How deep is Children's Pool (Casa Cove)?

Children's Pool (Casa Cove) has a depth range of 6.1–10.7 metres (20–35 feet). Check the dive site page for current conditions and any depth-specific guidance before planning your dive.

Can beginners dive Children's Pool (Casa Cove)?

Children's Pool (Casa Cove) is rated as intermediate difficulty, which may not suit new divers. A Open Water with some surf/rocky-entry experience certification or equivalent is suggested. Consider your experience level, conditions, and local guidance before planning.

What will I see at Children's Pool (Casa Cove)?

Divers at Children's Pool (Casa Cove) in United States commonly report sightings of Harbor seal, California sea lion, Garibaldi, Kelp bass, and California sheephead. Marine life varies by season and conditions—check the site page for recent diver observations and photos.

Add the first photo

IntermediateShore entry

Children's Pool (Casa Cove)

Q: When is the best time to dive Children's Pool (Casa Cove)?

The best time to dive Children's Pool (Casa Cove) is typically Late May through mid-December when the beach is open; calm small-swell days are essential since surge over the shallow reef ruins visibility and makes the rocky entry hazardous. Visibility averages 10-15 ft.. Conditions vary, so check the latest reports and forecasts on the dive site page before your trip.

California, United States

Open Water suggested6–11 m depthShore entry3mm wetsuit typical

Children's Pool (Casa Cove) at a glance

Children's Pool (Casa Cove) is a intermediate shore dive site in California, United States with depths of 6.1–10.7 m (20–35 ft). Typically most favorable Jun–Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Harbor seal, California sea lion, and Garibaldi. Recent reports put the water around 24°C (74°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 4h ago

1.2 mwaves — about a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 24°C · seasonal avg 21°C

Site hazards: Waves, surge and currents over the shallow reef; strong rip current flowing out of the Casa Pool entrance; rocky entry hazardous when waves are up; harbor seals haul out on the beach (do not approach/harass - federally protected); seasonal beach closure Dec 15 - May 15 for seal pupping.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Sun

Sun6:00–20:00

Mon7:00–20:00

Tue7:00–20:00

Wed7:00–13:00

Thu—

Fri14:00–19:00

Sat—

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:31 · Sunrise 5:59 · Sunset 19:52

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 6.4 km from site · graded 4h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

What Divers Say

Known for: Harbor seal, Garibaldi, Kelp bass

Best time: Late May through mid-December when the beach is open; calm small-swell days are essential since surge over the shallow reef ruins visibility and makes the rocky entry hazardous. Visibility averages 10-15 ft.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

Jan70%15°C1.3 m
Feb66%15°C1.4 m
Mar62%15°C1.4 m
Apr89%16°C1.2 m
May96%18°C1.1 m
Jun100%20°C1.1 m
Jul100%21°C1.0 m
Aug98%22°C1.1 m
Sep99%22°C1.0 m
Oct92%20°C1.1 m
Nov91%18°C1.1 m
Dec88%17°C1.1 m

June and July havetypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Harbor sealCommonly seen
California sea lionOccasionally seen
GaribaldiCommonly seen
Kelp bassCommonly seen
California sheepheadCommonly seen
Swell sharkOccasionally seen
Rockfish (various)Commonly seen
Corynactis (strawberry anemone)Commonly seen
Nudibranchs (various)Commonly seen
California spiny lobsterCommonly seen
Two-spot octopusOccasionally seen

Gymnura altavela recorded here Nov (1 record)
most recent 2012
Marthasterias glacialis recorded here Nov (1 record)
most recent 2012
Mycteroperca rosacea recorded here May (1 record)
most recent 2012
Octopus bimaculoides recorded here May (1 record)
most recent 2012
Panulirus interruptus recorded here May (1 record)
most recent 2012
Pseudotolithus epipercus recorded here Nov (1 record)
most recent 2012
Raja miraletus recorded here Nov (1 record)
most recent 2012
Rhinobatos rhinobatos recorded here Nov (1 record)
most recent 2012

Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

Fills & rentals nearby

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Ocean Enterprises11.6 km
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Spear Shack11.7 km
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North County Scuba Center22.4 km
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Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Site details

A shallow rocky-reef shore dive off the seawall-protected beach in La Jolla, with depths around 30 feet and an easy entry aided by the wall's sheltered pool. Famous for its resident seal colony; the beach is closed to public access during the winter-to-spring seal pupping season, and surge over the reefs demands calm conditions.

reefshore

Waves, surge and currents over the shallow reef; strong rip current flowing out of the Casa Pool entrance; rocky entry hazardous when waves are up; harbor seals haul out on the beach (do not approach/harass - federally protected); seasonal beach closure Dec 15 - May 15 for seal pupping.

Reviews

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