Snorkeling La Jolla Cove: Swimming With Sea Lions and Photographing San Diego’s Underwater Wildlife
La Jolla Cove is one of the most iconic places to experience marine wildlife in Southern California. Located within the Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve, the Cove is famous for its clear water, rocky reef habitat, adjacent kelp forests, and the abundance of animals that call this protected area home.
Today, two friends and I spent the morning snorkeling, taking underwater photos, and spending time with the local wildlife. Our goals for the day were to swim with the sea lions, search for horn sharks, and hopefully encounter one of the sea turtles that occasionally visit the area.
Great Visibility
Visibility in La Jolla Cove was as good as it has been in weeks (months?!). Clear water drastically improves the diving experience. Marine life becomes easier to spot, the underwater landscape feels much larger, and of course, photos turn out better.
I was shooting with my Sony a7RV in a Nauticam underwater housing paired with a Nauticam WWL wide-angle wet lens. This setup allows me to capture both the scale of the environment and close interactions with wildlife.
For underwater photography, conditions like this are exactly what you hope for. The combination of clear water, manageable surge, and unpredictable wildlife creates the kind of environment where every dive or snorkel can become something completely different.
Swimming With California Sea Lions in La Jolla
The highlight of the day came early when we encountered a massive adult male California sea lion.
This was not one of the smaller, playful individuals commonly seen around the Cove. This was a full-sized bull that appeared enormous underwater; likely close to 1,000 pounds and around 8 feet long. He spent much of his time barking and interacting with a group of smaller sea lions nearby.
It is currently sea lion pupping season, and the shoreline was filled with pups resting on the rocks. Although we did not encounter any pups in the water, seeing the number of animals gathered along the coast was a reminder of how important rocky coastlines are for these amphibious mammals.
The curiosity of sea lions is one of the reasons people return to La Jolla again and again. They are intelligent, expressive animals that often choose to interact with divers and snorkelers on their own terms.
Searching for Horn Sharks and Sea Turtles
Every time I enter La Jolla Cove, I’m hoping for the unexpected.
Horn sharks are one of my favorite local species to search for, especially the elusive melanistic individuals. These small benthic sharks spend much of their time resting on the seafloor, often blending perfectly into the rocky reef. Sea turtles are much less frequently seen, making an encounter with one an especially exciting experience in San Diego waters.
On this snorkel, neither species made an appearance.
Cormorants Hunting Underwater
The cormorants were active throughout the Cove, hunting through the kelp and rocky areas. Several stopped by to investigate us, briefly turning their attention away from their search for food to check out the strange creatures carrying cameras.
Watching birds hunt underwater is always impressive. They move with incredible speed and precision, using their feet to propel themselves through the water while chasing fish through the seagrass.
Exploring the La Jolla Sea Caves
We eventually made our way toward the famous La Jolla sea caves. Underwater caves always create a unique atmosphere. Light disappears, the little light that remains seems amplified, sounds change both above and below the surface, and the entire environment feels different.
As a photographer, these are the places that get my blood pumping. The contrast between the dark cave, blue water, and moving wildlife creates an entirely different photographic experience.
Inside the cave, we encountered another playful sea lion exploring the area. However, conditions can change quickly. A larger set came through, and along with the kayak guides floating nearby, we decided it was best to leave the cave and waves to our sea lion friend.
Underwater Photography in La Jolla
La Jolla Cove remains one of the best places in Southern California for underwater wildlife photography. Within a relatively small area, photographers can encounter sea lions, kelp forest ecosystems, sharks, rays, fish, and seasonal visitors like sea turtles.
Even after years of exploring the waters around San Diego, La Jolla Cove continues to provide.
A perfect day underwater is not always about finding the rare species you hoped for. Sometimes it is about incredible visibility, a curious sea lion, hunting birds, and the feeling of being immersed in a living ecosystem just offshore.
That unpredictability is what keeps me coming back.
What I Offer
I provide underwater and marine wildlife photography throughout San Diego, including:
underwater wildlife photography
ocean portrait sessions
snorkeling and freediving photography
scientific and conservation-focused marine photography
coastal and expedition photography