More than just tidepooling.
Explore San Diego’s coasts for over 2 hours with an included dedicated & individualized education workshop.
Be the first.
Be the first to experience Coastal Local, a new outdoor workshop series dedicated to turning San Diego’s beaches into living laboratories. I, a marine scientist and experienced educator, am hosting a series of brand new free tide pooling classes! We’ll dive deep into the "why" and "how" of our coast. This isn't just a walk on the beach—it’s a dynamic investigation into marine biology, coastal geology, and local ecology.
What is it?
A guided field study designed for individuals, groups, and/or multi-age family units. I act as your personal field guide, introducing foundational observational science and safety protocols necessary for responsible tide pooling. This is a shared learning experience that focuses on discovering the amazing diversity of life, no matter the specific location, and exploring how marine creatures cope with the changing conditions of their shore home.
Focus: Responsible discovery, family connection, and foundational species identification.
Some more details.
Safety & Supervision: This is a family-friendly learning environment; however, all participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult (18+) at all times.
What to Wear: Please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes that can get wet (no flip-flops for safety on the rocks) and bring sun protection.
Cost: Free! (Pre-registration via Eventbrite is required as space is limited)
Upcoming Outings
Recent findings.
These have been found on recent outings with Coastal Local.
Two-Spotted Octopus
Spotted: 5/18/2026
Not usually heavily textured, it has several common colors, such as grey with yellow splotches, and uses highly developed crypsis, which is camouflage or color-changing to match the environment.
Giant Keyhole Limpet
Spotted: 5/18/2026
Limpets of this family have a hole at the top of the shell, the portal through which waste products are released. This makes them different from the true limpets, which release waste from the mantle beneath the shell.
Opalescent Nudibranch
Spotted: 2/20/2026
Reported from Northern California, to Mexico. Its distribution overlaps with Hermissenda crassicornis in Northern California. These two species were routinely treated as a single species during the last 90 years.
Spiny Brittle Star
Spotted: 2/20/2026
This animal is pentaradially symmetric with five arms attached to a central disk. It is dark brown in color, with lighter bands on the upper side of the arms.