Leopard Sharks of La Jolla

Leopard Sharks come to the shallow waters of La Jolla to give birth to their pups. Birthing anywhere from 4 to 29 live pups at a time.

The leopard shark is a hound shark found in the coastal waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, along the coast of North America from Oregon to Baja California. The species can grow up to 7 ft (2 m) in length, with a long, slender body and head. The distinctive markings that give the species its common name provide camouflage against dappled ground. Leopard sharks are bottom feeders, eating worms, mollusks, crustaceans, octopi, and small fish.
Leopard sharks migrate seasonally.

The sharks hunt in groups, sometimes with smooth-hound sharks. The species is actively sought by sport fishermen in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Monterey Bay for its tender, flavorful flesh. Conservationists are concerned with sport fishing of the species, which, like most sharks, reproduces slowly.

Leopard Sharks are generally 20 to 23 cm. at birth (or 8 to 9 inch). The largest recorded size is approximately 180 cm. long. The average size of an adult leopard shark is between 50 and 60 inches (120cm to 150 cm).

Leopard sharks are found in rocky areas, rocky reefs, kelp beds, sandy areas and under piers. Leopard sharks swim at depths of 10 to 250 ft. They are usually seen swimming at 20 feet or less. They prefer cold to warm water. They are often seen at large shoals but when breeding can be solitary.

Leopard sharks range from Mazatlan, Mexico, to Oregon. Tagging has revealed that stock is mostly resident in San Francisco Bay. However, about 10 percent of the population moves into the ocean seasonally, and one male tagged in San Francisco Bay was recaptured in Santa Monica Bay 10 years later. Mixing between regional stocks is thought to be limited.

The best way to approach a leopard shark is by using a snorkel and due to their small size, a threat is not likely to be posed to humans.

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Sea Lions of La Jolla

The Sea Lions of La Jolla are often seen swimming and playing in the La Jolla Ecological Reserve or on the rocks of La Jolla Caves near the Cove. Sea Lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, so do not attempt to approach them but enjoy them from shore or from a Snorkel or Dive Tour of La Jolla Cove.

Sea lions are characterized by the presence of external ear pinnae or flaps, long front flippers, and the ability to walk on four flippers on land. Their range extends from the subarctic to tropical waters of the global ocean in both the northern and southern hemispheres with the notable exception of the Atlantic Ocean. They are generally found in shallow waters of coastal areas of both with abundant food resources.

Together with the fur seal, they comprise the Otariidae family, collectively known as eared seals. All sea lions have certain features in common, in particular the coarse, short fur, greater bulk and larger prey than fur seals.

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Dolphins of La Jolla

La Jolla Ecological Reserve are very common in early morning or later in the afternoon.
Traveling together in pods dolphines are pretty easy to spot from land or when Snorkeling or Diving La Jolla Cove.

When dolphins surface they are usually traveling pretty quickly; dolphins can actually swim up to 40 km per hour. They have especially sleek skin for swimming that reduces turbulence while traveling at rapid speeds.Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in seventeen genera. They vary in size from 1.2 metres (4 ft) and 40 kilograms (88 lb) (Maui's Dolphin), up to 9.5 m (30 ft) and ten tonnes (the Orca or Killer Whale). They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating fish and squid.

The family Delphinidae is the largest in the Cetacea, and relatively recent: dolphins evolved about ten million years ago, during the Miocene. Dolphins are considered to be amongst the most intelligent of animals and their often friendly appearance and seemingly playful attitude have made them popular in human culture.

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Garibaldi

The Garibaldi or Garibaldi damselfish (Hypsypops rubicundus) is a fish of the damselfish family that is native to the north-eastern subtropical parts of the Pacific Ocean, ranging from Monterey Bay to Guadalupe Island, Baja California. It is the official marine state fish of California and is protected in California coastal waters. It is frequently seen off Santa Catalina Island, California. It is also the mascot of the Georgia Aquarium.

Garibaldis are renowned for their brilliant orange color and grow up to 30 cm (12 in) in length. They live at depths of up to 30 meters (100 ft), usually in association with reefs and typically over rocky sea-bottoms. They feed mainly on invertebrates that they remove from the rocks. Adult Garibaldis maintain a home territory. The male clears a sheltered nest site within his territory, and the female then deposits eggs within the nest. The male subsequently guards the nest until the eggs hatch after 19-21 days.

An interesting feature of the Garabaldi is the ability to change its sex throughout its lifetime. This process is prompted when the ratio of males to females is out of balance. Garabaldis of the over-represented gender will change in order to make up the deficit. This process can be undergone multiple times by the same fish.

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Sea lions vs Harbor Seals

Harbor seals and sea lions are easy to distinguish. The less common sea lion weighs several hundred pounds and has a prominent flipper, permitting manual dexterity. Performing "seals" at water shows are always actually sea lions. Sea lions generally prefer to congregate on offshore rocks, like to play, and have a bark quite like a dog's. Harbor seals weigh about a hundred pounds and don't have a large flipper. Hence they can only waddle when out of the water. They generally prefer to snooze on sandy beaches.

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La Jolla Cove Marine Life

A great variety of marine life can be found in the waters off La Jolla. While diving at the Cove is generally considered very safe, please be aware of potentially hazardous marine life including kelp, rockfish, stingrays, moray eels, harbor seals, and an occasional blue shark. It is advisable to familiarize yourself with the local sea life, either with reading materials or through briefing by lifeguards or local divers.

Check out the amazing sea life on a Snorkel or Dive Tour of La Jolla Cove! Great Pricing! Call (858) 539-0054 to Snorkel the Cove Today. Snorkel San Diego Scuba