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Most of the seals lie lazily in the mid-morning sunshine, motionless, except for the occasional stretch of a flipper. A smaller seal charges head first into a wave only to be pushed back onto the beach.

It’s another day at La Jolla Cove, but the seals are not the only ones who have learned to appreciate the unique environment. Families, tourists, scuba divers, snorkelers, competitive swimmers, kayakers and more come to enjoy the cove that is formed by the intersection of the La Jolla shores and the peninsula of cliffs that run west into the ocean.

Various companies throughout San Diego even lead trips to La Jolla Cove for office outings. Roberto Gutierrez, language and communicative disorders graduate student, used to lead trips for La Jolla Sea Caves Kayaks and Aqua Adventures. These trips normally leave from the beach in La Jolla and make their way to the caves.

“There are roughly nine caves,” Gutierrez said. “And you can paddle in three or four of them.”

These Kayak trips cost around $45 per person. But check the weather forecast because these trips can be limited by the weather or the size of the swells, but on a calm day it is possible to take a closer look.

“If conditions are permitting you can snorkel around and in the caves and go in the underwater ones,” Gutierrez said. “You can snorkel with garibaldi and the guitar fish.”

Many of the caves are visible from the surface and very large, but others, as Gutierrez pointed out, can only be accessed by swimming below the surface of the water. One of these underwater tunnels is inside the largest of the caves. After squeezing through a small archway and then diving below the surface, the black entrance to the tunnel can be seen.

Depending on the time of day and the amount of light, the glittering turquoise exit only becomes visible after swimming halfway through the long corridor. Other caves are completely black, and it is only faith and hope that guides a brave person to the air on the other side.

Often, these tunnels are covered with sharp barnacles or rocks, which can be especially painful if the strong swells or currents push a swimmer into rocky sides.

“It’s not daring, but it takes a little bit of guts,” Gutierrez said.

But the effort can be rewarding. One of the caves begins with a tight underwater squeeze, but opens up to a large dark room tall enough to stand up in.

“You’re restricted by your ability to swim, but if you’re a good swimmer you can see the smaller crevices,” Gutierrez said. “Just proceed with caution.

“It helps to read the flow of the water, otherwise you can get banged around or stuck.”

He suggests bringing a wet suit, fins and a snorkel mask to assist individuals when making the daring dives.

One neat place to check out would be a little spot that can be accessed from Coast Boulevard, off of Prospect Place. After stopping by the lifeguard tower and walking down the stairs, the caves are located east and around the corner from the beach.

This also means that swimmers are not in view of the lifeguard tower when entering the caves, which is why Gutierrez believes people should be honest and aware of their ability before they begin their swim.

It isn’t just the thrill that brings people to the area. In these caves and cliffs is an abundance of marine life, from the large harbor seals and sea lions to the small, bright-orange garibaldi that seem to glow against the backdrop of the dark green kelp.

Jesse Casellini has seen some extraordinary things under the water. Casellini is the manager of the La Jolla branch of OEX, which is one of the scuba diving companies in San Diego.

Casellini can name a number of fish and types of kelp that grow on the cliffs. One of his favorites is the lobster.

“Because it’s a reserve, the lobsters will get huge,” he said. “Some of them are the size of a small dog.” Sometimes dolphins can be seen nearby and, on a lucky day, a gray whale may come close enough to shore.

The area still offers fun and relaxation for those wishing for a dryer excursion. One relaxing spot would be Ellen Browning Scripps Park. The large grass area on top of the cliffs is the perfect place to kick a ball, throw a Frisbee or just lay out under the sun and the path along the cliff edge.

For safety information contact the San Diego Lifeguard Services at 619-221-8899. The LJCSC Web site, www.lajollaswimclub.org, offers more information.