La Jolla Cove

La Jolla Cove is popular for swimming, scuba diving and snorkelling. However, since La Jolla Cove is within the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park (a marine refuge area), swimming devices such as surfboards, boogie boards, and even inflatable mattresses are not permitted, and this rule is carefully enforced by the lifeguards, specifically in the part of the area defined as the Ecological Reserve. Just a short swim away to the right on the coast is "Sunny Jim Cave." It is also accessible from a nearby store, which charges a nominal fee to go down a staircase leading to the cave. The La Jolla Cove is home to the annual La Jolla Cove Rough Water swim. This is one of the oldest ocean swims in the world. No fishing or collecting of marine invertebrates, (even taking dead specimens or seashells) is allowed. All sea animals in this area are protected by law.

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COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is still essential. Only go to the beach if you are able to keep 6 feet or 2 meters away from others. Follow the instructions provided by your local health authorities. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter our efforts to curb the virus’s spread.

Water Quality

Failed to meet water quality standards
Current Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on March 13th, 2023. San Diego Coastkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on March 13th, 2023 at 2:35 PM.

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Current Weather

14°C

Cloudy

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Monitoring Frequency

Source Information

The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health (DEH) monitors 81 coastal beaches across the county. Beaches are monitored year round. Samples are collected daily on a rotating basis; thus, each beach is tested once per week.

Water quality testing done by the DEH is based on standards set forth by the state. San Diego County DEH tests for total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and enterococcus bacteria. San Diego Coastkeeper manager the beach water quality updates for this region. Beaches are updated in Swim Guide as results become available.

Faecal Contamination

Under the guidelines put forth by San Diego County DEH, no person shall operate or permit the operation of a beach or constructed beach unless the water quality in the swimming or bathing area meets the following state standards:

Single Samples

Total Coliforms: less than or equal to 1,000 total coliform bacteria per 100 ml if the ratio of fecal/total coliform bacteria exceeds 0.1
Fecal Coliforms: < / = 400 fecal coliform bacteria / 100 ml
Enteroccoci: < / = 104 enterococcus bacteria / 100 ml
Fecal/Total Ratio: < / = 10,000 total coliform bacteria / 100 ml

Geometric Mean

Total Coliforms: 1,000 organisms/100 m
Fecal Coliforms: 200 organisms/100 ml
Enteroccoci: 35 organisms/100ml

If a beach does not meet the standards, an advisory is posted on the San Diego County DEH website (http://www.sdbeachinfo.com/). San Diego Coastkeeper post advisories through the Swim Guide app and website. The current water quality information is also available on San Diego Coastkeeper’s website: http://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/learn/swimmable/san-diego-water-quality/beach-advisories.html

San Diego County DEH has two levels of beach postings: Advisories are issued when beach water quality may exceed health standards. Closures are issued when sewage or other chemical spills impact or can potentially impact beach water quality. Note that both advisories and closures are marked RED in Swim Guide.

Health advisories are rescinded when the above standards are met.
Monitoring Status

A beach is marked GREEN in Swim Guide when samples results are below the standards set forth by the state for single samples AND the geometric mean (average of 5 samples).

A beach is marked RED when samples results are above the standards set forth by the state for single samples AND the geometric mean (average of 5 samples).

A beach is marked GREY if there is no current results or no available information.

Water Quality Graph