to learn about the living things that share our beaches!
Navigate28246682131,May 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Matt was extremely knowledgable and taught about the tide pools in a manner that showed both his background as a marine biologist and as a teacher. The group consisted of people of all ages, from those with no background to people like our family, who work professionally with animals and in the sciences. We all learned a lot! Matt was funny, informative and made everyone feel included. Fascinating activity, and for very low cost, too. Just wish it could have lasted longer! Thanks, Matt!
You never know what you’ll find!
angelicafJ5527OC,Apr 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
If you’re thinking about it, just do it! My friends and I had a fantastic time, beautiful views, cool lil guys, and the group we joined that day was super friendly too. All around we all had a great time laughing and learning about sea creatures with Matt :)
The experience was well...
Fielding B,Apr 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
The experience was well organized. It started on time and lasted about an hour, about the right length. Parking was easy and the meet-up was easy to find. The instructor was pleasant and knowledgeable.
Unique San Diego Experience
marycE5201VQ,Apr 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
Fun experience! Great price!
Fun and educational
Marsha M,Apr 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was a really fun and interesting hour. Just walking a long the ocean was wonderful. Add in the seaching for sea animals and all the knowledge Matt has, it was a unique adventure
Tidepooling
SteveP Runner,Apr 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Tidepooling can be fun, especially if you know where to look. And Matt was a wonderful guide that helped to show and educate us on the tiny creatures living in these pools. Nice touch to provide pics as a reminder of our wonderful tour. For those not familiar with the area, walk a short distance to the Children’s Pool afterwards to see some larger marine life, including seals and sea lions
So much fun!
Maggie B,Apr 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
So much fun and so informative! Matt helped us find so many cool critters! It did rain a little towards the end but he didn't let that rain on our parade. He even found us a huge snail and taught us how to properly and respectfully interact with ocean life.