La Jolla Shores

San Diego's scuba training ground is a great post-certification dive site too.

By Marty Snyderman

From the rugged cliffs of Point Loma to the sandy shores and bluffs of North County, San Diego is internationally known for the beauty of its beaches. Near the middle of this diverse seashore, just to the northeast of the world-famous beach at La Jolla Cove and immediately south of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography pier, lies a long, west-facing, sandy beach known as La Jolla Shores. For decades, the Shores, as it is known to the locals, has served as a training area for instructors who teach in the San Diego area.

Unlike the rocky reefs and kelp beds at nearby La Jolla Cove and Casa Cove, the sandy bottom at the Shores is
almost featureless. It slopes gently to a depth of approximately 35 feet/11 meters, depending upon the tide, and then plummets dramatically into a submarine canyon over 2,000 feet/600 meters deep that roughly parallels the southern California coastline.

During first scuba experiences in the ocean, instructors typically swim students over the gradually sloping flats, saving canyon exploration until the final certification dive or a follow-up graduation "fun dive." Be aware, the drop into the canyon is quite sharp, and the bottom is a combination of sand and clay. When the visibility is down, orientation in the canyon can prove difficult.

Typical visibility ranges from 5-30 feet/ 2-9 meters. Usually the best visibility is encountered on winter days when the sea is very calm. Water temperature near the surface will vary from about 70 degrees F/20 degrees C in late summer and fall to around 55degreesF/13 degrees C during the winter, and cold water upwellings are common in the canyon. Recommended exposure protection is a quarter-inch/6.5-mm full wet suit with booties, gloves and a hood. Even better is a dry suit with medium-weight underwear.

The swim from the surf zone to the top lip of the canyon varies from approximately 200 to 400 yards or meters depending upon the tide. In order to gain enough depth while also being certain to avoid swimming too far out and descending into extremely deep water, many instructors guide classes out until they are in a zone that is between half and three-fourths of the way out along the Scripps pier to the north. After dropping down to a bottom that is approximately 20 feet/6 meters deep, you can take a compass course due west toward the canyon as you follow the rows of sand ripples in the bottom that typically run parallel to both the beach and the canyon.

As a rule, one of the factors that makes the Shores area so desirable for instructors is that during the day there are few underwater distractions, and instructors do not have to compete with marine life to gain their students’ complete and undivided attention. A variety of fishes, crabs, rays and other relatively small marine creatures can usually be found for end-of-dive treats, but the wildlife won’t prove too distracting. However, there are exceptions to the "few distractions" rule. Curious gray whales have been known to check out a mask-clearing exercise, market squid sometimes overrun the canyon in massive spawning runs, and bat rays, halibut, angel sharks and a variety of other creatures occasionally swarm the Shores.

At night, the sea floor often springs to life as many sand dwellers like octopus, turbot, guitarfish, cusk eels, shrimp, crabs and more emerge. It is important to be aware that the Shores is part of a marine reserve that extends from Alligator Head Point at the western tip of La Jolla Cove to the Scripps pier. By law, it is prohibited for divers to remove any marine life, including the shells of dead animals. As a point of clarification, it is illegal to take game outside the park and exit within park boundaries.

The Shores provides an excellent teaching area for surf entries and exits. Generally speaking, the surf is smaller toward the south end of the beach near Vallecitos Street, and larger as you approach Scripps pier to the north. As a result, regulations mandate that divers stay to the south of the main lifeguard tower, while surfing is allowed only to the north of the tower. There is a boat launching ramp south of Vallecitos Street by the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club Hotel, so entering and exiting the water too far south is something that should be avoided.

Long shore currents are common, especially when the surf is high, so it is best to be prepared for alternative exit points.

Due to its underwater terrain, the Shores is also an excellent location to teach underwater compass usage and natural navigation. Kellogg Park, a scenic, well maintained, grass expanse complete with an enclosed playground for kids that is presently under construction, lies adjacent to the Shores’ seawall and sandy beach. The park provides plenty of room for predive briefings and post-dive reviews, as well as being a great place to enjoy a picnic and a day at the beach. Since it’s a public park, both alcohol and glassy containers are prohibited, as are dogs, even those on leashes.

Predive etiquette requires that divers stay off of private property adjacent to the Shores, that divers keep sidewalks clear for pedestrians, that noise be kept to a minimum, especially at night, and that we be respectful of the children’s park. Outside showers by the restrooms are available for post-dive gear rinsing. Gear should be packed away and neatly stowed after dives.

The beach at the Shores is monitored by lifeguards, whose hours vary according to the season. A large, main lifeguard tower at the north end of the diving area is a landmark at La Jolla Shores. Though lifeguards have access to oxygen administration equipment, divers are advised to bring their own first aid and oxygen kits.

Public phones are located at the base of the tower. For beach-related questions, contact the main lifeguard headquarters during normal business hours at (619) 221-8899. For any diving-related emergencies, call 911, and state that you have a "diving-related emergency." Afterwards, contact the Divers Alert Network for chamber assistance by calling (919) 684-8111. Several chambers are located in the San Diego/Southern California region, so professional medical assistance for diving emergencies is not a problem.

Getting to the Shores is relatively easy. On Highway 5 going north, take Ardath Road (one way) toward La Jolla. Turn right (north) onto La Jolla Shores Drive (Chevron Station on corner). Proceed north to Vallecitos Street, where you will turn left (west) and travel a few blocks to the beach.

Parking is first come, first serve for the prime spaces on the public streets toward the south end of the park, but if you miss out on the favored spaces, there is a large, gated public parking lot at the north end of the grassy park. The lot opens just prior to sunrise and currently closes at 10:00 p.m. Be aware, there is a red, no parking, "emergency zone" by the beach on Vallecitos Street. It is for emergency vehicles only. Loading and unloading gear in this area is strictly prohibited.

La Jolla Shores is an ideal training site for new divers and those continuing their diving education. And once you’re certified, it’s a great place for you and your buddy to spend an afternoon out practicing your new scuba skills.