Shell Beach, La Jolla facts for kids
Shell Beach, La Jolla is a small, sandy spot located in La Jolla, a beautiful community within San Diego, California, United States. It's a fun place to visit, especially if you love exploring the ocean's hidden wonders!
You can reach Shell Beach by walking down a set of concrete steps. These steps begin at the southern edge of Ellen Browning Scripps Park, a lovely park nearby. This beach is situated just north of Children's Pool Beach and south of Boomer Beach and La Jolla Cove.
Exploring Shell Beach
Shell Beach is known for its interesting features, especially during certain times of the year. It's a great spot for nature lovers and anyone curious about marine life.
What Can You See There?
When the ocean water is very low, during what we call "extreme low tides," the southern part of Shell Beach becomes a fantastic place to explore. It turns into a tidepool-like area. A tidepool is like a small, natural aquarium left behind by the ocean as the tide goes out. In these pools, you can often see many different marine creatures. Look closely for tiny crabs, sea anemones, and other small ocean animals!
Just a short distance from Shell Beach, you can often spot Seal Rock. This rock is a favorite resting spot for many harbor seals. These seals are marine mammals that love to bask in the sun on the rocks. It's exciting to see them in their natural home!
Ocean Safety and Features
The waters around Shell Beach have some natural reef structures. These are like underwater rocky areas. There can also be strong rip currents here. A rip current is a powerful, narrow channel of water moving quickly away from the shore. Because of these features, the San Diego Council of Divers offers special tours. These tours help people learn about the "Rocks, Rips and Reefs" in the area, making sure everyone stays safe while enjoying the ocean.
You might also find something special on the sand at Shell Beach: sea glass. Sea glass is made from old glass bottles or jars that have been tumbled and smoothed by the ocean waves and sand over many years. It often looks like colorful, frosted jewels!
