La Jolla’s Black’s Beach, popular with UC San Diego students and locals looking for a more secluded place to sun- and sea-bathe, was recently the subject of some lifesaving efforts by UCSD and the city. Ensuring the safety of beachgoers, the university renewed its contract with the city to maintain full-time lifeguard services at the beach, which is famous for its natural beauty and world-renowned surf break. Lifeguard services at the beach had been reduced in the past because of budget cuts. Last March, however, the university, working with the city, helped restore year-round patrols. At the time, the closest city lifeguards to the beach were at La Jolla Shores, with a response time of about eight minutes. Since services were restored one year ago, lifeguards at Black’s Beach have made 67 water rescues, performed 360 minor medical aids as well as 17 serious medical aids requiring hospital transport, according to a statement from UCSD. “UC San Diego is providing an absolutely essential public service,” said Lifeguard Services Lt. John Everhart. “Having lifeguards staff Black’s Beach saves lives. It’s a remote beach that is popular with surfers, swimmers and boogie boarders.  Having lifeguards on this stretch of beach is essential and the university should be commended for their dedication to keeping both their students, and the community at large, safe.” In other beach news, La Jolla’s beaches have helped land San Diego among TripAdvisor’s Top 10 U.S. beach destinations. The list, which came out last week, named San Diego the ninth best beach destination in the country. TripAdvisor crunched its user-review data to find which destinations members liked best over the past year. San Diego was the only beach destination in California to make the top 10, passing Malibu and other Los Angeles locations. Two La Jolla beaches stood out to the website’s users. La Jolla Shores and Black’s Beach both made impressions on visitors, with users on the trip-planning website noting that seals and coves made the Shores unique and that the secluded nature of Black’s Beach made it a must-see. “Beaches and bays dot the coast of California’s second-largest city,” noted the website, explaining San Diego’s popularity. “Top-rated, family-friendly Coronado Beach is set among turn-of-the-century mansions. Other gorgeous sandy spots include Black’s Beach, where sunbathers go au naturel, and La Jolla Shores, popular for snorkeling and kayaking.”