Snorkeling La Jolla Cove
 

How is snorkeling at La Jolla cove? I've heard mixed reviews of it. How is the visibility? How are the levels of fish and coral? What's the access like, is it a sandy or rocky beach? Any recommendations for places nearby to rent snorkel gear/wetsuits?

Thanks!

love
roxy

Wow! So you'll snorkel among the seals? I did see distance swimmers way out.

la jolla cove snorkeling is great. i don't know where you're getting the 'mixed' reviews from.

it can often be overcast on the coast, especially in the morning. so that can affect not your visibility, but the brilliance of the sights.

depending on surge and currents, visibility will definitely vary. 15-20 feet is best. anything less than 10 feet, could be disappointing. call the sd lifeguard for up to date conditions at 619-221-8824. I have my own gear, but when we need rentals, there are a few shops on avenida de la playa off of la jolla shores dr that i'll rent from. you can also rent ocean kayaks and snorkel from there. don't forget the caves, i get a kick out of seeing the tourists in the shell shop cave gawking at me.

I actually read a couple of lousy reviews on this board.

15-20 ft visibility?? Oh my gosh, I don't mean to sound snotty, but we're used to Florida and Maui's 100ft visibility, I think we might be really disappointed by that.

What's this about caves, and shell shops in caves??

Thanks!

love
roxy

if you have snorkelled in really good places, you will be disapointed. doesn't compare to a place like maui or belize.

this is southern california. the water temps are in the 60's, not the 80's. palm trees are not native (except for some stubby desert palm out in borrego), and come winter time, temps are in the 40's and somtimes 30's at night.

Snorkeling in California is not a tropical experience - it is more of an endurance test. The Eastern Pacific is COLD, and we are not talking coral reefs and tropical fish.

You can of course snorkle - but don't get "snotty" about it. It is a completely different world

ttt