snorkeling with Sea Lions | la Jolla Cove in November

This post shows you how to snorkel with wild sea lions during a typical November in La Jolla – San Diego, California.

This was a hot day in San Diego – unusually hot for November – so I decided to take advantage of it by going for a snorkel in La Jolla with my friend Janell.

If you can count on anything in La Jolla Cove, it’s the presence of sea lions. Especially now that we’re out of mating season and the males are not as aggressive in defending their harems, the girls are ready to play and that’s just what they did. Check out how fast they are – I brought my GoPro along:

Before you head down to the Cove with your snorkel (or dive) gear, it’s critical to check the conditions. Here are my favorite sites for doing just that:

• The Del Mar/ La Jolla SwellWatch site – designed for surfers to find the best waves and enjoyed by me to find the least waves for the best snorkeling. You’re going to want to see a lot of dark blues on this to feel safe going in as a beginner, but rogue sets are always possible so always ask a lifeguard if it’s safe to go in.
• The La Jolla/Scripps Pier Tide Chart. I love watching to see when it will be high or low tide! It also shows swells, so you can compare with the site above. They often differ a bit.
• Scripps Pier/La Jolla Surf Report + Forecast. Combines a lot of the features of the above two sites and also tries to forecast farther out, which is nice for planning purposes. But I would still check the day before and the morning of. 
• … and just as a big fat bonus because I’m such a visual person, I love to check:
• the Cove Cam at La Jolla Cove Hotel & Suites. Because I want to see what’s going on there RIGHT NOW. 

If conditions are good and you have a snorkel buddy, head in through the center of the Cove (in front of the stairs by the lifeguard tower) and go straight out. As you look down you will immediately notice our bright-orange Garibaldi, which is the California State Marine Fish which is totally protected from fishing. 

Happy snorkeling and thanks for looking ! xo