Now is the time to view abundant leopard sharks in La Jolla coastal waters, and participating in one of Everyday California’s eco-friendly kayak and snorkeling tours is one of the best ways to experience this seasonal event.
A local ocean adventure and lifestyle brand, Everyday California is owned by Chris Lynch at 2261 Avenida de la Playa in La Jolla Shores. The company offers kayak and snorkeling tours of the La Jolla Ecological Reserve, one of the world’s top-ten snorkel destinations.
Everyday California’s ocean adventure guests have the unique opportunity to safely approach not only the leopard sharks, which are harmless to humans, but also garibaldi, shovel nose guitar fish, dolphins, turtles, and other species endemic to offshore La Jolla.
San Diego-Scripps Coastal Marine Conservation Area and adjoining Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve are adjoining marine protected areas that extend offshore from La Jolla covering 2.51 square miles. San Diego-Scripps Coastal prohibits the taking of all living marine resources except that coastal pelagic species, not including market squid, may be taken recreationally by hook and line. Matlahuayl prohibits the taking of all living marine resources.
“Our kayak tours go to the seven sea caves of La Jolla, passing through an ecosystem known as the sandy flats, one of four microhabitats in La Jolla’s protected marine reserve,” said Alexandra Mier Y Teran, Everyday California’s marketing coordinator. “We also run a snorkeling tour of La Jolla that is the best opportunity to go one-on-one with a leopard shark in small groups, with a ratio of 10 people to one tour guide.”
The leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) is a species of houndshark found along the Pacific Coast from Oregon to Mazatlan, Mexico. Typically measuring 3.9 to 4.9 feet long, this slender-bodied shark is known for its striking pattern of black saddle-like markings and large spots over its back, from which it derives its name.
Large schools of leopard sharks are a common sight in bays and estuaries swimming over sandy or muddy flats near kelp beds and reefs in water less than 13 feet deep. Active-swimming predators, leopard sharks mainly forge for clams, spoonworms, crabs, shrimp, bony fish, and fish eggs. From March to June, the female gives birth to as many as 37 young. The leopard shark is caught by commercial and recreational fisheries for food and the aquarium trade.
Typically, leopard sharks come to La Jolla’s warming waters in July and linger there, sometimes into November. “Most of the sharks there are females that use the warm water to speed up their gestation periods,” said Teran, who pointed out Everyday California’s guests can choose to bring their own wetsuits and gear or rent equipment – masks, snorkels, fins, etc. – through their company before setting out on an ocean tour to see “leopard shark city,” as it is nicknamed, up close and personal.
“It’s the safest way to go swimming with sharks, and a lot of locals don’t even know it’s happening every year in La Jolla,” said Teran of their ocean adventures. “We can run upwards of six tours a day between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.”
Besides conducting snorkeling and kayaking tours, and renting equipment for those activities, Everyday California also offers kid’s surf lessons and surf camps in the summer. The company also creates and sells ocean-safe sunscreen.
Everyday California also prides itself on its partnership with 1% For the Planet, donating a portion of each purchase to environmental nonprofits such as GreenWave and Urban Surf 4 Kids, at no cost to the consumer.
“We all want more beach days in the future, and these are some of the steps we’re taking to protect the oceans that we love,” said the company at everydaycalifornia.com.
EVERYDAY CALIFORNIA
Where: 2261 Avenida de la Playa.
Contact: everydaycalifornia.com.
