Revision 7/21/2010 3:12 PM
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La Jolla Shores (La Jolla Canyon)
 La Jolla, CA |
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This is the most popular beach in La Jolla. Sunners, surfers, picnickers, divers and dive classes use this area extensively during the weekends. The area is a fantastic underwater park, with fish hanging around for a handout. This can be an easy or a technically-advanced dive, depending upon your skill level.11 miles North of San Diego, take the Ardath Road exit to the West. In 1.4 miles turn right on La Jolla Shores Drive. Turn left on Avenida De La Playa, and you’ll find the park in 1/2 mile.
Good spot for open water certification dives. Relatively easy entry, just be prepared and brief students on surf entry techniques. Long surface swim to get 20-30 ft depth, and then the creatures are usually out along drop off area in 40-50 ft. Life includes nudibranches, bat rays, sea bass, sea pens, sand dollars, sea cucumbers, sheep crabs, blue crabs, California halibut (flounder), ect. Area also good for advanced diving, especially navigation, deep (the drop off goes way beyond recreational levels), search/recovery, rescue training, ect.
If topography is your thing, this is the site to dive, especially after the landslide. This site offers a little bit for everyone. Beginning divers can stay in the shallows and look amongst the rock piles that are in
http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/USA_West/CalS/La_Jolla_Shores/index.htm
La Jolla’s Ecological Reserve has been a protected marine life refuge since the early 1970’s and the fish seem to know it! It is a “look but don’t touch” area for us humans and encompasses close to 600 acres. Two areas within La Jolla’s Ecological Reserve, La Jolla Shores (La Jolla Canyon) or La Jolla Cove.
Most of your scuba dive at La Jolla Canyon will take place between 40-60 feet at the edge of the canyon at several well-known sites including Vallecitos Point, North Wall and Way North Wall.
At the Southern end of La Jolla’s Ecological Reserve is La Jolla Cove. La Jolla Cove is a shallower scuba dive with a rocky reef bottom. Most of the diving at La Jolla Cove is spent at 1ATM (33 feet or 10 meters). Because of its rocky bottom and due to its proximity to the surface, marine plant life is abundant here. Surf Grass and Eel Grass, along with Feather Boa Kelp are common. This marine plant life and surrounding rocky reef is home to many sea critters including Moray Eels, Sea Lion, Giant Black Sea Bass, Gorgonian, just to name a few.
Bathrooms and showers are located at the entrance to both sites, along with lifeguard towers. Conditions at La Jolla Shores and La Jolla Cove vary daily, from double overhead waves to little ankle biter