Surf: General: Coronado is an average beach break that tends to be a bit dumpy and closed out. The farther north you go up the beach, the more shadowed it is from anything but straight south swells, so the banks in front of the military base typically aren't worth the walk. That being said, legend has it that Coronado turns into a total barrel fest during a big, steep, southerly hurricane swell. Tides: Medium. Size: Chest-high to overhead. Wind: NE Swell: S, SW Bottom: Sand. Paddling: A moderate paddle through closed-out peaks. Spot Rating: An average, somewhat closed-out beach break that isn't super impressive, except on the rare occasion that a macking southerly hurricane swell tracks up the coast. Access: Park in Coronado and walk to the beach. If you are planning to surf the sand bars in front of the military base, you will have to walk up the beach. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Average crowds for a San Diego beach break. Local Vibe: Gets busy, but not extremely localized. Environment: Only a couple miles north of Tijuana Sloughs, so expect some pollution, especially after rains or sewage spills. Hazards: Closeouts, currents, angry MPs if you wander onto base. Season: Best on a southerly hurricane swell, which are most common in late summer or Autumn.