About Our Club

Swimming in La Jolla Cove
Doug Burleigh June 1, 2007

La Jolla Cove and the bay between the Cove and La Jolla Shores is one of the best places in the world for ocean swimming. It is the home of the La Jolla Cove Swim Club. The club's website is www.lajollacoveswimclub.org. The club's mailing address is P.O. Box 427 La Jolla CA 92038.

The club is an informal organization of (mostly) friendly people who like to swim in the ocean. The club has no regular meetings but tries to sponsor an activity approximately once a month. The larger events are the Polar Bear Swim on New Year's Day, the "CYA Across the Bay" Swim (1.5 mile) in late June, and the Tour of Buoys (5 mile and 1.5 mile) in early August. The club also supports, but does not sponsor, the La Jolla Rough Water Swim on the second Sunday in September. This includes one mile and 3 mile races for adults and a 250 yard race for children. See www.ljrws.com for information.

Club members, and non-members, swim here daily, regardless of weather and water temperature, throughout the year. Some swimmers only swim ½ mile or less once a week, some wear a wetsuit even in summer, and some wear fins. Other hardy souls will swim several miles every day of the year without a wetsuit, even in the coldest water of winter, and some even swim in the dark. Many swimmers training for marathon swims, such as the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, or Manhattan Island, use this area as their training base.
The club welcomes all swimmers, male and female, young and old, fast and slow, and both short distance and long distance swimmers. Competitive swimming is supported but is not required.

Groups of swimmers go out daily (year round) at 6:30, 8, 9, 11 and various other times throughout the day. There are small groups who swim after work, around 4-6 PM, though the sun goes down as early as 4:30 in the winter. Some swimmers usually swim alone, some swim with buddies, and some swim long distances with kayak support. If you want someone to accompany you, ask around and you may find someone who wants to swim your distance at your speed at a time when you want to swim. The best time to find swimmers is around 9 AM, with more present throughout the day on weekends and in the summer.

If you want advice on ocean swimming, ask another swimmer, ask the lifeguards, or contact the club through the website or PO Box.

Open Water Swimming Milestones by San Diegans (as of 2006)

Other Topics of Interest to La Jolla Cove Swimmers:

Safety
Always remember two things: 1) Know your limits and 2) Panic kills. The club advises people to not take risks and to not do anything that is dangerous to them or to others. People should take responsibility for what they do and should not get themselves into a situation that they cannot get themselves out of.Ocean swimming can be a dangerous activity and can even be fatal to a person who is not in good physical condition, is not a skilled swimmer, or is not familiar with local ocean conditions and hazards. Anyone who is new to this activity or to this area should investigate local conditions, stay relatively near the lifeguards, swim with a buddy, or have a kayak escort.

The club recommends swimming only when the lifeguards are on duty (see below). Wear a brightly colored (yellow, orange, bright red or white) bathing cap so the lifeguards can see you more easily. The club sells bright yellow, white, and light blue caps with the club logo on them.

Always check the white board the lifeguard station before you swim to see what the conditions are and to read warnings on dangerous conditions, such as big surf, cold water, contamination, jellyfish, etc. Talk with the lifeguards if you don't understand or are concerned about the conditions.

Foam on the water indicates surf action. See the sections below on surf and other specific hazards. If there is a dense fog (fairly rare) don't swim out of sight of the cove. You could become disoriented, lost, and not be able to find your way back to the cove. And the lifeguards won't be able to see you. If there is lightning (rare) stay out of the water.

Look before you leap. Don't dive into the water unless you know it's safe to do so. Watch out for rocks, as the cove has lots of them and many are just below the surface of the water, especially at low tide. We don't want you to break any of our favorite rocks by banging your head on them. Be especially careful during very low (especially negative) tides, which occur mostly in the winter. If the water isn't clear you won't be able to see rocks. If the water is clear don't trust your ability to judge the depth of the water over the rock, as the water refracts light and it may appear that the rock is deeper than it is. To be safe, don't dive in; walk in and gently lay down in the water, putting your hands in front of your face/head. Be careful coming in also, especially if visibility is poor or if there is surf following you, as you can run into a rock at the water's edge. Especially stay away from rocks when there is big surf, as the surf will frequently push swimmers toward the rocks at the right of the cove.

Use sunscreen.

Lubricate (Vaseline or BodyGlide) your armpits or any other area of your body that is subject to chafing during repetitive motion.

3 R's: For those new to the area or those new to swimming, snorkeling, or diving in this area, there is an excellent program called the 3 R's (Rocks, Rips, and Reefs) that is run on Saturday mornings from May through the summer by the SD Council of Divers and the SD lifeguards. Each session is approximately 2 hours long and is devoted to one area around La Jolla, and one session is always at the Cove. The schedule can be found on the website: www.sddivers.com/3rs/.

Lifeguards
The La Jolla Cove lifeguards are experts at ocean rescue and watch over us year 'round. Lifeguards are on duty at the Cove year 'round. Their schedule is generally from 9 AM to 5 PM, but it varies with season, so make sure someone is on duty before you go out. They can provide information, first aid, and they can call for emergency assistance (boat, jetski, helicopter, ambulance) if required.

If you get in trouble in the water, look toward the lifeguard tower, wave (at least) one arm and make as much noise as you can. Take off your brightly colored swim cap and wave it. If a lifeguard looks at you and forms his arms into a circle over his head, he's asking if you're OK. Give him the same sign in return unless you need help.

Tell the lifeguards if you are will be out swimming for a long period of time, or if you are swimming across the bay, getting out, and are not coming back for a long time. The guards get concerned when they see swim bags sitting for long periods of time.

Remember that the farther out you are, the less likely you will be seen and the longer it will take a lifeguard to reach you. The lifeguards have high power binoculars and can see quite well all the way to La Jolla Shores, but they are not always looking through them or in that direction. Look for other swimmers or kayaks nearby, as they may be able to help you until a lifeguard can reach you. Or swim to the nearest buoy and use it for flotation. Know your limits and try to not get in trouble far from shore.

Surf
La Jolla Cove can be hazardous for swimming when the surf's up because of the rocks and local conditions that exist during surf. When the surf is up in the Cove, consider swimming at La Jolla Shores instead of the Cove, as the Shores has no rocks and when the surf is up at the cove, it is usually smaller at the Shores.

Heed the lifeguards' warnings. When the surf is up they usually recommend fins and "experts only".

Know your limits; the life you save may be your own. Don't make the lifeguards risk their lives to rescue you in big surf when you shouldn't have gone out in it. Big surf in the cove frequently runs from left to right and can push swimmers onto the rocks. There's a small inlet to the right of the Cove called "the hole", which is a very dangerous place when the surf's up.

The bigger surf is the more dangerous it is. The energy in a wave is probably proportional to the square of its height. So a wave that's twice as high as another probably has four times as much energy. Surf over 3-4 feet should be considered potentially dangerous, especially if you're new to ocean swimming or to the Cove. Surf over 6-8 feet should be considered extremely dangerous even if you are a good swimmer. Though very rare, surf can get as big as 15-20 feet here. Surf over 10 feet is extremely dangerous even to expert swimmers wearing fins.

If you've been out swimming for a while and when you return you realize the surf has gotten dangerous, consider swimming to La Jolla Shores (not Boomer) to get out. If you don't think you can swim that far, remain calm, stay out beyond the surf, and signal to the lifeguards that you need assistance. They can come out from the cove on a paddleboard, or they can call for a jetski to come from the Shores.

Water Temperature
In the winter the ocean water may get as cold as 50 degrees, while in the summer it will usually reach 70 degrees or even more. The temperature can drop 10 degrees or so overnight due to currents, surf, or upwelling.

If you stay out too long in cold water when you are not used to it, you can get hypothermia. It's normal to shiver after you get out of the water in the winter. This is mild hypothermia; get used to it if you want to swim in the winter. To avoid or reduce the effects of hypothermia wear a neoprene bathing cap or a wetsuit in the winter. There are special wetsuits for swimmers; wetsuits made for surfing or diving don't have enough flexibility in the shoulder area. Swimmers' wetsuits are made by Quintana Roo, Orca, Body Glove and a few others. They can be found at specialty stores for swimmers or tri-athletes.

Hypothermia does not happen suddenly; it comes on slowly as your body temperature drops. It can cause mental confusion, disorientation, and poor judgment. It will eventually lead to sluggishness, loss of motor skills and loss of consciousness, which is never a good thing when you're in the ocean. Hypothermia can be fatal; a man from out of town died here from hypothermia a few winters ago.

How hypothermia affects a person depends on time, temperature, activity level, body fat (some people have natural wetsuits), and individual differences in circulation, metabolism, etc. Some people are more resistant to it than others. Most people will become somewhat acclimated to cold water if they swim year 'round here. But everyone has their limit for time and temperature, and if they exceed their limit they will be in trouble.

Stay close to shore until you know your limits. This is especially true for out-of-town swimmers who can swim long distances in a warm pool but are not used to cold water.

If you start to shiver while swimming or feel disoriented, get out of the water as soon as possible. Put your clothes on as soon as possible. If you're concerned, report to the lifeguards.

Distance
Know your limits. Do not exceed your limit for the combination of distance and temperature. If you don't know what your limits are, stay close to shore until you can figure them out. For example, if you want to swim a mile for the first time, don't go to the ½ mile buoy and back, go to the ¼ mile buoy twice. After you're confident in your ability to swim a mile, then go to the ½ mile buoy.

Don't swim straight out as far as you can; remember you still have to swim back.
If you're swimming a long distance, consider getting a friend to accompany you with a kayak or paddleboard.

Don't get yourself into trouble by following other swimmers who may be swimming farther than you are used to, or capable of.

Nutrition
Nutrition will not be extensively covered here, as this is a very specialized topic. Be aware that if you swim long distances, there will be a time beyond which you will need to drink or eat. This is usually more than an hour for most people, though some people can go much longer than that, and some less. However, at some point you will become dehydrated or hypoglycemic if you don't nourish yourself, and this can cause you to become weak or disoriented; again, not a good thing.
If you're swimming this long, consider using a kayak escort, as your escort can carry food and drink for you and watch out for your general well-being. If not, sports drinks in foil pouches and gel packs (food) can be carried under your bathing suit.

Gel packs are made by Power Bar, Cliff's, and others. Some contain caffeine.

Currents
Currents in this area are generally weak and not a problem; you won't get swept out to sea. You can determine the direction of a current by observing the direction the kelp is leaning. Check your position occasionally, as the current may take you slightly off your desired course. Currents during big surf can be a problem inside the cove itself. See the section above on Surf.

Wildlife
Comments on wildlife are general guidelines. Creatures that live in the ocean can do whatever they like; they are not subject to any local laws. Generally, there are few dangers from wildlife in the Cove.

The Cove is part of a marine reserve. Fishing and spearfishing are illegal in the cove, though you can do both nearby. Nothing may be removed from the cove, including shells and rocks.

Feeding fish is also illegal in the cove. There are lots of fish to see, including the ubiquitous orange Garibaldi, which is the symbol of the club. Other common fish are Kelp bass, Opal eye, California Barracuda, Sheephead, Halibut, Yellowtail, and huge schools of small ("bait") fish such as Smelt, Mackerel, Sardines, Anchovies, etc. At the water's edge you will see Striped Surf Perch and Corbina. Under rocks and ledges you may find Lobster (clawless), Octopus, etc.

Stingrays are not common in La Jolla Cove, but are very common on the other side of the bay at La Jolla Shores, where there is much more sand. If you get stung, see the lifeguards for advice and first aid. Bat rays up to 4-5 feet across can be common in the summer outside the Cove and over toward La Jolla Shores. They won't bother you, but keep a safe distance, as they have barbs. Remember Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter.

Jellyfish are not common here. We do see them occasionally, mostly in the summer, but most of the types here don't sting badly. You may feel an annoying itch if you are stung. The lifeguards can provide first aid and offer advice.
Seals and sea lions come into the cove occasionally. Seals are curious and may swim right up to you. They won't bother you. Enjoy the experience, but remember they are wild, they have teeth, and they may bite if they are touched or harassed. You may think they are cute, but they are predators; you wouldn't think they were cute if you were a fish.

Sharks are seen occasionally, but they are mostly relatively small (up to 4 feet), benign, bottom feeding varieties such as leopard (not tiger), smoothhound, horn, shovelnose guitarfish, and some more pelagic varieties such as swell, salmon, small blues, etc. Don't bother them. Large numbers (hundreds) of leopard and smoothhound sharks and guitarfish are occasionally seen in the summer across the bay at La Jolla shores. This is definitely worth seeing.

Moray Eels can be found occasionally but they live under rock ledges and they won't bother you if you don't bother them or offer them your hand. Shrieking Eels have never been seen in the cove. (They always grow louder when they're about to feed on human flesh!)

If you're very lucky while you're out swimming you may see Giant Black Seabass, which can be as large as 500 pounds, or a Sea Turtle, which can be 5 feet across. You may also see Broomtail Grouper, Squid and Dolphins. Even whales come into the bay occasionally.

Kelp
Kelp and several other varieties of seaweed are common here. Sometimes kelp gets very thick and forms floating "paddies" or rafts. The kelp won't grab you and drag you down. Keep in mind that it floats; it will actually help you float if you lay on top of it. If you run into thick kelp while swimming, you have three choices: go around it, swim across it, or swim under it. The latter is not recommended. To swim across it, keep your head up and out of the water as much as possible, keep your shoulders level, and just swim over it. Push it down with your hands. Watch out for your goggles, as kelp can make them leak or come off. If you get bogged down in the kelp, don't panic; just relax, tread water or float for a moment, and assess the situation. Look for the shortest path out and calmly untangle yourself. If you get caught under the kelp, just calmly spread it apart and get your head out of the water. You can usually break a kelp stalk by bending it and snapping it like a carrot. Or bite it.

Red Tide
Plankton blooms are fairly common and occasionally the visibility in the water is near zero because of it. One type of plankton is called "Red Tide" because when you are below it and looking up, sunlight can appear slightly red. It generally looks brown when you're swimming in it. Red tide can affect some sea creatures and can cause crustaceans (mussels, clams, etc.) to become toxic when eaten. Some swimmers report that they are sensitive to it and get rashes from it. Most people are not affected by it.

Be careful swimming when visibility is near zero, especially around rocks, buoys and other swimmers. If you don't know where the rocks are, maybe you shouldn't swim until visibility improves.

Equipment
Specialty swimming gear such as swimsuits, speed suits, specialized swimmers' wetsuits, neoprene bathing caps, goggles (including prescription), fins, bodyglide, gel packs, etc. may be found locally at Paradowski's Swim and Sport at 7962 Convoy Court (off Convoy St., north of Clairemont Mesa Blvd.), (858) 569-6946. They are a sponsor of the La Jolla Cove Swim Club.

Other stores that specialize in tri-athlete supplies may also have what you need.


	Swimming in La Jolla Cove Doug Burleigh June 1, 2007 La Jolla Cove and the bay between the Cove and La Jolla Shores is one of the best places in the world for ocean swimming. It is the home of the La Jolla Cove Swim Club. The club's website is www.lajollacoveswimclub.org. The club's mailing address is P.O. Box 427 La Jolla CA 92038. The club is an informal organization of (mostly) friendly people who like to swim in the ocean. The club has no regular meetings but tries to sponsor an activity approximately once a month. The larger events are the Polar Bear Swim on New Year's Day, the "CYA Across the Bay" Swim (1.5 mile) in late June, and the Tour of Buoys (5 mile and 1.5 mile) in early August. The club also supports, but does not sponsor, the La Jolla Rough Water Swim on the second Sunday in September. This includes one mile and 3 mile races for adults and a 250 yard race for children. See www.ljrws.com for information. Club members, and non-members, swim here daily, regardless of weather and water temperature, throughout the year. Some swimmers only swim ½ mile or less once a week, some wear a wetsuit even in summer, and some wear fins. Other hardy souls will swim several miles every day of the year without a wetsuit, even in the coldest water of winter, and some even swim in the dark. Many swimmers training for marathon swims, such as the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, or Manhattan Island, use this area as their training base. The club welcomes all swimmers, male and female, young and old, fast and slow, and both short distance and long distance swimmers. Competitive swimming is supported but is not required. Groups of swimmers go out daily (year round) at 6:30, 8, 9, 11 and various other times throughout the day. There are small groups who swim after work, around 4-6 PM, though the sun goes down as early as 4:30 in the winter. Some swimmers usually swim alone, some swim with buddies, and some swim long distances with kayak support. If you want someone to accompany you, ask around and you may find someone who wants to swim your distance at your speed at a time when you want to swim. The best time to find swimmers is around 9 AM, with more present throughout the day on weekends and in the summer. If you want advice on ocean swimming, ask another swimmer, ask the lifeguards, or contact the club through the website or PO Box. Open Water Swimming Milestones by San Diegans (as of 2006) Other Topics of Interest to La Jolla Cove Swimmers: Safety Always remember two things: 1) Know your limits and 2) Panic kills. The club advises people to not take risks and to not do anything that is dangerous to them or to others. People should take responsibility for what they do and should not get themselves into a situation that they cannot get themselves out of.Ocean swimming can be a dangerous activity and can even be fatal to a person who is not in good physical condition, is not a skilled swimmer, or is not familiar with local ocean conditions and hazards. Anyone who is new to this activity or to this area should investigate local conditions, stay relatively near the lifeguards, swim with a buddy, or have a kayak escort. The club recommends swimming only when the lifeguards are on duty (see below). Wear a brightly colored (yellow, orange, bright red or white) bathing cap so the lifeguards can see you more easily. The club sells bright yellow, white, and light blue caps with the club logo on them. Always check the white board the lifeguard station before you swim to see what the conditions are and to read warnings on dangerous conditions, such as big surf, cold water, contamination, jellyfish, etc. Talk with the lifeguards if you don't understand or are concerned about the conditions. Foam on the water indicates surf action. See the sections below on surf and other specific hazards. If there is a dense fog (fairly rare) don't swim out of sight of the cove. You could become disoriented, lost, and not be able to find your way back to the cove. And the lifeguards won't be able to see you. If there is lightning (rare) stay out of the water. Look before you leap. Don't dive into the water unless you know it's safe to do so. Watch out for rocks, as the cove has lots of them and many are just below the surface of the water, especially at low tide. We don't want you to break any of our favorite rocks by banging your head on them. Be especially careful during very low (especially negative) tides, which occur mostly in the winter. If the water isn't clear you won't be able to see rocks. If the water is clear don't trust your ability to judge the depth of the water over the rock, as the water refracts light and it may appear that the rock is deeper than it is. To be safe, don't dive in; walk in and gently lay down in the water, putting your hands in front of your face/head. Be careful coming in also, especially if visibility is poor or if there is surf following you, as you can run into a rock at the water's edge. Especially stay away from rocks when there is big surf, as the surf will frequently push swimmers toward the rocks at the right of the cove. Use sunscreen. Lubricate (Vaseline or BodyGlide) your armpits or any other area of your body that is subject to chafing during repetitive motion. 3 R's: For those new to the area or those new to swimming, snorkeling, or diving in this area, there is an excellent program called the 3 R's (Rocks, Rips, and Reefs) that is run on Saturday mornings from May through the summer by the SD Council of Divers and the SD lifeguards. Each session is approximately 2 hours long and is devoted to one area around La Jolla, and one session is always at the Cove. The schedule can be found on the website: www.sddivers.com/3rs/. Lifeguards The La Jolla Cove lifeguards are experts at ocean rescue and watch over us year 'round. Lifeguards are on duty at the Cove year 'round. Their schedule is generally from 9 AM to 5 PM, but it varies with season, so make sure someone is on duty before you go out. They can provide information, first aid, and they can call for emergency assistance (boat, jetski, helicopter, ambulance) if required. If you get in trouble in the water, look toward the lifeguard tower, wave (at least) one arm and make as much noise as you can. Take off your brightly colored swim cap and wave it. If a lifeguard looks at you and forms his arms into a circle over his head, he's asking if you're OK. Give him the same sign in return unless you need help. Tell the lifeguards if you are will be out swimming for a long period of time, or if you are swimming across the bay, getting out, and are not coming back for a long time. The guards get concerned when they see swim bags sitting for long periods of time. Remember that the farther out you are, the less likely you will be seen and the longer it will take a lifeguard to reach you. The lifeguards have high power binoculars and can see quite well all the way to La Jolla Shores, but they are not always looking through them or in that direction. Look for other swimmers or kayaks nearby, as they may be able to help you until a lifeguard can reach you. Or swim to the nearest buoy and use it for flotation. Know your limits and try to not get in trouble far from shore. Surf La Jolla Cove can be hazardous for swimming when the surf's up because of the rocks and local conditions that exist during surf. When the surf is up in the Cove, consider swimming at La Jolla Shores instead of the Cove, as the Shores has no rocks and when the surf is up at the cove, it is usually smaller at the Shores. Heed the lifeguards' warnings. When the surf is up they usually recommend fins and "experts only". Know your limits; the life you save may be your own. Don't make the lifeguards risk their lives to rescue you in big surf when you shouldn't have gone out in it. Big surf in the cove frequently runs from left to right and can push swimmers onto the rocks. There's a small inlet to the right of the Cove called "the hole", which is a very dangerous place when the surf's up. The bigger surf is the more dangerous it is. The energy in a wave is probably proportional to the square of its height. So a wave that's twice as high as another probably has four times as much energy. Surf over 3-4 feet should be considered potentially dangerous, especially if you're new to ocean swimming or to the Cove. Surf over 6-8 feet should be considered extremely dangerous even if you are a good swimmer. Though very rare, surf can get as big as 15-20 feet here. Surf over 10 feet is extremely dangerous even to expert swimmers wearing fins. If you've been out swimming for a while and when you return you realize the surf has gotten dangerous, consider swimming to La Jolla Shores (not Boomer) to get out. If you don't think you can swim that far, remain calm, stay out beyond the surf, and signal to the lifeguards that you need assistance. They can come out from the cove on a paddleboard, or they can call for a jetski to come from the Shores. Water Temperature In the winter the ocean water may get as cold as 50 degrees, while in the summer it will usually reach 70 degrees or even more. The temperature can drop 10 degrees or so overnight due to currents, surf, or upwelling. If you stay out too long in cold water when you are not used to it, you can get hypothermia. It's normal to shiver after you get out of the water in the winter. This is mild hypothermia; get used to it if you want to swim in the winter. To avoid or reduce the effects of hypothermia wear a neoprene bathing cap or a wetsuit in the winter. There are special wetsuits for swimmers; wetsuits made for surfing or diving don't have enough flexibility in the shoulder area. Swimmers' wetsuits are made by Quintana Roo, Orca, Body Glove and a few others. They can be found at specialty stores for swimmers or tri-athletes. Hypothermia does not happen suddenly; it comes on slowly as your body temperature drops. It can cause mental confusion, disorientation, and poor judgment. It will eventually lead to sluggishness, loss of motor skills and loss of consciousness, which is never a good thing when you're in the ocean. Hypothermia can be fatal; a man from out of town died here from hypothermia a few winters ago. How hypothermia affects a person depends on time, temperature, activity level, body fat (some people have natural wetsuits), and individual differences in circulation, metabolism, etc. Some people are more resistant to it than others. Most people will become somewhat acclimated to cold water if they swim year 'round here. But everyone has their limit for time and temperature, and if they exceed their limit they will be in trouble. Stay close to shore until you know your limits. This is especially true for out-of-town swimmers who can swim long distances in a warm pool but are not used to cold water. If you start to shiver while swimming or feel disoriented, get out of the water as soon as possible. Put your clothes on as soon as possible. If you're concerned, report to the lifeguards. Distance Know your limits. Do not exceed your limit for the combination of distance and temperature. If you don't know what your limits are, stay close to shore until you can figure them out. For example, if you want to swim a mile for the first time, don't go to the ½ mile buoy and back, go to the ¼ mile buoy twice. After you're confident in your ability to swim a mile, then go to the ½ mile buoy. Don't swim straight out as far as you can; remember you still have to swim back. If you're swimming a long distance, consider getting a friend to accompany you with a kayak or paddleboard. Don't get yourself into trouble by following other swimmers who may be swimming farther than you are used to, or capable of. Nutrition Nutrition will not be extensively covered here, as this is a very specialized topic. Be aware that if you swim long distances, there will be a time beyond which you will need to drink or eat. This is usually more than an hour for most people, though some people can go much longer than that, and some less. However, at some point you will become dehydrated or hypoglycemic if you don't nourish yourself, and this can cause you to become weak or disoriented; again, not a good thing. If you're swimming this long, consider using a kayak escort, as your escort can carry food and drink for you and watch out for your general well-being. If not, sports drinks in foil pouches and gel packs (food) can be carried under your bathing suit. Gel packs are made by Power Bar, Cliff's, and others. Some contain caffeine. Currents Currents in this area are generally weak and not a problem; you won't get swept out to sea. You can determine the direction of a current by observing the direction the kelp is leaning. Check your position occasionally, as the current may take you slightly off your desired course. Currents during big surf can be a problem inside the cove itself. See the section above on Surf. Wildlife Comments on wildlife are general guidelines. Creatures that live in the ocean can do whatever they like; they are not subject to any local laws. Generally, there are few dangers from wildlife in the Cove. The Cove is part of a marine reserve. Fishing and spearfishing are illegal in the cove, though you can do both nearby. Nothing may be removed from the cove, including shells and rocks. Feeding fish is also illegal in the cove. There are lots of fish to see, including the ubiquitous orange Garibaldi, which is the symbol of the club. Other common fish are Kelp bass, Opal eye, California Barracuda, Sheephead, Halibut, Yellowtail, and huge schools of small ("bait") fish such as Smelt, Mackerel, Sardines, Anchovies, etc. At the water's edge you will see Striped Surf Perch and Corbina. Under rocks and ledges you may find Lobster (clawless), Octopus, etc. Stingrays are not common in La Jolla Cove, but are very common on the other side of the bay at La Jolla Shores, where there is much more sand. If you get stung, see the lifeguards for advice and first aid. Bat rays up to 4-5 feet across can be common in the summer outside the Cove and over toward La Jolla Shores. They won't bother you, but keep a safe distance, as they have barbs. Remember Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. Jellyfish are not common here. We do see them occasionally, mostly in the summer, but most of the types here don't sting badly. You may feel an annoying itch if you are stung. The lifeguards can provide first aid and offer advice. Seals and sea lions come into the cove occasionally. Seals are curious and may swim right up to you. They won't bother you. Enjoy the experience, but remember they are wild, they have teeth, and they may bite if they are touched or harassed. You may think they are cute, but they are predators; you wouldn't think they were cute if you were a fish. Sharks are seen occasionally, but they are mostly relatively small (up to 4 feet), benign, bottom feeding varieties such as leopard (not tiger), smoothhound, horn, shovelnose guitarfish, and some more pelagic varieties such as swell, salmon, small blues, etc. Don't bother them. Large numbers (hundreds) of leopard and smoothhound sharks and guitarfish are occasionally seen in the summer across the bay at La Jolla shores. This is definitely worth seeing. Moray Eels can be found occasionally but they live under rock ledges and they won't bother you if you don't bother them or offer them your hand. Shrieking Eels have never been seen in the cove. (They always grow louder when they're about to feed on human flesh!) If you're very lucky while you're out swimming you may see Giant Black Seabass, which can be as large as 500 pounds, or a Sea Turtle, which can be 5 feet across. You may also see Broomtail Grouper, Squid and Dolphins. Even whales come into the bay occasionally. Kelp Kelp and several other varieties of seaweed are common here. Sometimes kelp gets very thick and forms floating "paddies" or rafts. The kelp won't grab you and drag you down. Keep in mind that it floats; it will actually help you float if you lay on top of it. If you run into thick kelp while swimming, you have three choices: go around it, swim across it, or swim under it. The latter is not recommended. To swim across it, keep your head up and out of the water as much as possible, keep your shoulders level, and just swim over it. Push it down with your hands. Watch out for your goggles, as kelp can make them leak or come off. If you get bogged down in the kelp, don't panic; just relax, tread water or float for a moment, and assess the situation. Look for the shortest path out and calmly untangle yourself. If you get caught under the kelp, just calmly spread it apart and get your head out of the water. You can usually break a kelp stalk by bending it and snapping it like a carrot. Or bite it. Red Tide Plankton blooms are fairly common and occasionally the visibility in the water is near zero because of it. One type of plankton is called "Red Tide" because when you are below it and looking up, sunlight can appear slightly red. It generally looks brown when you're swimming in it. Red tide can affect some sea creatures and can cause crustaceans (mussels, clams, etc.) to become toxic when eaten. Some swimmers report that they are sensitive to it and get rashes from it. Most people are not affected by it. Be careful swimming when visibility is near zero, especially around rocks, buoys and other swimmers. If you don't know where the rocks are, maybe you shouldn't swim until visibility improves. Equipment Specialty swimming gear such as swimsuits, speed suits, specialized swimmers' wetsuits, neoprene bathing caps, goggles (including prescription), fins, bodyglide, gel packs, etc. may be found locally at Paradowski's Swim and Sport at 7962 Convoy Court (off Convoy St., north of Clairemont Mesa Blvd.), (858) 569-6946. They are a sponsor of the La Jolla Cove Swim Club. Other stores that specialize in tri-athlete supplies may also have what you need.










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