Whale Watching in Victoria. Polar Bear. Whale and Dolphin Watching. Point Reyes Whale Watching. Seal Watching. Dolphin and Whale Watching. Elephant Seals. Elephant Seal Watching. Seal Pups. Monk Seals. Seal Snorkeling. Land-Based Whale Watching. Seals in the Wadden Sea.
Humpback Whales. Sea lion. The seals are Pacific harbor seals, which can be found from California to Alaska. The sea lions are California sea lions, which live as far north as Alaska and as far south as Mexico. The best seal sightings happen from mid-January to mid-March, when they gather in large numbers for their pupping season. They can be seen all year, but usually not in such big groups.
Sea lion sightings generally remain constant throughout the year. Pinnipeds can be seen in La Jolla any time of day, but just like humans, they do like to have lunch in the mid-day. Even attempting to do so is illegal under the act. You should follow the marine life viewing guidelines from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA , which state that you should always maintain a distance of at least 50 yards from seals and sea lions.
If you want to see them up close, the best option for legal viewing is from the water. These curious animals will often approach swimmers and kayakers in the water. Humans cannot approach them, but they can come as close to us as they want.
NOAA is currently creating guidelines for drone operations near marine mammals, so at this time there are no definite rules. Seals are generally docile, but will bite if they feel threatened. Sea lions are known to be more aggressive, but attacks on humans are rare. Their bites can be dangerous, not only because of their sharp teeth, but because their mouths are full of harmful bacteria.
Even a minor bite has a large chance of infection, and usually needs to be treated with antibiotics. Stick to the 50 yard guideline, and you and they will be perfectly safe. If you see an injured, stranded, or entangled marine mammal or sea turtle in San Diego, NOAA asks that you call SeaWorld, who has one of the largest animal rescue operations in the world. Camps Surf Camps. Seven Sea Caves of La Jolla. Sea lions often hang out inside the cave.
Be aware that the sandstone cliffs can be unstable, so stay away from the edges. For the coolest view of sea lions at the caves, you can see them from the water on a kayak or stand up paddle board.
Guests on our Sea Cave Kayak Tour often encounter sea lions swimming around the kayaks in addition to seeing them on the rocks. Furthermore, those in La Jolla are accustomed to tourists and have a high tolerance for crowds. Out of stress, they may trample other sea lions or seals as they attempt to escape you.
If they remain in place, they could bite you. And, of course, they could abandon their pups. By nature, these animals live peacefully with humans. Dogs must remain on leashes in areas where sea lions and seals are present.
Not only could they scare them, but according to signs around La Jolla, dogs could also transfer diseases to seals and sea lions. The photos you see in this article were taken with my iPhone 7. That, coupled with them blending into the background, makes a good camera advantageous when visiting seals and sea lions in San Diego.
There are a number of ways to observe them from the water. They include:. The best time to witness a live seal birth in San Diego is in February and early March. Nonetheless, I still encountered a number of adorable sea lion pups.
According to the Seal Conservancy , seal pup births in exceeded those in the previous two years. Since most pups are born in February, this offers plenty of time for early and late births along with time for nursing and rearing.
Sea lions tend to be less conspicuous than seals when giving birth. They give birth from May — June on land or in the water. Sea lion pups can nurse for almost a year. What does this mean for you?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, parking in La Jolla is brutal. La Jolla is known for its seals and sea lions, but its also famous for its beautiful beaches, chic downtown, and luxurious, gawk-worthy houses. Unfortunately, the best parking to see sea lions and seals in La Jolla involves strict time limits, with most being a maximum of two to three hours.
While this is technically enough time to experience the sea lions and seals, many people prefer to stay much longer. The closest and thus, timed parking to the sea lions and seals in La Jolla is on Coast Boulevard. However, your best option is to try to find street parking in La Jolla, which is free and without time limits. That being said, this is very difficult, especially during the peak tourist season in the summer.
Alternatively, you can try to secure parking in downtown La Jolla, which is a reasonable walk 5 — 15 minutes, depending on your location to the coast. If you plan on going off the sidewalk to get closer to seals and sea lions in designated areas, wear sneakers.
The paths are dirt with only sporadic dirt notches to help you climb up and down the slope. Want another reason to wear sneakers? Here it is: sea lions and seals poop a lot, and you could step in it. Your next best option is to contact the marine mammal rescue number at Sea World. Their number is: Similarly, if you notice a person mistreating a sea lion or seal, try finding a ranger or lifeguard first. If that fails, contact the non-emergency San Diego Police line at or the NOAA law enforcement office at: Keep in mind that some seals and sea lions in San Diego are tagged.
From my experience, the tags were red or orange, making them look like an injury at first glance. I encountered a couple of rangers during my visits to La Jolla. It was heartening to see a ranger specifically monitoring the area of La Jolla Cove where people are allowed to get closer to the sea lions and seals.
I was impressed to only find the nauseating stench in a stretch near—but not at—La Jolla Cove. This way, you might have the chance to see some seals before beachgoers get there. For accessible beach destinations, make sure to check out our post on Wheelchair Accessible Beaches in San Diego.
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