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Shore entry

La Jolla Cove

California, United States
Open Water suggested3–18 m 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 California sea lion, Garibaldi, and Giant (black) sea bass. 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
1.1 mwaves — about a meter expected

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

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

Best: Sun
Sun6:00–20:00
Mon6:00–20:00
Tue7:00–20:00
Wed7:00–20:00
Thu7:00–20:00
Fri7:00–20:00
Sat—

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

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

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 3.3 km from site · graded 4h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

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.

What Divers Say

Known for: California sea lion, Garibaldi, Horn shark
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. Jan70%15°C1.3 m
  2. Feb66%15°C1.4 m
  3. Mar62%15°C1.4 m
  4. Apr89%16°C1.2 m
  5. May96%18°C1.1 m
  6. Jun100%20°C1.1 m
  7. Jul100%21°C1.0 m
  8. Aug98%22°C1.1 m
  9. Sep99%22°C1.0 m
  10. Oct92%20°C1.1 m
  11. Nov91%18°C1.1 m
  12. 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

  • California sea lionCommonly seen
  • GaribaldiCommonly seen
  • Giant (black) sea bassSeasonal
  • Leopard sharkSeasonal
  • Soupfin sharkSeasonal
  • Horn sharkCommonly seen
  • Kelp bassCommonly seen
  • OpaleyeCommonly seen
  • Bat rayCommonly seen
  • Shovelnose guitarfishCommonly seen
  • Two-spot octopusCommonly seen
  • NavanaxCommonly seen
  • Bluebanded gobyCommonly seen
  • Pacific barracudaSeasonal
  • Green sea turtleOccasionally seen

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

    most recent 2015

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

    most recent 2015

  • Abudefduf troschelii recorded here Jun (1 record)

    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

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.

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.

Reviews

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