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La Jolla Cove is a shore accessible salt water dive site, located in La Jolla, CA. This dive site has an average rating of 3.48 out of 5 from 42 scuba divers. The average visibility is 16-20ft/5-6m.

Diving Mecca! If you haven’t dived La Jolla Cove, you aren’t a California Diver! Nice park, nice entry, and great diving await you. The area is protected, so the marine life take pleasure in taunting you. Drop by a local dive shop and ask about the seasonal conditions. Swells and rip tides can ruin your day.

11 miles North of San Diego, take the La Jolla Parkway exit to the West. In 1.4 miles bear left on Torrey Pines Road. In 0.85 mile, turn right on Prospect Place. In 0.2 miles, bear left onto Prospect Street; in .35 miles turn right onto Jenner Street; then right onto Coast Blvd. You can’t miss it.

This was my forth time to La Jolla Cove, and the first time I was able to dive there. My other trips were during the winter and it looked more like a washing machine down there than a diving site, so I skipped it and headed for La Jolla Shores. I went down a few weeks ago and could not find parking within a mile so again I headed to La Jolla Shores. Finally, I was able to get a dive in there and to be honest it was okay… It is a great site and fun dive, but it is almost too dived. Everything underwater seems touched and explored and the marine life there does not seem wild or natural. I think this is a great spot for new divers, but, for an adventure, I prefer La Jolla Shores. To be fair the visibility was only about 8 to 10 feet so I may enjoy this site more on a clearer day. There is plenty to explore here, so I am looking forward to returning.

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Comments

joe_bird - 9/16/2019 9:56 PM
I went scuba diving here on 9/13/2019. Average viz: 16-20ft/5-6m. Water temp: 61-65°F/16-18°C.
OrneryPirate - 8/03/2018 8:42 AM
Rating Added: 4
Outstanding opportunity to dive and swim with Sea Lions. They are very curious and love to peak at divers. The water temp was about 68 degrees, so a 7mm wetsuit and hood are needed. The current can be particularly strong, so make sure you time your dives appropriately. Beautiful kelp beds with vis around 20 so.
JonnieU - 3/28/2018 8:39 PM
I went scuba diving here on 4/2/2014. Average viz: 26-30ft/8-9m. Water temp: 61-65°F/16-18°C.
Saw a seven gill shark!
DerekR - 3/07/2018 2:12 PM
Rating Added: 3
When the seas are calm, it can be a fun dive. Parking can be a pain, but it can be worth the walk.
wgr21 - 6/14/2017 12:55 AM
I went scuba diving here on 6/13/2017. Average viz: 16-20ft/5-6m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C.
Bubs - 10/14/2015 10:24 AM
Looking for a dive buddy to show me around La Jolla Cove Park.
watergypsy - 10/22/2014 9:53 PM
Rating Added: 4
Fun and varied
TEXAS7 - 5/12/2014 1:58 PM
Rating Added: 4
love it.. great life.. Cold water.. but still good.
mammothbuck - 5/02/2014 2:06 AM
I went scuba diving here on 9/4/2013. Average viz: 21-25ft/6-8m. Water temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C.
mrose - 3/23/2014 9:13 AM
I went scuba diving here on 3/11/2013. Average viz: 16-20ft/5-6m.
Shore dive
mammothbuck - 11/26/2013 10:27 PM
Rating Added: 3
It’s good for this area. Vis is somewhat inconsistent ranging from 10-30 feet. Lots of sea lions, some kelp, some fish, occasional leopard sharks in the warm shallows (during warmer months). Good food in the area.
Negatives - Crowds, Parking, Traffic, water is murky at times. Not a lot of marine life (aside from seals) when compared to other destinations. More of day trip spot, not a destination. Nowhere what so ever to get air-refills! Bring several tanks and be prepared to carry them a long long way....get there at 6am to potentially get a parking space..potentially.
diversoul1 - 2/15/2012 7:38 AM
Rating Added: 5
Dove this place when I was station in San Dog!!! Loved it!!! seen a lot of sea life and watched the seals play.
plsrhall - 9/19/2009 1:21 PM
I did this one today with SereDiver. First dive at this location. Vis was horrible at 30 feet. Could only see Sere’s fins. We went back topside and changed locations. Have good vis southwest of the yellow bouy. Stayed around 20’. water temp was a balmy 70 at 32 feet. Lots of lobster one ray. Suge was mild. Not a bad day for checking out the cove. One sea lion who stayed on the rocks.
Greg - 6/24/2008 2:09 PM
Dove here yesterday. It was crowded and the viz was only about 10’, but I had a great time. Surf moved pretty good back and forth and created a lot of cool movement underwater with the plant life. Stairs were easy going down, but pretty challenging going up (carrying a steel tank and 18 pounds of lead with a 4 mil full wetsuit on a hot day :) Will upload photos soon.