SEAL Tour FAQs

The San Diego SEAL Tour lasts approximately 100 minutes total, with 60 minutes spent on the water. The first 40 minutes of the journey take place on land, where you will wind through picturesque city streets before splashing down for a cruise through San Diego Bay.

San Diego SEAL Tours depart from two primary locations: Seaport Village and the Embarcadero. You can begin your adventure at the Seaport Village depot located at 825 West Harbor Drive or at the Embarcadero departure point at 1004 N. Harbor Drive.

Yes, reservations are required for the San Diego SEAL Tour to ensure your seat on these popular excursions. While tickets may be purchased on-site at our ticket booths at Seaport Village or the Embarcadero, they are sold on a reservation basis and often sell out in advance.

You must check in at the Seaport Village ticket booth at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. During the busy season, we recommend arriving one hour early to allow for parking and check-in, as boarding is conducted on a first-to-check-in, first-to-be-seated basis.

No, you will not get wet during the “splash down” into the bay. While our Hydra-Terra vehicles make a exciting splash when entering the water, guests typically remain dry; however, a few drops of water may occasionally splash up from a passing wake.

There are no restrooms available on board the Hydra-Terra amphibious vehicles. Because the tour is a continuous journey, we highly recommend that you use the public facilities located at Seaport Village or the Embarcadero departure points before your scheduled boarding time.

We recommend wearing comfortable clothes and bringing a lightweight jacket for your tour. Because our vehicles are open-air, it can become quite cool during the land portion of the trip and while cruising through the breezes of San Diego Bay.

You will see several legendary vessels from the water, most notably the USS Midway Museum and the Star of India. As we navigate the San Diego Bay, you will get a close-up perspective of these historic landmarks that define the city’s maritime legacy.

Our tour provides views of:

Star of India: Built in 1863, she is the world’s oldest active sailing ship and a part of the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

USS Midway: A massive aircraft carrier commissioned at the end of World War II that served for 47 years.

Navy Ships: You will also glide past various active-duty Navy ships, tugboats, and working fishing vessels.

Yes, the tour passes the USS Midway Museum during both the land and sea portions of your journey. We travel down Harbor Drive past this iconic aircraft carrier before splashing into the bay for a narrated water tour that offers even more impressive views of the ship.

The USS Midway was the largest ship in the world until 1955 and the first to be too large to transit the Panama Canal. During your tour, you will learn about its service in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm while seeing its scale from the waterline.

You will see an array of significant military installations, including the North Island Naval Air Station and the Point Loma Nuclear Submarine Base. These sites highlight San Diego’s deep-rooted history as a vital hub for the United States military.

Other military landmarks visible from the water include:

Marine Mammal Training Center: Where dolphins and sea lions are trained for naval missions.

North Island Naval Air Station: Known as the birthplace of Naval Aviation and one of the largest repair facilities for fighter jets.

Active Submarine Base: A rare opportunity to view an active military installation from the bay.

Yes, the land portion of your adventure takes you directly past the San Diego International Airport. Our narrated journey includes stories about the airport’s namesake, the legendary aviator Charles Lindbergh, who famously flight-tested the “Spirit of St. Louis” in San Diego.

As we travel along the 14-mile long working bay, you will learn about the airport’s significance to the city. This segment of the tour allows you to see the bustling activity of the airport before we transition from the road into the waters of the Big Bay.

Shelter Island serves as the transition point where our amphibious Hydra-Terra vehicle makes its “splash” into the San Diego Bay. This man-made peninsula is a key highlight of the route, marking the moment your road tour becomes a harbor cruise.

Once we enter the water at Shelter Island, the tour shifts focus to:

Ecological landmarks and local wildlife like sea lions and blue herons.

Naval heritage sites located around the north end of the bay.

Early sailing history and stories of the mariners who shaped the region.

Yes, the tour offers spectacular views of the hillside mansions of Point Loma and the Cabrillo National Monument from the water. As the SEAL vehicle cruises the bay, you will see these iconic landmarks situated at the southern tip of the peninsula.

From your seat on the water, you can appreciate:

Panoramic views of the Point Loma coastline and its exclusive estates.

Cabrillo National Monument: Commemorating the landing of the first European to set foot on the West Coast.

The Old Point Loma Lighthouse: A historic structure dating back to 1855 that stands high above the bay.

Yes, you will pass by the Navy’s Marine Mammal Training Center during the water segment of the tour. This unique facility is where the military trains bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions to perform critical tasks like mine detection and equipment recovery.

While cruising through the north end of the San Diego Bay, your guide will explain how these animals:

Assist in ship and harbor protection.

Help with underwater clearance and object recovery.

Serve as an integral part of United States Navy operations.

You can see California sea lions year-round on a San Diego SEAL Tour because they are permanent residents of the San Diego Bay. While they are always present, their activity levels often peak during the summer months when they are most social and seen basking in large numbers on the local bait barges.

Because San Diego enjoys a mild climate, these marine mammals do not migrate away, ensuring that whether you visit in January or July, you will have the opportunity to see them playing, eating, and lounging in their natural habitat. For those interested in seeing pups, sea lion birthing generally occurs between mid-May and July.

San Diego Bay. While sea lions are wild animals and move freely, they frequently congregate on the bait barges and rocky outcroppings located in the northern part of the bay, which are staple stops on our water-based route.

As the SEAL vehicle transitions into the water, we head toward these resident colonies. These specific locations provide the protected environment and easy access to food that the sea lions prefer, making them the most reliable spots for up-close wildlife viewing and photography during your 100-minute journey.

The primary differences involve their ears, flippers, and vocalizations, which you can easily spot from the vessel. Sea lions have external ear flaps and large flippers they use to “walk” on land, whereas harbor seals have small ear holes, tiny flippers, and must wriggle on their bellies to move.

Our guides will help you distinguish between the two during the tour. You will likely hear the sea lions before you see them, as they are famous for their loud, boisterous barking. In contrast, seals are much quieter and tend to be more solitary, often seen resting individually rather than in the large, gregarious “rafts” common to sea lions.

Yes, you may see Navy dolphins while passing the United States Navy Marine Mammal Program training facility. This area is where the military trains bottlenose dolphins and sea lions for specialized tasks like mine detection and equipment recovery, and it is common to see handlers working with these animals in the open water.

In addition to these working animals, the bay is a thriving ecosystem. Depending on the day, you might also spot:

Green sea turtles near the warmer waters.

Various fish species jumping near the surface.

Leopard sharks in shallower areas during specific seasons.

The California Brown Pelican is one of the most iconic birds you will see diving for fish throughout the tour. These majestic birds are frequently joined by other coastal species that thrive in the San Diego Bay, including Double-crested Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, and Snowy Egrets often seen perched on the docks and navy ships.

Our route through the Big Bay offers a front-row seat to these avian residents. You can observe them in several key areas:

Point Loma Cliffs: A popular nesting and resting spot for larger seabirds.

Bait Barges: Where pelicans and gulls gather to scavenge.

North Island: Where various shorebirds can be seen along the shoreline.

Yes, every SEAL Tour is fully narrated by a live, professional guide who provides entertaining and educational commentary throughout the entire experience. Your guide, along with the Captain, will share stories about San Diego’s maritime history, military significance, and the various ecological wonders you encounter on both land and sea.

Unlike pre-recorded tours, our live guides can answer your questions in real-time and point out wildlife sightings the moment they happen. This interactive format ensures that no two tours are exactly the same, as the narration often adapts to the specific ships in the harbor or the animals active that day.

The “splashdown” into the San Diego Bay is the premier photo opportunity of the tour. As the Hydra-Terra vehicle drives down the ramp and hits the water, passengers have a unique vantage point to capture the dramatic splash and the immediate transition from a bus-like view to a boat-like perspective.

Beyond the splashdown, make sure your camera is ready for these highlights:

The San Diego Skyline: Capturing the downtown buildings from the water offers an unobstructed, panoramic view.

Navy Vessels: Getting up-close shots of massive aircraft carriers and submarines from the water level.

Point Loma Mansions: Photographing the multi-million dollar homes lining the hillsides as you cruise past.

The most convenient parking for your adventure is at the Seaport Village lot located at 849 West Harbor Drive, which provides immediate access to our departure point. You may also find 2-hour metered parking at North Embarcadero Marina Park or additional paid parking at the nearby Manchester Grand Hyatt at 1 Market Place.

Seaport Village offers partial parking validation to guests who make a minimum purchase of $10.00 at any of the village’s shops or restaurants. To receive the discounted rate, you must present your parking ticket to the merchant at the time of your purchase; validation is not provided at our ticket booth.

Our Embarcadero departure point at 1004 North Harbor Drive is located approximately a five-minute walk from the San Diego Cruise Ship Terminal. This proximity makes the tour an ideal choice for cruise passengers, as you can easily walk to the check-in booth without requiring a taxi or additional transportation.

We operate tours daily in most conditions, but they are subject to closure or cancellation in the event of severe weather, heavy rain, or high winds. If we must cancel a tour for safety, we will work with you to reschedule your booking or provide a refund for your tickets./p>

San Diego SEAL Tours are subject to weather conditions to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers. Tours may be adjusted, delayed or canceled in the event of severe weather, such as heavy rain, high winds or other conditions that could impact the experience. It is recommended to check the local forecast before your scheduled tour and contact the provider directly with any concerns or for real-time updates. Refunds or rescheduling options are typically offered if a tour is canceled due to weather-related issues.

The San Diego SEAL Tour operates all year (weather permitting) except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. It’s advisable to check the specific schedule for the desired date, as operation times may vary due to high demand or special events. Booking in advance is recommended especially in winter, as tours may run less frequently due to weather and temperature.

Service animals are the only animals that are allowed on board the trolleys. A service animal means a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Animal species other than dogs, emotional support animals, comfort animals, companionship animals, and service animals in training are not service animals.