It takes a village to raise a diver
Freediving doesn't happen in isolation. Behind every dive is a network of researchers, educators, lifeguards, and conservationists who make La Jolla one of the best places in the world to go underwater.
Built on real data
Our conditions tools, species guides, and educational programs are informed by the world-class research institutions in our backyard.
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
World-renowned ocean science institution — our conditions data comes from Scripps buoys and instruments.
Learn more →Birch Aquarium
Birch Aquarium at Scripps — connecting aquarium education to real ocean encounters.
Learn more →SeaWorld SD Animal Rescue
SeaWorld San Diego Animal Rescue — marine animal rehabilitation and community education.
Safety is the foundation
We coordinate with San Diego's lifeguard services and city agencies to ensure every session operates with proper safety protocols and beach awareness.
SD Lifeguard Services
San Diego Lifeguard Services — coordinating beach safety and ocean access for our community programs.
Learn more →Protecting what we dive
Freediving creates a direct, personal connection to the ocean. We partner with conservation organizations to turn that connection into action.
SD Coastkeeper
San Diego Coastkeeper — protecting and restoring fishable, swimmable, drinkable water in San Diego County.
Ocean Discovery Institute
Ocean Discovery Institute — using ocean science to empower underserved young people to transform their community.
Learn more →Outdoor Outreach
Outdoor Outreach — connecting underserved youth to the transformative power of the outdoors.
Learn more →Learn from the experts
Our guest educator program brings researchers, rescue teams, and ocean professionals into Camp Garibaldi and community workshops.
Breath-Hold Training for Lifeguards
2-hour workshop on CO2 tolerance, mammalian dive reflex, and rescue breathing techniques for active lifeguards.
Junior Lifeguard Freediving Demo
2-hour demonstration for JG A Group introducing freediving fundamentals and breath-hold safety.
Marine Science Field Session
Scripps researcher joins Camp Garibaldi for a tide pool or kelp forest session connecting real science to the ocean environment.
Ocean Data Literacy Workshop
Reading buoy data, tide charts, and weather forecasts like a scientist — the data behind every dive decision.
Exhibit to Ocean
Birch educator connects aquarium species to what kids will see diving — bridging the glass to the open water.
Marine Mammal Physiology
The dive reflex in seals, dolphins, and humans — how marine mammals and freedivers share the same ancient adaptations.
Marine Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation
How rescued animals are treated and released — the science and care behind marine animal rehabilitation.
What To Do If You Find a Stranded Animal
Identification and reporting protocol for stranded marine animals along the San Diego coast.
Exercise Physiology of Breath-Hold Diving
Heart rate, blood flow, and oxygen dynamics during apnea — the science of what happens to your body on a dive.
Dive Reflex Physiology Deep-Dive
Heart rate, blood flow, oxygen dynamics during apnea. Students measure their own dive reflex.
Shark Research in La Jolla
Acoustic tagging, migration patterns, and leopard shark aggregations — real research from La Jolla waters.
Shark Research & Acoustic Tagging
How sharks are tracked, migration patterns, the La Jolla leopard shark aggregation.
Water Quality Monitoring
How beach water quality is tested and what the data means for ocean users and marine life.
Surf Safety & Ocean Reading
Wave assessment, rip currents, and surf entry/exit — ocean reading skills for freedivers and surfers alike.
Spearfishing Ethics & Regulations
California regulations, species ID, and sustainable harvest — responsible spearfishing for freedivers.
Ocean Flow Yoga for Divers
Pre-dive mobility, intercostal opening, and breath awareness — the perfect warmup before a freedive session.
Canyon Geology & Paleontology
The La Jolla canyon is carved into 75-million-year-old Cretaceous sandstone. Canyon wall striations, plate tectonics, sea level change.
Ocean to Plate
A chef from the Marine Room connects the species kids saw underwater to sustainable seafood — the food chain from reef to restaurant.
Underwater Search & Recovery
How the dive team operates, equipment overview, career pathways in public safety diving.
Underwater Photography & Art
Composition, lighting, and storytelling underwater. Kids photograph what they observed and create a visual species log.
Marine Conservation & Global Connections
How local marine conservation connects to global efforts. The zoo's ocean conservation programs.
Marine Protected Areas
The Matlahuayl reserve in context — how marine protected areas work and why they matter.
Real-time ocean intelligence
Our conditions dashboard pulls from six real-time data sources to give you the most accurate picture of what's happening in the water.
Scripps Nearshore Buoy — wave height, period, water temp
Scripps Pier — wind speed, direction, gusts
La Jolla tide predictions
Underwater camera — AI visibility analysis
Marine forecast — inner coastal zone
Beach water quality monitoring
A growing network
Beyond our featured partners, we work with local schools, UCSD, dive shops, surf schools, military recreation programs, and community organizations across San Diego to make freediving accessible to everyone.
Partner with us
Are you a researcher, educator, conservation organization, or business that shares our commitment to the ocean? We'd love to explore how we can work together.
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