La Jolla Cove

La Jolla Cove is a shore-access reef and kelp forest dive site located along the La Jolla bluffs in San Diego, California, suitable for Open Water-certified divers of all experience levels. The site features a kelp forest reached by a short swim from shore, with reefs extending along the bluffs, and a maximum depth of 35 feet (about 7 metres). Entry is from shore, requiring divers to descend a set of stairs, cross sand, and enter through low surf on some days; rock outcroppings hidden just inches beneath the surface make the entry zone a hazard to watch carefully.

The reef holds a broad range of Southern California marine life, with common sightings including garibaldi, kelp bass, California sheephead, black sea bass, California moray, horn shark, sevengill shark, sargo, surfperch, guitarfish, sea lion, California spiny lobster, and sheep crab. Leopard sharks, bat rays, soupfin sharks, barracuda, and navanax are also recorded at the site. When conditions allow, the second dive of a two-tank visit can include entry into one of La Jolla's open-air sea caves along the bluffs.

Conditions are best in summer and fall, when small north-west swells keep the site protected and water temperatures can reach up to 25 °C, while the year-round range runs 12–19 °C. Visibility is generally good but becomes poor or bad in late winter and early spring, and can be unpredictable at other times; surge is light to moderate. Parking in the area is difficult and should be factored into planning.