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La Jolla Cove lies within the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve. The Reserve affords protection from fishing of any kind and from removal of any plants, rocks, or even sand.
There is an incredible variety of sea life that can be observed with a mask and snorkel within only a few feet of the beach. Common sightings include perch, kelp greenling, several varieties of sea bass, lobster, and of course the California state fish, the bright orange Garibaldi. Other less common sightings include moray eels, guitarfish, stingrays, bat rays, and the very shy and harmless sand sharks and leopard sharks.
The Cove's clear water and abundant sea life make it a favorite destination for scuba divers. Generally, the Cove has mild conditions for diving but occasionally surf will break inside the Cove, making conditions more challenging. If you are not familiar with diving at the Cove, be sure to ask the lifeguards about the conditions and about the best entry and exit points. If the surf becomes large enough, the Cove will be closed to divers, so you might want to call ahead.
One other important feature of La Jolla Cove is its unique swim zone. The Cove's swimming area extends outward a half mile to form a corridor for long-distance swimming. Boats are not permitted to cross this corridor at any point. In fact, flotation devices of any kind — including kayaks, surfboards, boogie boards, inflatable toys, and even lifejackets — are banned from the Cove.
The swim zone contains distance buoys placed at quarter-mile and half-mile distances so you can keep track of how far you are swimming.
There is an established culture of serious open-water swimmers and multi-sport athletes that call the Cove home. The Cove is the site of several very popular participatory events each year. One is the La Jolla Sri Chimnoy Duathlon, a one-mile swim across the bay to La Jolla Shores followed by a 10K run on the beach. Another is the La Jolla Rough Water Swim in September, which features a grueling three-mile round-trip swim to the tip of Scripps Pier and back.
Boomer Beach is around the point to the west of the Cove and has a unique distinction of being a bodysurfing-only beach. Like at the Cove, San Diego Municipal Code prohibits flotation devices of any kind in the water off Boomer Beach. Boomer has some of the best-formed waves in San Diego and a tight-knit group of body surfers who are very protective of the area.
During the winter, large swells pull all of the sand off of Boomer Beach, leaving only boulders. But during the summer the sand begins to accumulate and Boomer offers a nice uncrowded beach that's great for sunbathing and snorkeling.
Food/dining: A number of moderate to high-priced restaurants are located along Prospect Place about two blocks from the Cove.
Restrooms: Public Restrooms and cold showers are located on the grassy area behind the cove in front of the La Jolla Bridge Club.
Adjacent to Ellen Scripps Browning Park and the 1200 block of Coast Boulevard in downtown La Jolla [Map It]
Accessible 24 hours per day; no camping
Street parking only, with two- or three-hour limits in most spots
619/221-8899
FACILITIES: [Legend]
Beach Information
Special Comments:
La Jolla Cove, "the Cove" to locals, is a small sand beach protected by a low crescent-shaped cliff. Two sets of concrete stairs provide access on either end of the beach. La Jolla Cove is tucked into the east side of Point La Jolla, with its beach facing mostly eastward. This arrangement has the advantage of sheltering La Jolla Cove from the prevailing northwest wind, making the Cove's beach warmer and more pleasant than nearby beaches.