Marine Street Beach

Photo by Richard Wilson

Marine Street Beach is a beach located in San Diego, California, south of La Jolla Cove. This wide white sand beach rests between two rock reef points, Little Point (south side) and Horseshoe (north side). The surf here is rough and not suitable for swimming but nonetheless this spot is popular with body surfers and body boarders. Marine Street Beach has lifeguards in the summer, and at weekends in the spring and fall. There are no public bathrooms, picnic areas or parking lot; parking is on the street.^[1]

Marine Street has a long history of being a "Locals Only" beach. Though not as bad as some beaches in LA County, localism is alive and well at Marine Street. One of the most iconic images of the beach is the center wall that reads "Locals Only" year round. Despite constant attempts from the city to cover it, relentlessly it returns. Many locals will argue that the graffiti is a reminder to tourists be cautious when planning to visit or getting in the water, as it is dangerous.

The Street has been made famous because of its vicious shore break. Most would agree that it is one of the most insane natural shore breaks in the world. Not only that, but much, if not all of the breaks fame comes from Bodyboarders/Bodysurfers/Surfers who ride the waves and Photographers who capture the chaos. Many famous Ocean Photographers have shot here, the most famous being Clark Little. It has been a stepping stone for many locals looking to venture into big surf and Photographers trying to get into the community. Unfortunately, because of its recent fame Marine Street has had an influx of patrons. This caused San Diego Lifeguards to double the amount of guards on duty at any given time. The beach has been the cause of countless injuries and rescues. Those not familiar with the break underestimate how volatile it can become at a moments notice and commonly get swept out or thrown on the sand. During long periods of big swell, much of the sand on the beach leaves and exposes the rocks below. This holds true for the sand underwater as well. This makes for dangerous rides and unpredictable conditions.

References

1. ↑ sandiegobeaches.com website, Marine Street Beach La Jolla Accessed 2014-5-11

Coordinates: 32°50′13″N 117°16′55″W / 32.837°N 117.282°W / 32.837; -117.282