Marine Room Turtle Reef

Marine Room Turtle Reef is a delightful and accessible shore dive site in the La Jolla area of San Diego — a shallow rocky reef system named for its proximity to the legendary Marine Room restaurant, whose windows sometimes look directly into the waves during extreme high tides, and for the Hawaiian green sea turtles that have taken up residence in its waters. The reef lies immediately offshore in depths of just 5 to 26 feet (the site data indicates a max depth of 8 meters / approximately 26 feet), making it one of the shallowest and most beginner-friendly sites in the San Diego diving circuit. Entry is a straightforward wade from the beach in front of the Marine Room, and the rocky reef begins almost immediately offshore beneath the surfline. The underwater topography features irregular rocky reef covered in the typical Southern California rocky subtidal community: encrusting coralline algae, aggregating anemones, and a variety of invertebrates including nudibranchs, hermit crabs, and sea stars. Garibaldi are present throughout the reef, their orange forms visible from considerable distance in the typically good La Jolla visibility. The defining attraction, however, is the presence of Hawaiian green sea turtles — a population that has been reliably resident in La Jolla's waters in recent years, resting on the rocky bottom and feeding on algae in the shallows. Encounters with these gentle reptiles at such accessible, shallow depths are thrilling for beginners and a pleasant surprise for more experienced divers who associate turtle encounters with tropical waters. Kelp bass work through the low-lying reef structure, and bat rays occasionally cruise the sandy patches between rocky areas. The shallow depth makes this site ideal for extended observation, underwater photography, and building ocean comfort. It is one of La Jolla's most welcoming and photogenic beginner sites.