California Sea Lions Bodysurfing at La Jolla Cove

By January 15, 2024January 22nd, 2024La Jolla, Sea Lion

I’ve been waiting and watching for weeks for the California sea lions at La Jolla Cove to begin bodysurfing. It’s usually a winter behavior.  I’ve seen small bouts of surfing from them recently but nothing worth photographing, until a few days ago. I guess they were waiting for last June’s pups to reach a certain age, or perhaps it is related to tides and swell.  In any event, there has been some great sea lion bodysurfing at La Jolla Cove the past few days and I suspect it will continue on and off as it does each winter. Here are a few of my favorites from this weekend.  Photographing sea lions bodysurfing in La Jolla has been a long term project of mine, since at least 2008.  If you like these, check out a previous group of photos of sea lions bodysurfing at Boomer Beach, or more California sea lion photos.    Cheers, and thanks for looking!

California sea lion surfing in a wave at La Jolla Cove, San Diego, Zalophus californianus

California sea lion surfing in a wave at La Jolla Cove, San Diego.
Image ID: 40089
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California

A California Sea Lion Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at La Jolla Cove, Zalophus californianus

A California Sea Lion Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at La Jolla Cove.
Image ID: 40050
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California

A California Sea Lion Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at La Jolla Cove, Zalophus californianus

A California Sea Lion Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at La Jolla Cove.
Image ID: 40051
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California

California sea lions surfing in a wave at La Jolla Cove, San Diego, Zalophus californianus

California sea lions surfing in a wave at La Jolla Cove, San Diego.
Image ID: 40088
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California

A California Sea Lion Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at Boomer Beach in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

A California Sea Lion Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at Boomer Beach in La Jolla.
Image ID: 40052
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California

California Sea Lions Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at La Jolla Cove, Zalophus californianus

California Sea Lions Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at La Jolla Cove.
Image ID: 40053
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California

California Sea Lions Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at La Jolla Cove, Zalophus californianus

California Sea Lions Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at La Jolla Cove.
Image ID: 40054
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California

A California Sea Lion Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at Boomer Beach in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

A California Sea Lion Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at Boomer Beach in La Jolla.
Image ID: 40055
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California

A California Sea Lion Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at Boomer Beach in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

A California Sea Lion Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at Boomer Beach in La Jolla.
Image ID: 40057
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California

California Sea Lions Bodysurfing in Big Waves at Boomer Beach in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

California Sea Lions Bodysurfing in Big Waves at Boomer Beach in La Jolla.
Image ID: 40061
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California

California Sea Lions Bodysurfing in Big Waves at Boomer Beach in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

California Sea Lions Bodysurfing in Big Waves at Boomer Beach in La Jolla.
Image ID: 40056
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California

A California Sea Lion Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at Boomer Beach in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

A California Sea Lion Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at Boomer Beach in La Jolla.
Image ID: 40058
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California

A California Sea Lion Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at Boomer Beach in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

A California Sea Lion Bodysurfing on a Big Wave at Boomer Beach in La Jolla.
Image ID: 40060
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California

California Sea Lions Bodysurfing in Big Waves at Boomer Beach in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus

California Sea Lions Bodysurfing in Big Waves at Boomer Beach in La Jolla.
Image ID: 40059
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California

California sea lion surfing in a wave at La Jolla Cove, San Diego, Zalophus californianus

California sea lion surfing in a wave at La Jolla Cove, San Diego.
Image ID: 40087
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California

About Phil Colla

I am a natural history photographer. I enjoy making compelling images in the ocean, on land, and in the air. I have maintained the Natural History Photography blog since 2005 and my searchable Natural History Photography Library since 1997. Here are some tear sheets and behind the scenes views. Thanks for looking!