Docile Sharks of the La Jolla Ecological Reserve

When anyone mentions the word, "shark," a vision of sharp jagged teeth, and the infamous dorsel fin heading towards the shore comes to mind. Many people curb their seaside activities in fear of a vicious shark attack due to the popular movies, Jaws, Deep Blue Sea, and Open Water. It's unfortunate that sharks get a bad rap because not all sharks are deadly and in fact, many are completely innocuous to humans. They also play a very important role in the marine ecosystem. As keystone predators, they help control many fish and marine mammal populations, and thus help keep the ecosystem healthy. 

Here in La Jolla's Ecological Reserve we encounter a handful of docile sharks. From our Sea Caves Kayak Tours, to our Snorkel Tours , and Kayak Snorkel Tours, we frequently see these innocuous creatures cruising the waters for invertebrates including shrimp, crabs, clam siphons, and small bony fish.

courtesy of wikipedia

Leopard Sharks: These sharks congregate at La Jolla Shores every summer due to a unique set of factors including calm, warm, shallow water and abundant food in the nearby La Jolla and Scripps canyons, kelp forest, and rocky reefs. La Jolla's leopard shark population is almost all females, most of which are pregnant.  The gestation period is 10-11 months. You can snorkel with these beautiful, harmless sharks on our Leopard Shark Snorkel Tour, as well as our La Jolla Cove and Sea Cave Snorkel Tour. 

courtesy of wikipedia

Horn Sharks: The California horn shark mates in December or January. After one or two weeks, the female starts laying eggs, producing two eggs at 11 to 14 days intervals for around four months. The egg is roughly conical in shape with a spiral flange running around the outside, which enables the female to wedge it into a crevice, thereby making it difficult for predators to access. You can see these cool creatures on our La Jolla Cove and Sea Cave Snorkel Tour.

courtesy of divebums 

Soupfin Sharks: This shark is also known as the school shark because it is commonly found among large aggregations of leopard sharks in La Jolla Shores. These creatures can also be seen in the kelp forest and are very shy, often scurrying from divers. They are caught in regions outside the U.S. for their high Vitamin A content.  You can snorkel with these shy, docile sharks on our Leopard Shark Snorkel Tour, as well as our La Jolla Cove and Sea Cave Snorkel Tour.