Point Loma Point Loma is a seaside neighborhood of San Diego. Geographically it is a hilly peninsula that is bordered on the west and south by the Pacific Ocean, the east by the San Diego Bay and Old Town and the north by the San Diego River. Along with the Coronado peninsula, Point Loma separates San Diego Bay from the Pacific Ocean. Perhaps the best known landmark in Point Loma is the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, an icon occasionally used to represent the entire city of San Diego. Perched atop the southern point that creates the entrance of the bay with Coronado, the small, two story lighthouse was completed in 1854 and first lit on November 15,1855. At 422 feet above sea level at the entrance of the bay, the seemingly good location for a lighthouse soon proved poor, as low clouds and fog often obscured the beam to ocean-going vessels. On March 23, 1891 the lighthouse ceased to be used for its original purpose, as a new lighthouse was built nearer sea level on the same southern point. The Old Point Loma Lighthouse is now partially open to the public and has been refurbished to its historic 1880’s interior. Point Loma is also home to the San Diego Sports Arena, Point Loma Nazarene University, the US Navy's SPAWAR program, the US Marine Corp's Recruit Training Depot (MCRD San Diego), as well as many hotels, unique local businesses, and the former US Navy Recruit Training Command / Naval Training Center, or RTC/NTC San Diego, and has some of the most expensive residential real estate on the West Coast.