Locals and tourists alike know San Diego for its stunning marine wildlife and the seaside neighborhood of La Jolla is one of the best places to experience it!
Located about a 20-minute drive north of Downtown San Diego, La Jolla is a charming neighborhood that is known for its beautiful beaches and its amazing marine life. While there’s plenty to see on shore, including a colony of sea lions, you’ll be able to see even more if you dive under the surface.
Snorkeling is one of the most exciting and popular things to do in La Jolla, and I really think that if you’re a nature lover you should give it a try while you’re in San Diego.
Garibaldi Fish at the La Jolla Underwater Park
What Can You See When Snorkeling in La Jolla
There are hundreds of different marine wildlife species that you might see while snorkeling in the La Jolla area.
Besides the sea lions, who occasionally dive underwater for a swim, you might see leopard sharks, harbor seals, green sea turtles, dolphins, stingrays, and hundreds of different species of fish.
Let’s have a look at some of my favorite things you can see while snorkeling in La Jolla!
Garibaldi Fish
California’s state fish is the brilliant orange, and easy to spot, Garibaldi.
La Jolla Cove has a large population of these shy fish. But, with a little patience, you’ll get to see these vibrant schools when they acclimate to your presence.
Kelp Forest
La Jolla’s kelp forest is a thriving ecosystem.
It provides food and shelter for San Diego’s marine locals. This is the perfect place to view crabs, sea urchins, sea stars, and sea lions.
Leopard Sharks
The gentle leopard shark is one of the star attractions in La Jolla!
You can find them resting or slowly swimming across the shallow, sandy areas. Rest assured, as long as you view them from a distance, they are no danger to humans.
Sea Lions
La Jolla is home to a sea lion colony!
You won’t get to swim alongside them, but you’ll definitely get a chance to see them as they bask on the rocks or swim in the distance.
Sea Stars
These beautiful, delicate creatures are an essential part of La Jolla’s ecosystem.
Keep an eye out as you’re snorkeling to ensure you don’t accidentally step on them.
Just Finishing Snorkeling at La Jolla Cove
Where to Rent Snorkel Gear
We get it! Maybe you have a group of confident swimmers and just need some rental gear.
La Jolla - Full Day Snorkel Rental gives you the flexibility to enjoy snorkeling at your own pace. Explore the coral reef and kelp forest in La Jolla’s clear, calm water.
You’ll have access to a snorkel, mask, flippers, and wetsuit for the rental period, no matter the season.
If you want to learn about the best times of year to snorkel, about our recommended snorkel tours, where to snorkel in La Jolla or to get some snorkeling tips, read on!
Why We Love It
You’ll get to explore this ecologically diverse area and its vibrant marine life on your schedule.
Keep an eye out for local favorites: the dolphins, sea lions, and the gentle leopard sharks.
Before You Go
Rentals are available for walk-ins - but they are on a first come, first served basis.
Since you’ll be going out on your own, we recommend looking up snorkeling routes from your starting point and planning out your route ahead of time in order to see more wildlife.
Kayakers, Snorkelers and Swimmers in La Jolla
Save With a Go City San Diego Pass
Consider renting discounted snorkel gear with the purchase of an All-Inclusive Go City San Diego pass before your trip to maximize your savings.
We offer an additional discount on the Go City San Diego pass. Just use code GVSD5OFF at checkout!
Why We Love It
The Go City San Diego pass is one of our team’s favorite and most valuable local tips we offer to our families, friends and of course to you, our readers!
Go City works with the attractions and gear rental companies to offer you the same experiences, just at a discounted price!
With the pass, you can get snorkel rentals, bike rentals, stand up paddle board rentals, as well as admission to some of San Diego’s most exciting attractions, such as to SeaWorld San Diego, to the San Diego Zoo, to the USS Midway, and so much more.
Before You Go
There’s no catch and no age limits for getting passes for your entire family.
The bottom line is if you want to check out two, three or more of San Diego’s most popular attractions and/or rent some gear like snorkels, surfboards or bikes during your visit, then you’ll save BIG with a Go City San Diego pass!