La Jolla Cove Snorkeling: Things to Know Before You Go
La Jolla is known as one of the top 10 places to snorkel in the world. The area spanning 6,000 acres of ocean bottom and tidelands has crystal-clear water from Scripps Park, La Jolla Shores, and all the way to Torrey Pines. Snorkeling in this region of the ocean gives you the opportunity to swim alongside a myriad of colorful marine life, to enjoy protected coves, reefs and seven sea caves, that make for perfect snorkeling conditions. Whether you’re a novice or experienced snorkeler, you’re going to have an amazing time “under the sea”.
Why Choose La Jolla for Snorkeling
You may be wondering, “why snorkeling in La Jolla?” Here are just a few of the reasons to grab your fins and goggles and head to the shores.
Clear waters: La Jolla is home to some of the clearest waters in the world, with visibility often exceeding 100 feet. This gives you the optimal opportunity to see a slew of amazing marine creatures near the top and at lower levels of the water.
Marine life galore: La Jolla is home to over 2,000 species of marine life, including leopard sharks, seals, sea lions, dolphins, rays, and fish of all shapes, sizes, and colors. No matter the day, you’re sure to see some amazing creatures on your snorkeling trip. You’re sure to see something amazing on your snorkeling trip.
Protected coves and reefs: La Jolla has a number of coves and reefs sheltered from the waves, making them calm and easy to swim in. With these calm waters, you have the prime opportunity to see a variety of marine life.
Convenient location: La Jolla Cove is centrally located in San Diego — near the airport, Downtown and other pockets of town you’ll love to check out. Right in La Jolla, you have easy access to three of the most popular snorkeling places — La Jolla Cove, La Jolla Shores, and the Children’s pool. La Jolla is a hotspot for things to do during the summer in San Diego. There is also ample parking available, including free two and four hour parking. Here is a list of parking places available in La Jolla: https://lajollabythesea.com/visitor-information-2/
You’re also surrounded by some of the top cuisines in all of San Diego at La Jolla Village. Explore our list of top restaurants in La Jolla to find a spot to grab a bite after your snorkeling trip. You can also join us on a La Jolla food tour if you’re interested in immersing yourself in La Jolla’s sights, stories, and seaside views.
Best Snorkeling Spots in La Jolla
There are many great snorkeling spots in La Jolla, but here are a few of the best:
La Jolla Shores: La Jolla Shores is a popular snorkeling spot because the cove is protected from waves, which makes it easy to swim in. There’s also no shortage of marine life, including sea lions and many types of fish. However, the main draw to La Jolla Shores snorkeling is being able to swim amongst Leopard Sharks. La Jolla’s leopard sharks are almost all female and gather at the shoroes because of the calm, warm, and shallow waters, which make the ideal conditions to grow their babies – a littler typically is between 15-20 babies. These sharks don’t mind hanging around people. They would much rather feast on clams, crabs, shrimp, squid, fish, and fish eggs.
And, just off the shores you can find the La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve. The Underwater Park is a protected area that’s home to over 2,000 species of marine life. It’s a great place to see leopard sharks, sea turtles, and rays.
Shell Beach: If you’re looking to see a wide variety of colorful fish on your snorkeling trip, Shell Beach is your best bet. The beach, right next to beautiful La Jolla Cove and Ellen Browning Scripps Park, is home to over 600 species of fish, including Garibaldi and sheephead. What Shell Beach is most famous for are its tidepools thanks to the clear waters and reefs. You can enjoy the tide pools at low tide during the daytime in late fall through spring, but the best time to see them is during the winter months.
Clam Cave: This cave, named for its double-sided entrance and inflow and outflow of water, is a popular snorkeling spot home to a variety of marine life, including sea stars, crabs, and lobsters. This is the only sea cave you can see from land on Coast Blvd.; however, it is only able to be accessed via kayak when conditions are good enough.
What You Can Expect to See
No matter where you snorkel in La Jolla, you’re sure to see some amazing marine life and spectacular underwater rock formations. Here are just a few of the creatures you might spot:
Leopard sharks: Leopard sharks are one of the most popular marine animals in La Jolla. These harmless sharks are often seen swimming near the surface of the water. From June to December, you can even experience swimming alongside the largest yearly gathering of leopard sharks along California’s coast. This is a one-of-a-kind experience available nowhere else in California.
Sea lions: California sea lions are another common sight in La Jolla. These playful mammals can often be seen sunbathing on the rocks or swimming in the coves. You’re most likely to run into one of the juvenile pups — they’re curious animals that love to swim around to learn their environment and interact with snorkelers, kayakers, and swimmers.
Dolphins: Frequent visitors of La Jolla Ecological Reserve, the Common Dolphin is a highly social and intelligent creature that swims in pods of up to 1,000 dolphins. They’ll typically feed on a variety of different fish and squid, often seen in the kelp forest and Scripps Canyon during feeding and closer to the beach for breeding.
Rays: Starting in May, Rays typically begin visiting La Jolla can be found around the on the rocky bottomed shoreline of the Underwater Park. One of the most common rays, the Bat Ray, feeds on mollusks, crustaceans and small fish by using their fins to expose prey.
Garibaldi Fish: As the official California state fish, Garibaldi are easy to spot because of their orange color. Seen in the La Jolla Ecological Reserve and rocky reefs, Garibaldi keep their brilliant orange color throughout their lives. Fun fact: juvenile Garibaldi can be identified by not only their orange coloring, but also their bright blue spots that they lose as they grow larger.
Snorkeling Safety Tips
Here are some important snorkeling tips to help you keep safe and having fun while snorkeling:
- Swim with a friend. You’re more likely to have a snorkeling accident when you’re swimming alone. Pick a buddy with the same skill level as you and stick together and watch out for one another.
- Make sure your equipment is functional and you’re familiar with it. A correctly fitting mask, fins, and snorkel are paramount for your safety and making an enjoyable snorkeling experience.
- Stay hydrated and in your skill range. Make sure you are well hydrated when you enter the water, use sunscreen, and don’t push yourself or your snorkeling buddy beyond your comfort zones.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Know the currents that are present, the size of the waves, the wind speeds, and any other possible snorkeling hazards. Also look out for other snorkelers, surfers, and brave sea animals that get too close to you.
- Don’t touch marine life. This is not only for your own safety, but also for the wellbeing of sea life.
Best Time of Year for Snorkeling in La Jolla
July, August, and September are the best months to snorkel in La Jolla. The ocean temperature in southern California is actually cold most of the year and only reaches around 70 degrees in the warmest summer months. This time of year is the best time to snorkel, as the marine life comes out more.
Snorkeling Equipment and Rental Options in La Jolla
While there are many snorkeling equipment rental options in La Jolla, here are a few of the best according to Yelp.
Everyday California
In operation since 2010, Everyday California has guides and instructors available to take you on tours and you can also rent equipment to explore on your own. Visit their site for more info!
Address: 2261 Avenida De La Playa La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone number: (858) 333-4588
La Jolla Surf and Sport
They carry a selection of water sports products to purchase or rent. Come on by to grab your goggles, snorkel gear, and surfing gear too.
Address: 7644 Girard Ave Ste 1 La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone number: (858) 454-4002
Bike and Kayak Tours Inc
This top tour and rental company has all the equipment needed to snorkel in the La Jolla waters. Rent gear for the day and come across creatures such as the California garibaldi, sea lions, and much more!
Address: 2158 Avenida De Ln La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone number: (858) 454-1010
Snorkeling Tours in La Jolla
If you want a more curated snorkeling experience, there are many companies with expert knowledge of snorkeling in La Jolla that can show you the ropes.
Everyday California
Search for marine life with other beginner snorkelers. If you want to take a deeper dive into the La Jolla Ecological Reserve, you can book a hybrid Kayak & Snorkel tour. Your guide will give you the chance to swim with sea lions, fish, rays, and even dolphins and sea turtles!
Requirements:
- 5+ years old
- All snorkel tours require a beginner level of competency in swimming.
- Any tour includes a mask, snorkel, and fins rental for each person to use during your time in the water.
The Details:
- When: Everyday
- Duration: 2 Hours
- Start Times: Throughout the Day
- Meeting Place: Everyday California Shop. 2261 Avenida de la Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037
- Price: Starting at $64
- Group Size: 10 Person Max
San Diego Scuba Guide
Snorkel the La Jolla Caves with a San Diego scuba diving guide on one of their daily excursions to the world-famous La Jolla Cove Underwater Park. You will see a slew of wildlife as you snorkel along with your certified guide. The tour includes full snorkel gear and a wetsuit.
Requirements:
- All snorkel tours require a beginner level of competency in swimming.
- You must fill out a release form.
The Details:
- When: Everyday
- Duration:
- Start times: throughout the day
- Meeting place:
- Price: $80
- Group size: must be at least 2 people
We hope these tips on snorkeling in La Jolla will help you enjoy and explore the magical waters in our backyard. If you need some help exploring all that San Diego has to offer on land, we’ve got you covered with our signature food tours in San Diego County. Join us on our newest La Jolla walking tour!
Written by: Melissa
Melissa hails from San Jose, CA, and has been a San Diego local for five years now after a 10-year long pit stop in Los Angeles. In L.A., she began her writing career crafting digital content for a wide range of clients, including The Real Talk Show, Sharon Osbourne, Hank Azaria, Time Life, and Cardinal Financial. She’s excited to be able to use her passion for writing to introduce people to some of the best spots in San Diego, many of which she has already frequented or has on her ever-expanding list of things to do … In her spare time, she enjoys taking her puppy Milo to all of the best dog beaches in SD, grabbing a glass of wine or a cup of joe at new places, and hosting watch parties for The Bachelor/ette TV show.
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