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Shore entry

La Jolla Cove

California, United StatesDirections
Open Water suggested3–18 m (10–60 ft) depthShore entry3mm wetsuit typical

La Jolla Cove at a glance

La Jolla Cove is a shore dive site in California, United States with depths of 3–18.3 m (10–60 ft). Typically most favorable Jun–Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Two-spot octopus, Opaleye, and California sea lion. Recent reports put the water around 25°C (76°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 19:00 · sunset 18:03

Forecast for this hour · 8:00 · run 9 h ago
0.8 m (2.5 ft)waves — under a meter expected (waves — about three feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 25°C · seasonal avg 20°C ( · Forecast 76°F · seasonal avg 68°F)

Site hazards: Crowds of swimmers and snorkelers in the cove (stay clear of the swim lanes), sea lions that can be territorial especially in pupping season, surf that builds through the day making the exit trickier, surge near the cliff walls and sea caves, occasional poor visibility in late winter/early spring, kelp entanglement in the outer kelp beds.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Mon8:00–19:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 8 kn wind (2.6 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Tue8:00–19:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 6 kn wind (3.2 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Wed8:00–19:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 5 kn wind (3.2 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Thu8:00–19:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 5 kn wind (2.9 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Fri8:00–18:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 5 kn wind (2.9 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Sat8:00–18:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 4 kn wind (3.1 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

SunNot in the forecast yet

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 6:36 · Sunrise 7:02 · Sunset 18:03 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 3.3 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 22:25 GMT-7

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near La Jolla Cove

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

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.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Two-spot octopus, Opaleye, California sea lion
Best time: Summer and fall for peak marine life (giant sea bass, leopard sharks, soupfin sharks) and best visibility (can exceed 30-40 ft); dive during small NW swells and in the morning before crowds and wind. Late winter/early spring often has the poorest visibility.

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.

  1. January, 70% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (59°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.3 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  2. February, 66% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (59°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.5 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  3. March, 62% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (59°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.6 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  4. April, 89% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 16°C (60°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.9 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots
  5. May, 96% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 18°C (64°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.8 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  6. June, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 20°C (67°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.5 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots, historically most favorable
  7. July, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 21°C (70°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 98% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (72°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.4 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots
  9. September, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (72°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  10. October, 92% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 20°C (68°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.6 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  11. November, 91% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 18°C (64°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.5 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  12. December, 88% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 17°C (63°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.6 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots

June and July have typically 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

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

  • Hypsypops rubicundus recorded here Jun–Jul, Oct (3 records)

    most recent 2015

  • Loxorhynchus grandis recorded here Jul, Oct (2 records)

    most recent 2015

  • Acanthemblemaria crockeri recorded here Jun (1 record)

    most recent 2015

  • Aplysia californica recorded here Jul (1 record)

    most recent 2015

  • Astropecten armatus recorded here Jun (1 record)

    most recent 2015

  • Balanus glandula recorded here Jun (1 record)

    most recent 2015

  • Chromis punctipinnis recorded here Jun (1 record)

    most recent 2015

  • Hypsopsetta guttulata recorded here Jul (1 record)

    most recent 2015

Newest record here: 2015. 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.

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Data updated July 2026

Site details

San Diego's classic easy shore dive inside the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park, where a protected entry leads to rocky reef, eelgrass, and kelp in roughly 10-45 feet of water. Sea lions, garibaldi, kelp bass, lobster, rays, and occasional giant sea bass make it one of the most reliable marine-life dives in San Diego.

cavereefshore

Crowds of swimmers and snorkelers in the cove (stay clear of the swim lanes), sea lions that can be territorial especially in pupping season, surf that builds through the day making the exit trickier, surge near the cliff walls and sea caves, occasional poor visibility in late winter/early spring, kelp entanglement in the outer kelp beds.

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