I. Sunset Cliffs
Ladera St stairs
The Steps
LegalLobster take allowed under the general rules; no spot-specific limit found Approximate area — exact entry not verified
- EntryShore
- PinApproximate
- Sources6 · medium
Legal note: No dive rules found. The City closed these stairs in 2018 after a bluff collapse, so don't use them if they're chained or posted.
Rules last verified Nov 12, 2026 · Full rules ›
Approximate location — check the spot on satellite before you go.
Getting in
- Location
32.71930, -117.25620 (approximate, not verified in person). The west end of Ladera St at Sunset Cliffs Blvd, at the north end of Garbage Beach. (D24, D25)
- How to find it
West end of Ladera St; only official stairway; last known status closed (2018)
- Entry and exit
a concrete staircase built into the cliff face (D14); "very steep" (D23)
- Parking and facilities
the Ladera St / Cornish Dr lot; a public shower at Ladera St and Sunset Cliffs Blvd (D23)
The dive
- Terrain
reef right at the entry in 8–12 ft with scattered boulders and ledges; kelp at 15–25 ft; reef to about 30–35 ft, then sand (D14)
- Skill
a good starting point for newcomers (D14)
Notes for every spot in Sunset Cliffs
Sunset Cliffs runs south from Ocean Beach along Sunset Cliffs Blvd to Point Loma Nazarene University and Navy land. (D50)
What applies to every Sunset Cliffs spot
Depth bands:
- 10–25 ft of broken rock and boulders near shore.
- 35–50 ft farther out.
- Kelp edges at 50–65 ft.
(D14)
Lobster: crevice-heavy reef holds good numbers from about 10 to 40 ft in season. (D14)
Skill: challenging terrain for experienced divers. (D10)
Swell: a south swell makes the entries rough. (D14)
Tide: the surf guides say most breaks need high tide to surf, while the beach guides say beach access needs low tide. (D22, D23)
Cliffs are unstable:
- People have been killed falling from them.
- Use established stairs and paths only, and never climb the cliffs.
- Erosion changes routes, so check them each visit.
(D14, D23)
Facilities:
- Portable restrooms only.
- One public shower at Ladera St and Sunset Cliffs Blvd.
- No lifeguards.
(D23)
Parking:
- Lots at the north and south ends of Sunset Cliffs Blvd.
- A lot at Ladera St and Cornish Dr.
- A public lot on the PLNU campus (via Lomaland Dr).
- Street parking along the boulevard. One source says the boulevard is metered (conflict).
(D23, D14, D24)
Many break names below come from surfers' lists, not dive guides. Their order comes from a 1985 list in reader comments (D21, low-q) and an aggregator (D57, low-q). Confirm each one in person.
Hazards
- The stairs were closed in February 2018 after a bluff collapse.
- The City approved a $1.8M emergency repair in August 2018.
- Current status not confirmed.
(D25, D26)
Rules here
Legal
No dive rules found. The City closed these stairs in 2018 after a bluff collapse, so don't use them if they're chained or posted.
Full rules ›
Legal sources
Sources & last verified
- Coordinates
- 32.7193, -117.2562 (approx (desk estimate 2026-10-22, not verified))
Approximate location — not verified: the pin is an estimate; check it on site.
- Rules last verified
- Nov 12, 2026 (laws.md)
Spot profile
Location
Report something wrong