In La Jolla each summer, pregnant leopard sharks gather in warm, shallow water-if you're patient enough to find them.

"Every year, from June through December, a section of the town's main beach, La Jolla Shores, becomes the haunt for hundreds of leopard sharks-the largest such congregation on the planet. Growing up to seven feet in length, their silver-gray skin decorated with a mosaic of dark spots and ovals, these annual visitors are mostly pregnant females, thought to be drawn to La Jolla's warm, shallow waters as a place to incubate their offspring."

"To swim with these sharks, I simply had to hop in my car and drive south. La Jolla sits a mere two-hour drive from my home in Los Angeles, eliminating much of the rigamarole associated with travel built around witnessing spellbinding natural phenomena-the long flight, the seasoned guide, the intimidating gear-all of which can have the paradoxical effect of making you feel further removed from whatever spectacle you're hoping to glimpse."

"Another crucial detail: they are completely harmless to humans. That I became fixated on seeing leopard sharks can be explained, in large part, by my lifelong fascination with the ocean, frequently indulged via surfing and stoked through repeat viewings of nature documentaries."

La Jolla Shores in San Diego becomes home to the planet's largest gathering of leopard sharks annually from June through December. These sinuous creatures, growing up to seven feet long with distinctive silver-gray skin decorated in dark spots and ovals, are mostly pregnant females seeking warm, shallow waters to incubate their offspring. Completely harmless to humans, leopard sharks present a remarkable opportunity for close encounters with marine life. The location's proximity to Los Angeles eliminates typical travel complications associated with wildlife viewing expeditions, making this natural phenomenon accessible without extensive planning, expensive flights, or specialized equipment.

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