A horrific discovery was made along the shoreline of the country’s top beach — prompting a police investigation.

A bystander spotted a body at La Jolla Cove and alerted the San Diego Police Department around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday after spotting the body in about 2 feet of shallow water, according to FOX 5/KUSI.

San Diego Fire-Rescue crews and lifeguards responded to the scene to retrieve the corpse.

A police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death is expected, according to fire officials who spoke with FOX 5/KUSI.

La Jolla Cove, the beach area near where the body was found, was named the No. 1 beach in America by TripAdvisor this year. It is known for its crystal-clear waters, sea lions and sandstone cliffs.

The Cove is located 13 miles outside of downtown San Diego and ideal for snorkeling during the summer months. It’s also part of a protected marine reserve.

TripAdvisor ranked the beaches based on a “high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions” from users over a year-long period, adding that fewer than 1% achieve the milestone.

The rankings were determined by global TripAdvisor reviews between Nov. 30, 2024, and Dec. 1, 2025.