Did you know that the sevengill shark population at The Cove drastically increases in March and April? You can join us for the opportunity to dive with sevengill sharks in La Jolla this spring! A couple of years ago, they started appearing in the San Diego area in large numbers. It turns out that they migrate around the La Jolla Cove to give birth and mate during the spring.
What Are Sevengill Sharks?
As you may have guessed, they’re named after their seven paired gill slits, whereas most sharks only have five. They are prehistoric-looking sharks that are easily identifiable by their unique features and behaviors. They have a single dorsal fin placed very far back along the spine, a broad nose, and a thick body shape. The upper lobe of their tail fin is much longer than the bottom one. If this body shape starts to sound familiar, you may have noticed that our logo is a sevengill shark! They can reach almost 10 feet in length and weigh up to 236 pounds. These coastal sharks tend to stay in water less than 165 feet deep, swimming along the seafloor. They prefer rocky bottom, sandy, and muddy habitats, so some of the best encounters are along the ocean floor or in the kelp forests.
Remember, sevengill sharks are their ecosystem apex predators in San Diego and La Jolla. We do not recommend chasing after them but settling down and patiently waiting for them to return. Please do not touch, aggravate, or antagonize them in any way. They will become aggressive if provoked and are considered potentially dangerous for humans.
Why La Jolla Cove?
During March and April, sevengill sharks congregate heavily around the La Jolla Cove. It’s believed that they migrate to the shallow depths here to mate and give birth. At San Diego Scuba Guide we dive daily, which lets us stay up to date on the current sightings in the area. The sevengill “hot spots” tend to change frequently, so we stay as up-to-date as possible to bring you to some of the best locations. Studies suggest that they are social creatures, so if you see one, there’s likely another nearby!
Their diet mainly consists of bony fish, seals, dolphins, rays, other sharks, and dead matter. They use their jagged upper teeth to grasp prey and lower comb-shaped teeth for cutting. Even these hunters need to keep an eye out for potential predators. Larger sharks and other members of their own species can be potential enemies.
Dive With Us
If you’re ready to dive with the stunning sevengill sharks in La Jolla, give us a call! These are some of our favorite animals to swim with, and we can’t wait for you to experience it as well. If you want to join us on one of our daily scuba adventures, you can call us at (858) 397-8213 or contact us directly on our website.