OceanView Mine
Pala, San Diego County, California. Underground mine.
Details
- Where
- 37304 Magee Rd, San Diego, Pala, CA 37304. Directions
- When
- After a brief training session, you have four hours to work the pile, looking for your gems.
- Fees
- the standard dig fee allows you to keep all you find.
- Access
- Just east of Pala; no precise location until you reserve—a map is sent with the reservation; active mine, no showing up when the public dig is closed.
- Walk-in or reserve
- Reservations are required; please sign up on the Sign up to Dig page, but first read through the website.
- Website
- oceanviewmine.com
- Managed by
- Oceanview Mines, LLC.
Visit for a chance to find your own gems—tourmalines, kunzites, morganites and more—with a unique view of the only actively working underground mine in the world famous Pala Gem mining district.
Notable Events
- 2007A large pocket was discovered up-dip about midway along the haulage drift; over several months it produced notable pastel pink, blue and bicolor beryl. oceanviewmine.com
- 2009Another bonanza pocket was discovered and extracted by Jeffrey Swanger, Steve Carter and Mark Mauthner; the basketball-sized pocket produced deep purple and lavender kunzite crystals. oceanviewmine.com
- 2009A new adit was completed about 200 feet south of the first, intersecting the haulage way to improve waste-rock removal and ventilation. oceanviewmine.com
- 2010Another large kunzite pocket was discovered down dip from the Big Kahuna zone and named the Big Kahuna II. oceanviewmine.com
People
- Frank A. Salmons, first made claim to the Oceanview deposit (1907).
- Roland Reed, earlier worked the same pegmatite up-dip and discovered the paystreak later extended by Swanger's crew.
- Daron Fisler, Miner/MSHA Trainer and GIA certified gemologist (joined 2008).
- Jeff Swanger, CEO of Oceanview Mines, LLC and owner of the Oceanview, Pala Chief and Elizabeth R mines on Chief Mountain.
- John Gregory, Miner/Bobcat Operator; worked on the mountain for 25 years, starting out helping Roland Reed at the Elizabeth R Mine.
- Mark Baker, Miner/Bobcat Operator; one of the primary heavy equipment operators (joined 2003).
- Steve Carter, Miner/Drilling-Blasting; resident expert on drilling and blasting (joined 2003).
- Travis Carter, Miner/Drilling-Blasting; Steve Carter's son (joined 2003).