Excellent experience, as always!! We moved away for a few years but are so glad to be back and able to dig for gems again! The service, the staff and the whole atmosphere is amazing! Highly recommend! read more

Here is my view about this place: What is your objective here? Is it to experience mining? To find gem quality tourmaline? To learn about geology? To let the kids play in mud? If you want to teach your kids about geology and mining, this is a good place. It is fun, educational, and an experience they will probably remember for a long time. If you're here to find gem quality tourmaline. I would say, save your money and buy them online. They are dirt cheap. I very much doubt you'll find gem quality stones here. Even if you did. Who is going to cut it for you? Don't need to take my word, just Ebay a reputable seller (not one of those crazy private gem hounds who think every piece of his/her stuff is a treasure). You will find out quickly that for $60, you can afford many, many pieces of beautiful gems already cut for you. The truth is that gem quality tourmaline is found in pockets of clay. They also break easily. So even by some miracle it ended up out in the pile of rocks that you get to play with, it will be crushed and cracked by the time you get to it. So now we move on to the staff. Ok, we get it. The owner is busy and a no-nonsense miner. But that is not an excuse for poor customer service. Imagine Chef Ramsay came out from the kitchen and took your order at his Michelin starred steakhouse. You ordered a well-done steak. He calls you an idiot, yells at you for ordering such a steak at his steakhouse, and throws you out of the restaurant. Who is in the right here? If you ever owned a business, you know that the one holding the money (the customer) is ALWAYS right. After all, the customer has the right to spend their hard earned money the way he/she wants to spend it. If you plan to run in the service industry (yes, this is a service industry), expect dealing with customers, some more annoying and less knowledgeable than others (especially when elders and children are involved). I personally never had a problem with the owner, but I can see how many would. His political ideology is warped and his people skills is lacking (unless you're an attractive female). I would advice him to leave the front of the "service" work to the staff. They were all friendly and knowledgeable enough to carry on their duties without the attitude. No need to micromanage. The current reservation system is also ridiculous. Setting up an appointment and waiting for a callback. What is this? An audition for a movie? What to bring: cash, exact change rubber gloves, if you don't want prune hands food / water hat / sunblock / sunglasses clothes that you won't mind getting dirty change of clothes in case you get wet / muddy (especially for kids) close toed shoes (falling rocks on toe is no fun) bag and a bucket (bag to keep the gems, bucket if you want to keep pretty rocks) a car that has a decent clearing. No Porsches or lowered car. They will not make it to the site without being scratched. Most sedans are ok, just go slowly. There are 2 bathrooms. They used a bunch of quartz in the walls. What they used to build their bathroom is probably better than anything you'll find. ;) The process: When you start, you will be looking at every rock. They are all shiny and you'll think you have a bunch of gems. You did not. Gems look like glass. If you find glass - you found a quality rock. There shouldn't be any glass in that pile. When in doubt, take it out and put it in a bag. There will be staff walking around to help you identify. Focus your strength in the first hour or so. They tend to yield the most gems from my experience. Every hour after that, there is a less likely chance to find anything worth keeping. When approaching the pile of dirt. Go for an area that is virgin around the top. It usually have a better chance of finding something. Kids will cherry pick, unless they are yours, I say let them. After all, this place is really for them. Have fun, it is 4 hours of back breaking work. lol p.s. I took my pile of find to a professional jewelry dealer friend in 888 Brannan St, SF. She laughed at my face. Upon seeing me about to tear up, she said, "would you feel better if I gave you a dollar?" read more

Oceanview Mine - pile of dirt - Tours Near Me - Pala, California

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Come on - Who couldn't like digging for gems? I mean really. This place is soooo cool - we took a friend of ours and all our kids (ages ranging from 5 to 14) and spent about 5 hours up at the Oceanview Gem Mine in Pala. Between the six of us we found all sorts of cool stuff. I found a large watermelon tourmaline (green around the edges and pink in the middle) that is worth about $300 plus our friends six year old kid found a beautiful pink/red tourmaline that is apparently a very good 'specimen' and can be cut into at least a 3/4 carat gem. We also found about 4 aquamarines that are amazing. Can you say wow?? We found lots of other cool gems too but these were the most valuable finds... though each gem you find is pretty exciting. We also got to take a tour in to the mine itself and saw huge crystals sitting in the rocks ready to be excavated for sending off to museums and stuff. The little boys especially thought the mine tour part was awesome. Us girls thought it was a little scary, it's dark in there but totally cool. The whole idea of being underground just sort of creeps me out but I did the whole tour and am glad I did. The Oceanview Mine has a good sized covered and shady area for everyone to eat their lunches at...there isn't any food available to purchase so make sure to bring your own. Also there are real bathrooms with flushing toilets that are clean which I was glad to see! I don't quite understand Mr Waffle's review of the mine. Yeah, the roads are bumpy - it's in the mountains and roads are not paved all the way up the hill but they are in fine condition. No one we met at the mine had any complaints about driving their cars on the road...you don't have to have an SUV to get there. We don't. Anyway, I totally suggest you take a day and give the mine a try. Its super fun and a good bonding time with the kids. It's so great to see their faces light up when they have found a gem of any kind. My teenage daughter couldn't stop raving about it and wants to go back with her grand parents! Need I say more?? Check it out for yourself! read more

So so so much fun!!! Seriously though, a very cool experience. Admission is $60 a head but they'll do an even $200 for a 2 adult and 2 kids package. You learn how to sift through the dirt and properly identify gems as opposed to rocks from the mine attendants at the beginning of the day. Then you're left to just grab as many buckets of dirt to sift through as you can. Great for kids, crafters or anyone with an interest in gems and minerals. The attendants will offer to give you a ride around the area but we declined due to our obsessive fixation to find the shiny stuff! I found a beautiful terminated aquamarine, as well as some pink, black and blue tourmalines read more

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This place is totally awesome!. My boyfriend and I went and had a blast. We are already planning to return and will be bringing friends and family. It was such a great and fun experience and we found many beautiful gems and minerals from aquamarine, quartz, and tourmaline and many others. We ended up going on a really hot day but it did not matter as that we were having so much fun. We were all frequently sprayed with water to help keep us cool. There is also a shaded picnic table area with misters. If You Go: - Wear comfortable clothes and shoes (ones that you won't mind getting dirty. ) - Bring lunch, water, and snacks. There is a covered picnic table area where you can eat your lunch or take a break. - Sunscreen and a hat - Bucket or bags to storage all the gems and minerals you find - Extra clothes to change into (you will get dirty so if you are planning on doing something afterward you may want to change (they have clean restrooms). This is a really great activity - definitely worth it! Additionally, Pala casino is nearby and offers some great dining options if you want to grab dinner afterward. read more

Had a great day sifting and washing rocks. It's a lot of work but really rewarding when you find stuff. It's HOT so bring a big hat and sunscreen. Don't go if you have a bad back. The staff are a little ornery but not too bad considering the amount of public they have to deal with every day. I would go way more often if it was $30 instead of $60 read more

Oceanview Mine - Tours Near Me - Pala, California

My daughter and I had our day of adventure at your mine this last Saturday. The coupons were gifts from my other daughter who is a geologist. We thoroughly enjoyed our day! The thrill of finding some hidden treasures out-weighed the weight of the heavy buckets! I especially want to let you know about our phenomenal tour guide named Levi. He was always available to help us identify our finds, and also took us on a very informative tour of the mining property. His knowledge seems boundless and we learned so much! What a valuable employee you have in Levi, and we will definitely recommend this experience to our friends. Jannine was also very helpful, energetic, and friendly, and helped me find a small blue tourmaline in the bottom of our muddy water! Even though these employees do this day in and day out, they were so patient in answering questions. And they displayed so much enthusiasm, as if it was their first day on the job, or the first stone they had ever found! I hope that you can reward their "above and beyond" efforts! I can't remember when I had such a fun day! read more

Similar to the old fishing adage: There is no such thing as a bad day of gem hunting. Sure, you may not find a treasure, but the fun is in the quest. And unlike fishing, you get to keep everything that you find. You may not find something in every bucket, but it's a numbers game, so the more buckets that you can sort through, the greater your odds. It's a dirty process, so definitely wear clothing and shoes that you don't mind if they get covered with dirt. The staff here are friendly and informative, and the facilities are a lot less spartan than you would think. They have a covered eating area (with misters) and regular restrooms. And great view of the surrounding area. read more

We had a great time celebrating my daughter's birthday! The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and made our day quite memorable. We did feel that it was a little overpriced. We would definitely go back if it wasn't so expensive but we had a lot of fun! read more

My wife and I had a great time. We found some excellent specimens and a few that are of gem quality. If your looking for a nice day in the outdoors I highly recommend the Oceanview Mine. Pros Professionally run You WILL find cool stuff! (the value of what I found outweighed the cost of the dig) The staff is helpful The site is clean. Bathrooms etc... Cons No food or drinks available (bring a filled cooler) Its not actually a con but you only get about four hours to dig 11:00AM to 3:00PM. My wife and I were tired and our backs and hands hurt after four hours but I still wanted more. That's why we are going back next week! read more

Is a fun activity for a couple or a family. The hosts are cool and friendly. The gems are there for you to find but its harder to find gem than confuse them with the 'pretty rocks' Bring hat, sunscreen, gloves! Bring beach umbrella for shade - if you have it. You will want to have your lunch at noon after soaking in the sun and carry buckets of gravels to and from your work station. Do some light reading before getting there about recognizing gems from rocks.. The hosts do a good job at explaining and coming around but you're just not going to comprehend what you need to know from the short briefing on site. read more

Came here for my 30th birthday last week! Always wanted to try something different and slowly been learning more about geology. What a great day it was. Had the most amazing and fun experience. I can't remember the ladies names who helped us that day, but they were super nice and informative. I would recommend bringing your lunch and possibly a chair because I got a little tired being in the hot sun. Also, I highly recommend bringing gardening gloves or some kind of protective gloves because you'll be doing some manual labor. The day went by so quickly and once you find a cool gem or stone it makes you want to go right back out and find more. We were unable to do the mine tour due to the circumstances of Covid, but that just meant more time to look for cool stones! I can't wait to go back and search again. I definitely found a new hobby and it was definitely a cool experience I won't forget. read more

This is a great place for experience and quality rocks!! I've been here several times and found quality stuffs for my jewelry making!! read more

Oceanview Mine - Pair rings with aquamarine and morganite what I found here, oceanview mine. This is a great place for experience and quality!! - Tours Near Me - Pala, California

I am not outdoorsy type person, but digging for mine keeps me going for hours! We found a lot of quartz crystals, aquamarines, and some unidentifiable gems. Our two boys, ages 9 and 6 had awesome time too! The staffs were super nice! read more

This is an awesome place for the whole family (maybe 6yrs and up). Be prepared to get dirty, work hard but find some great looking gems. The staff is great and the location is beautiful. read more

Oceanview Mine - Tours Near Me - Pala, California

Had a great time today at Oveanview! So nice to be outside breathing in fresh air ((with no mask) and wonderful to spend the day in the beautiful setting digging for gems! It was well set up, everyone was friendly and I feel like I got my money's worth. Will definitely got back and tell others!! read more

We had so much fun here and found a bunch of aquamarine and tourmaline crystals. Definitely an adventure worth remembering. I would highly suggest wearing sunscreen and a sun hat. I saw people getting burned really bad. I wore gloves too and I think it saved my hands. One thing I will say for the mine owner and the staff, is that they are very alive! They're vibrant and very interactive. Their spirit I'd say, is as rare a find as getting to mine for gems! For two nights straight after our visit all I could see when I closed my eyes to go to bed were crystals and I've been dreaming about them too. Very cool! read more

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What a fun day! It was my Mother's Day present and it couldn't of been better. The staff was amazingly friendly and helpful. It was just the right amount of work, we were tired by the end. Even though we didn't find the crown jewel I would totally recommend the mine. Do the Jeep tour it was fun and informative, Dylan was super nice! Bring food, water and some shade! Happy hunting read more

Stick to your guns! I've been here and its crap. Probably 70 people digging through dirt and I think some peeps found some quartz. Dats it. And yeah, the roads were bumpy as all hell. Scraped my ride a few times. If the owners are giving people a hard time for reviews, then something must be going on.. where there is smoke, there is usually fire. Later Peeps! read more

I visited the Oceanview Mine a couple months ago and I was excited to participate in the dig because my Mom had found a large carat tourmaline. I was hoping to have the same luck so I made the reservation online just a couple days before the scheduled dig. I hadn't heard anything back regarding my reservation so I called them and was given the information I needed to join the dig. On the day of the dig I followed the directions given and found the place with out any problems. I was warmly greeted by Cameron and he guided me to the dig sight. I continued up the dirt road and parked at the dig site. I got out of the car and wondered up to the area. I was approached by Peter and immediately who accused me of getting him in trouble with his boss. I was shocked and speechless regarding his accusation. He went on to say that because I had called to get information on how to get to the dig site he had been reprimanded by his boss. He claimed that he had called me and emailed me. When he read off the email that he used it was obviously someone else's. At that point I did feel welcome and wanted to leave. I stuck around and participated that day but the interaction with Peter really left foul taste in my mouth. Because of my interaction with Peter, I would not recommend doing business with Oceanview Mine. read more

This was our second trip up to the mine with my son and his friend. This dig was not too different from the first time we went. Just not as much this time in finding that many gems, it was definitely less. The one employee Peter (the Australian gentleman) made both of our visits fun. Plus he knows how to treat children & the older guest with respect. Peter was so patient with my boys and detailed on explaining the gems they found. A true educational experience which he definitely made the kids wanting to find more. But I could not say for he owner Jeff. From the time I called in my appointment down to my departure was horrible. He was rude from the start. Jeff said you need to schedule online so my staff who I pay can take these calls because that is what I pay them for. The kicker was as we were leaving and my son was so excited and ran up to him and said I'm sorry sir but I forgot how much is this gem worth. Jeff's response was horrifying....he told my son while I was right next to him that he could not believe my son had the nerve to ask him this question again since he already told him the first time and the second time just annoys him and that my son should know better than to ask twice. Yes this level headed mother turn to him and said, you know that he is just a kid who is excited. Then I told Jeff that he needs to remember he is a kid and That he should not be around kids with an attitude like his. So parents if you can avoid Jeff you will be just fine but I will definitely say I will not be back because no child nor parent should ever be insulted like this. Jeff I know you knocked Yelp in the beginning but this is how social media works. read more

Okay, am I the only one who feels bamboozled and hoodwinked by this place? A big pile of gravel does not yield a few tumbled pieces of so called "gems" expertly sprinkled and hidden around the top. Bring a back brace, water, and plenty of Advil. Prepare to do backbreaking labor for 4 hours while you toil for a bucket of gravel. If that's not bad enough the gravel pile wardens bark orders at you like you are a prison labor crew and didn't pay $60.00 for the honor of being treated like dirt. What a scam. $25.00 would be worth it for the experience of "treasure hunting" not $60. Cash. IRS are you paying attention? Next time I'll take my 60 dollars in cash and go downtown and buy a gem of real value. read more

In the past two or so years, my family, friends, and I have made four trips to the Oceanview Mine to dig for gems. Considering what these folks do, their education and training, and the bureaucratic gauntlet they need to continually run, in order to provide us laypeople with a truly unique and almost always rewarding experience, I feel this is one of the most fun and educational activities one can have in Southern California. I also feel that $60 to spend for four hours digging through material that has been painstakingly brought up from 800 ft inside the mountain by experts, is not only reasonable, but generous. After spending $100 for a day at Disneyland, mostly spent waiting in lines, what do you come away with at the end of the day, that you can take home and treasure for the rest of your life? All done in the gorgeous backcountry of north San Diego county, under the shadow of Mt. Palomar to boot. The way the dig is structured gives everyone the opportunity to experience the feeling of discovery, almost as if we were digging for buried treasure; in effect, we are, IMO. There are rules that are explicitly communicated, both on their website and in person at the start of the dig, that, if are followed, allow everyone the same opportunity to find wonderful minerals and gems, and keep the dig fun for everyone. From my perspective, Jeff and the staff are far more tolerant of participants who flaunt those rules than I would be, and I spent 15 years in customer service without a single complaint to my credit. There is simply no logical reason for anyone to break the rules by doing silly things like picking through the pile rather than simply getting a bucketful and going back to your table. In the end, that kind of behavior doesn't get you any farther ahead than doing it the way we are instructed. Some people seem to find owner Jeff Swanger to be gruff, apparently, from what I see others have written. Having become a little acquainted with Mr. Swanger myself, I disagree with that assessment. He's a busy man with hundreds of potential liabilities to worry about; he's taking huge risks in operating the mine; frankly, I'm amazed he can even deal with the public at all. I feel he's been pretty careful about who he picks for his staff; not always perfect, but then again, we're all human. My interactions with everyone, including the now-departed Peter, have always been pleasant and down-to-earth. But then, maybe that's because I always try to follow the rules and cooperate... I can't go as often as i'd like, but I plan on making regular trips to the Oceanview Mine part of my recreational routine for the indefinite future. Thank you, Jeff, and everyone on staff for creating and maintaining this unique and rewarding activity for us! read more

Amazing place to get out of the city & look for awesome crystals! My boyfriend & myself have been coming here for about 2 years now and every time is't an AWESOME worthwhile experience. You're on beautiful mountains with gorgeous views getting greeted by the lovely staff helping you every step of the way & answering any questions you might have on the precious gems they have up there. Morganite & Kunzite were discovered on those beautiful mountains anddddd aquamarine, quartz(clear, smoky& milky), all colors of tourmaline are very abundant as well. So happy digging to you all! Looking for crystals is A LOT like fishing not every time you're going to catch something big, patience is the key!! Don't get discouraged too quick, the gems will make it to your bucket as long as you put in the effort. Nobody is trying to scam you from finding an amazing gem but yourself. Seriously. The owner Jeff is such a passionate, honest & all around awesome gentlemen. He loves what he does and yes he is strict on his rules but you can't blame him for that. So make sure you follow them and make it easy for his & his staff and you"ll have a blast. (Be ON TIME, take exact cash/signed waiver, no pets, plenty of water snacks, take extra clothes if you don't want to stay dirty&sweaty clothes on the drive back) We will continue to come here for lovely gems & special thanks to JEFF, DONNA, CAMERON, JEANINE, SARA, STEVE & ALL THE STAFF :) Jonathan & Claudia Santa Ana, Ca read more

I am very annoyed with some of the business practices of Oceanview Mine. I held a Meetup today at Gems of Pala, but one of my attendees got a bit lost and wound up at their property. They told her that Gems of Pala was closed on Sunday (a lie that they have apparently been circulating for years) and tried to convince her to pay the fee of $60 and wait for the rest of our group! Outrageously unprofessional ethics in my opinion. I also learned that people are "finding" gems there that are simply not indigenous to the area, therefore it is not an authentic experience. Caveat Emptor! read more

Visiting the Oceanview Mine is a wonderful experience! First, visit their website at www.digforgems.com and go through it carefully. The web site allows you to pick a date for mining and learn how the overall experience works. Once you have your date set, you drive to the mine, which is located in beautiful Pala, California. It's on private land surrounded by tribal land (Pala Tribe) so you just can't go and "show up". Reservations only. We drove up in our minivan, following a Previa, so if WE can make it, anyone can! You don't need a Hummer. Once you arrive and get checked in, the owners provide an introduction on how to use screens to sift through mine slag for treasure. The actual professional mining happens on Saturdays (BLASTING!) so the slag is hauled out and the tourists get to sift through it. We got the "family four pack" and my two kids (4ys and 8ys), my husband, and I had a fun afternoon mining. The owners are OK with kids as long as they're monitored and not messing with other tourist's stuff/treasures. We found an aquamarine, some small tourmalines, and lots of beautiful crystals. Nothing really expensive, but the experience and the family togetherness was priceless. There are two REAL bathrooms at the mine area, which is key for me and the kids. There is also a covered picnic area with tables for you to eat at-- bring your own lunch. It was warm on the day we went, but we brought boonie hats with big brims and lots of sunblock as well as 2 gallons of water, so we were just fine. Bring rubber dishwashing gloves too, because after hours of dunking dusty rocks into water to see what they're made of, your hands get sensitive and ouchy. The rubber gloves will keep your hands from getting ripped up. The tour of the mine was fun, but it does mean that you have to hike down a steep trail and then back up again. The owner will haul the aged and infirm down to the mine in his ATV, but little kids might have a problem with it. (I did not take my kids on the tour of the mine-- they wanted to search for treasure!) Note: you don't get to mine for treasures IN the mine. You search through the slag heap outside at the campsite near the mine. The mine shaft is wide and tall so there isn't a claustrophobic feel. There is also an air bag going down into the mine, so lots of fresh air. Each person gets a hard hat and flashlight to go into the mine with, so you don't need to bring your own. This was a super fun day! It cost us $200 ("Family Four Pack" option) and we loved every minute of it. After we finished, we were exhausted, filthy, and supremely happy with ourselves and our treasures. A really unique experience that is so much more memorable than a trip to yet another amusement park. Go to Oceanview Mine and have fun! You'll be a rock hound in no time. read more

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Last weekend (1/20/13) my two boys, ages 6 and 10, and I went out to the Oceanview Mine for a day of mining and adventure! ....and it was incredible and such fun. Don't worry about all the negative nillies that write about Jeff etc, he was very accommodating to us, answered all our questions and was very informative about the mine and the incredible gems that have been found in this area. Look, he doesn't work for Mary Kay...he's a mine BOSS..OK! and thats exactly what you get .... I can't tell you how much fun it was just getting all dirty and looking through buckets and buckets of dirt, for anything that looks shiny and great to look at! My kids kept every little piece of quartz they found...so i went home with a 4 gallon bucket FULL of the stuff.....to them, it was like finding diamonds !! That was the fun part for us, we had no expectations other than a fun time together enjoying the excitement of "real" mining. Some people who were regulars really work their tails off for 4 hours straight, processing as much dirt as they can, and they found some really nice stuff. But for us, we took our time, had lunch, walked around, went on the Tour (you MUST go!) and generally took it easy.....so our pile of tailings was little compared to some of the pro's....but still found a few interesting things. Consider this, if the 3 of us went to the movies and bought drinks and popcorn it's about $80 right, so for $160 we went on this adventure for the whole day, found awesome things, learned a lot about the history and about gem mining, and absolutely had a blast....so to us it was very worthwhile and well worth the money also. We will DEFINITELY go back again, and that's the best recommendation I can give.... read more

Paid $75 for the Pala Chief dig. It was a fun experience to have done, but I wouldn't do it again. I did find a few nice but very small things, like a bicolored tourmaline, and a lot of heavily included aquas and lots of black tourmaline, but nothing worth much and everything was heavily included. Most things I found were from scavenging the surface, not by digging, which I did do a lot of. It makes me think they are just scattering rough on top of the land for us to "find." If $75 is worth the experience to say you went mining and find a few okay rocks (I say this since they weren't gem quality), then I recommend going. Try to go on a cool day, and for Pala Chief you need to bring your own tools (shovel, pick, buckets, etc) Don't forget a hat and lots of water! read more

Found next to nothing, a couple low quality probably planted aquamarines, black tourmaline and quartz. The owner Jeff was complaining to us about the screens costing $10.00 to replace. This after we just forked over $240.00 for my husband, myself and 2 grandchildren to dig. He also corrected us on the way were filling our buckets. We were here several years ago and found much more quality gems and luckily Jeff wasn't there. read more

I came here with my dad after reading about it the mine in the Nevada Mineral and Gem newsletter. It was definitely super labor intensive especially on a very hot day. But we brought a beach umbrella, cooler, and lots of water so we were prepared. We found some black tourmaline, quartz, lepidolite, a small aquamarine, and a small watermelon tourmaline. Nothing of a lot of value, but we left with many gallon Ziploc bags full of cool looking rocks--more than I know what to do with! The mining tour was also very informative and interesting. Be ready to put in hard work and go home covered in dirt and dust. It's a fun, unique experience and I will definitely be back to share it with friends. read more

Hi! My name is Sarah and I am a staff member at the Oceanview Mine. I am writing this review to inform people that a visit to the Oceanview Mine is a really great experience for everyone, for all ages. This mine is one of the only active gem mines in San Diego County and we are actively drilling and blasting to find the best quality gems and minerals produced here. We have a small crew and do not have time to go through all the material that comes out of the mine. Which is why we have these fee digs... so that you can find them. We don't want the gems and minerals to go to waste and believe they should be shared with the world. We have GIA graduates and experienced miners/staff at this site who will guide you in the right direction to find your treasures! The fee digs are $60/person and we do offer family four packs with families of two adults and two children for a lower price. The finds and experience is definitely worth more than what the dig costs. Before I started working here, I first visted the mine via a fee dig. I brought my husband and my kids who enjoyed every bit of the day. The fee dig is not a walk in the park and it is not a place where you just get handed gemstones. You have to work for it and listen to the staff if you want to get more than your money's worth. And that's what we did. Collectively, we ended up with over $400 worth of stones and specimens which was more than double what we paid for the dig. As a staff member I noticed that people have their own way of doing things. Which in my opinion is fine... I have no problem with that, except when rules are not being followed and equipment is being destroyed. There is a reason why we say what we say and do what we do. We want you to have a great time and we want you to visit us again, but not at the expense of lost/STOLEN and damaged items from the mine. Just like anywhere in the world you go, there are rules that need to be followed. This mine is private property and there are rules and regulations that we and you have to follow in order to make this operation safe and controlled. Some people just don't understand that just because you're in the middle of nowhere, does not make this place a free for all. The staff members here have had to accomadate many people and it's extremely difficult when we have a belligerent person on our hands that keeps breaking the rules. When chances are given and the rules are still being broken, something has to be done. We have the right to refuse service to anyone. I know some people dont like following rules and when they're corrected or if things don't go their way, they go straight to the yelp site to write a review. Is that morally right? I really hope people understand where I/we are coming from and I hope you have a great time at the mine. I know people have alot of questions about the fee dig and pala chief dig, so if you could, please, go onto our website at DIGFORGEMS.COM (info/ Q&A; click on our facebook page to view hundreds of pictures), PALACHIEFMINE.COM (for an adventure through old mine tailings), and I guarantee all your questions will be answered. Thank you for reading this post. -Sarah read more

So been thinking about coming here for a while now, and our experience was awesome! emailed to get a last minute reservation a day before we went and received a confirmation call 15minutes later! We took about 2 hours to get there from LA area (we left at 8:30 am) location was pretty easy to find (they send you a map and special instructions the day before, via email) the scenery is beautiful so bring your camera! The day was not too hot and not too cold, but it was hella windy! We found some pretty cool quartz crystals and some cool specimen rocks! the staff was very helpful with identifying our findings =0) we weren't allowed to take the scheduled tour inside the mine (thanks OBAMA) but we were given a mini jeep tour around the site...by mini, i mean MINI! that jeep reminded me of those old school power weels! though you get to take a lunch break in the afternoon we didn't because we were on a mission for fortune! though we did not succeed with the gems, we decided to visit the nearby casino which was just down the road! but with my luck didn't win a thing there either =0( all in all visit to mine was allot of fun! dress to get dirty (and boy will you get dusty!) wear comfortable shoes (your going to be standing for a good 5 hours) and perhaps getting wet (things tend to splash on you) bring food, snacks and beverages if you plan on eating there! (they have a shaded picnic area with benches and tables) regarding the restrooms, I didn't really use them but I heard they were pretty clean. And finally in my personal opinion you MUST definitely bring a hat you can tie around your head/neck, because I kept having to chase after mine the whole time I was there! super distracting! anyways we liked it so much that we are planing a trip to go panning for gold!! gotta get out my rutt! and outta this recession! read more

Took my kiddos here for the 2nd time today & had a great time. Kunizite, aquamarine, turquoise, and tourmalines. We'd love to go back, lots of fun. read more

Went with my 9 year old. Beautiful day on a mountaintop. We didn't have our waiver filled out upon arrival. (Truth be told I was on vacation when I got the email packet and didn't have a printer.) Don't make this mistake. You'll get the stink eye. HA. Also bring cash to enter! water, and a sturdy umbrella. My son gives it 4 stars 'because there aren't that many gems and when you find one they're small.' I would give it a 3.5 because it makes no sense to pay so much for kids who are sharing a station. If anything I, as the adult, worked slower and took fewer gems home than the adults. Looking at other adult/kid stations that seemed to be the case all around. I'm glad we had the experience though and we do have some cool 'souvenirs' from a unique day. read more

I'd like to start off with...the people running this mine are lovely and have a lot of knowledge to bestow. However, for $75 each, I'd expect a lot more. We shoveled and sifted through rocks and dirt for hours with nothing more to show for it than some pretty rocks and broken shards of crystal. Nothing worth a thing and nothing able to be cut or polished. The tour of the old mines was fun, but I would not recommend this. We mined in NC with a lot more success! read more

We were there during Xmas break with our 6 yr old son. It was a great experience and my son have been asking to go back again. Every 4 people share one station, they provide: buckets to pick up pile of rocks from the center, water to clean the gravel, screens to sort your gravel, and brushes available to scrub your finding. BRING: Glove, kitchen use/rubber gloves are the best as you will be in and out water. Bucket, you can bring your findings home. Lunch/Water/Snack, there is no restaurant there, you MUST bring lunch or leave early for lunch Hat/Sunscreen - you will need them Tent - we saw people setting up tent for their station New set of clothes - be prepare, to get very dirty, leave your backpack/bag inside the car, the station is not far from the parking area. They gather everyone around at the beginning to give out instruction/demos. so you know what and how to do with everything at the station. They also provide a tour of the mountain with their 4WD buggies. The washroom is considerably clean. There is a small shop if you are interests in buying. Highly recommend this place, it's fun. I wish it is closer to where we live, so I can take my kid and his friends there for his birthday. read more

We went to Ocean View Mine to dig for gems (our first time) on 12/31/17 and had a great time, it was a fun little treasure hunt! Just make sure you prepare well in advance and follow the advice in the visitor information packet they'll email you after your reservations are confirmed. Remember it's cash payment only and bring your signed waivers. Although we went in winter, it got hot so dress appropriately and check the weather forecast before you go. Our morning started off cool but by midday it heated up to the high 70s/low 80s so I had to wear one of those unfashionable lightweight hats with flaps that cover the neck and ears, which helped me cool off significantly, and luckily it cooled off later in the day. Be prepared to get dirty, sweaty, and muddy! I wore thin yoga pants while hubby wore thin sweatpants and we both wore light cotton t-shirts. I also wore rain boots that were easy to clean off, but hubby chose to wear his sneakers and they got filthy. Bring garbage bags to toss your dirty shoes and clothes in afterwards. They have decent restroom facilities where you can clean up and change into a clean set of clothes and shoes afterwards. We brought a cooler full of cold water and snacks plus two folding chairs for rest breaks. At first I thought we should've brought beach umbrellas for shade, but once I wore my shaded hat I was fine, and hubby did fine with his ballcap. They do offer beach umbrellas for rent if you need one. We found that wearing sunglasses interfered with our ability to spot gems, so we took them off and stood with our backs to the sun. I was glad for my shaded flap hat because it gave my eyes much relief from the bright outdoors. Also wear sunscreen and bug spray. At first we only wore sunscreen, but when we took a snack break, gnats and bees suddenly came out of nowhere to bother us, obviously attracted to our food. So I sprayed our clothing/hats, exposed skin, and chairs with a natural DEET free bug spray containing citronella and that did the job, the bugs stayed away after that! Also bring 5 gallon plastic cans (one per person) in which to store and take home your finds. Bring dishwashing gloves to protect your hands while sifting through the dirt and rocks, and bring extra pairs. My first pair of cheap dollar store dishwashing gloves eventually ripped from handling jagged rocks but luckily I brought extras. We also brought baby wipes for easy clean up of our chairs and belongings (everything will get very dusty) and hand lotion. It's a lot of physical work so be prepared to get tired and take rest breaks, folding chairs are a must. I suggest taking a break by going on the short ATV/jeep tour of the mines that the staff will offer you. It was interesting to see the surrounding area and the mines (but you don't actually go inside the mines for safety reasons) and it's fun riding in the ATV/jeep. Our tour guide was great so we gave her a $10 tip afterwards which she appreciated. I only remember 3 of the 4 staff members names (Carolyn, Levi, and Lauren) but all 4 of them were great and very helpful. Each one of the staff periodically came by to check on our progress and to help us identify what we found. Here's a list of our finds at Ocean View Mine: Smoky quartz, Quartz, Black tourmaline, Watermelon (pink & green) tourmaline, Aquamarine (only 1 piece but it was pretty), Purple lepidolite, Feldspar, Matte blue tourmaline, and Microrubies imbedded in rock. The dig ends at 3:00pm so if you're tired and hungry afterwards, and you need a bit of a break before driving home, you may want to do what we did afterwards - stop by nearby Pala Casino and eat dinner at their Choices buffet, which opens at 4:00pm. read more

I visited the mine over the weekend for 1st time because I read the review on Yelp and everyone seems to be happy. The guys who works at the mine were nice when I got there at 10:30 am. The cost per person is $60. I really don't think it worth $60. I felt like cost should be more like $20-30 because seriously, you don't find anything valuable here! They makes us go fill out the bucket to shift through the soils/rocks. I didn't find anything spectacular. I really think it's just dirt and soils and they put some broken pieces of gem so people thinks you find something nice. But reality is, they've already taken out the nice pieces of gems so all you find will be broken pieces of gems that doesn't worth anything or ugly quartz crystals also doesn't worth much. You get to go through the soils to look for gem until 3pm. However, around 2:45pm, they tell us it's last bucket, and forced us to go get a bucket. They were so nice when you first arrive, but at around 2:45 pm, they all became total jerk to make you finish it up and kick you out. I mean we paid $60 per person! What if you don't find anything cool? They should at least give some souvenir for kids who couldn't find anything. My husband and I usually take kids to go to rock hounding by following this book. http://www.amazon.com/Ro... This was first time, we actually went to Pay for Dig place. But seriously, you can find good stuff by just visiting free locations listed on this book. read more

We had a great time, this is a fun family outing. Even for my eight year old nephew had a good time. Kids however are too small to man station alone since you have to lift up around 25 pounds of rock through the screens into to separate the large from the smaller stones. It was fun to see other clients walk around with their finds, some of them being large 2 inch sized aquamarines or quartz crystals. The short mine tour was a great informational ride through the older mine areas. Staff were pleasant and helpful! Not the cheapest form of entertainment, but worth the experience! read more

What an amazing experience. Not only did I find a nice sized morganite, I also found a 191 gram blue cap tourmaline. I highly recommend visiting this gem mine for a fun and unique experience that is a great date day or just as fun for the kids and whole family. It is truly unique and awesome. read more

Oceanview Mine - Found this 191 gram blue cap tourmaline on 2/14/15. I highly recommend visiting the mine for this experience. Great for kids too - Tours Near Me - Pala, California

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