arrow-down arrow-left arrow-right arrow-up play-button plus tab-indicator dots close menu search facebook google-plus instagram pinterest rss twitter tiktok youtube rss-two heart Check FeaturedBadge linkedin minus apps placeholder linkedin

Swimming with Leopard Sharks

An unconventional way to enjoy the California coastline

Oh the stories you’ll tell when you say you’ve been swimming with sharks in San Diego.

As spring warms into summer, San Diego brings out the sharks! But don't be alarmed, they're harmless Leopard sharks congregating in the shallows for breeding season. These graceful creatures are typically 4-5 feet long, covered with the bold, yellow and black patterns from which they get their colorful name.

You may be lucky enough to spot their shadowy outlines from a surfboard or kayak, but the best way to get up close and personal with the sharks is to swim with them. And, the best place to start your adventure is from the Marine Room restaurant at the extreme south end of La Jolla Shores Beach.

Although it's usually relatively calm and safe at this location, there can be surf, especially in the winter. On a normal day, the sharks can be found just beyond the surf in 4-8 feet of water, even shallower on a calm day. You don't need serious dive equipment, just a mask or swim goggles will do the trick. Leopard shards are fairly timid but if you're patient and refrain from chasing after them, the sharks will pass close enough for a good look.

Leopard sharks are bottom feeders that eat shellfish and other small prey. Their mouths are narrow and their teeth small, so they present no danger to humans. Be on the lookout for stingrays however, which hide on the sandy bottom and pack a painful punch. Virtually all stingray injuries are the result of stepping on one, so do the "stingray shuffle" and drag your feet across the bottom, rather than lifting them. This will warn the rays of your approach and keep them from getting underfoot.

To increase your odds of finding the sharks and enhance your shark diving encounter, consider taking a guided tour with one of the excellent beach outfitters in La Jolla Shores.

Find a place to stay

Book online or call 1-800-350-6205 to speak with a local expert
Book Now

Related Articles and Features

Deals just for you

Restaurants

HAPPY HOUR AT ALLEGRO

Allegro Restaurant and Bar
Valid: Apr 18, 2024 - ongoing

Join us at Allegro for our Happy Hour Specials! Available Sunday - Thursday from 4-6pm. $6 House Wine by the Glass, $8 Well Drinks, Oysters and more!   See why we've been rated one of Little...

Accommodation

Save on Upgraded Rooms & Suites

Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Valid: Jul 22, 2024 - ongoing

Valid at participating hotels throughout the U.S., Canada, Caribbean and Latin America only. Offer varies by property, brand, and destination. Check rate details for full offer details.   ...

Restaurants

SHOW YOUR BADGE

Barleymash
Valid: Sep 9, 2024 - ongoing

Receive 1/2 off drinks with your San Diego Convention Center Badge!  Monday-Friday 3PM-5PM

Events to check out

Event

Port of San Diego's Day at the Docks

Apr 13, 2025

A San Diego sport fishing tradition, The Port Of San Diego’s Day At The Docks is the West Coast’s largest public celebration of sport fishing. Signaling the official start of Southern...

Event

San Diego French Film Festival

May 4 - May 7, 2025

San Diego Francophone Event of the Year

Event

La Jolla Half Marathon & Shores 5K

May 17, 2025

The La Jolla Half Marathon is one of America's most picturesque and beautiful point-to-point races. Starting at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the course follows a scenic coastal route before reaching the...

Stay in touch

Sign up to receive the latest news, events, and updates about San Diego. Our monthly and weekly newsletters will keep you informed about the latest and greatest happenings in the destination.

Sign Up

Partners

Explore

Plan

Stay

Follow Us

Language:

English | Change Language

Select your country or region

China
Germany
Great Britain
Japan
Mexico
Korea
Switzerland
Brazil
France
Australia
Canada
USA

Or use Google Translate

Afrikaans
Albanian
Arabic
Belarusian
Bulgarian
Croatian
Danish
Deutsch
Español
Estonian
Filipino
Finnish
Francais
Georgian
Greek
Haitian-Creole
Hebrew
Hindi
Hungarian
Icelandic
Indonesian
Irish
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Latvian
Lithuanian
Macedonian
Malay
Maltese
Nederlands
Norwegian
Persian
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Serbian
Slovak
Slovenian
Swahili
Swedish
Telugu
Thai
Turkish
Ukranian
Vietnamese
Yiddish
PrevNext
 2025
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930