Tourmaline
South-facing sand-and-cobble break at the north end of Pacific Beach in San Diego. Mellow, multi-peak break that holds small NW and SW swell. The county's primary longboard and surf-school venue.
Spot intel
Parking
Free paved lot at the end of Tourmaline Street, about 175 spaces. Free street parking along La Jolla Boulevard and the adjacent residential blocks. Lot fills by mid-morning on weekends.
Crowd
Thick on weekends and after work. Longboard and surf-school clusters spread across the peaks. The 5 and the 8 funnel weekenders straight to this lot.
Beginner-friendly?
Yes.
Soft, slow break with multiple peaks, forgiving wave shape, and an established surf-school presence. The catches are crowd density on weekends and along-shore current, not the wave.
Lineup etiquette
Beachbreak priority is per-wave, not by lineup position. A wave already taken from the peak isn't open to paddle into.
When it's on
West, northwest, or southwest swell with light offshore wind from the east. Mid-tide window.
When beginners can paddle out
Knee-high to shoulder-high on any tide with light wind. First light runs glassiest and least crowded.
Where it breaks
- Coordinates
- 32.8020, -117.2620
- Shore faces
- W
- Region
- PB / Mission Beach, California
Launching summer 2026.
Six-tier verdicts for every California break, calibrated to swell, period, direction, tide, and wind. One email when Tourmaline ships in the app.
Other PB / Mission Beach spots
- Pacific Beach · Beginner-friendly