Why is La Jolla’s Water So Crystal Clear Right Now?
If you’ve scrolled through social media or taken a stroll along the coast of La Jolla (LaJolla.com) recently, you might have noticed the water is crystal clear. Here’s why.
Recent viral footage from La Jolla Shores, Scripps Pier, and Black’s Beach show extraordinarily clear water. The Caribbean-like turquoise water, highly unusual for San Diego’s coastlines, lead some commenters to question whether the clips are AI-generated.
They aren’t. Local diver and ocean observer Nautical Nick recently posted about the phenomenon on Instagram. “60 feet of visibility at La Jolla Shores today,” he wrote. “13 years of diving in San Diego and this is the clearest water I have ever seen here.”
Oceanographers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and researchers from UC San Diego told SURFER that the pristine conditions are the result of a rare alignment of ocean and weather factors:
- Strong El Nino conditions and oceanic Kelvin waves have pushed unusually warm water along the coast, suppressing the deep-ocean upwelling of nutrients that normally fuels murky green phytoplankton blooms.
- At the same time, stretches of mild weather and light offshore Santa Ana winds have kept the surface calm instead of churning up sand.
- Finally, the natural headland of Point La Jolla has shielded La Jolla Shores and the submarine canyon from recent south swells that stirred up sediment elsewhere along the coast.
While the clear La Jolla water is a dream for snorkelers, scuba divers, and photographers, marine biologists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography note there is a catch. Prolonged periods of warm and low-nutrient water can stress local marine ecosystems and giant kelp forests, making this tropical spectacle both a breathtaking sight and a reminder of shifting ocean patterns.
Want to make the most of the crystal clear water while it lasts? Check out our guide to scuba diving in La Jolla.
Media credit: Banner image licensed from Adobe
Mike Peterson is a writer, editor, and strategist based in San Diego. When he’s not writing and editing the La Jolla news, you can often find him practicing yoga, rock climbing, or exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog.
