I am heading to Boca for thanksgiving and was planning on taking a long swim in the ocean, this will be my first extended ocean swim and I have the following questions. Are there any surf swimming clubs in south florida. Should I just go out past the break and parallel the shore or shoudl I go out a ways and come back in multiple times
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Thanks in advance
Good question. I live in Ohio, so have no idea. Does it depend on the beach?
Never been to Boca so can’t comment on the particular location. Ocean swim here on the other coast (LA) most of the summer. Normally head out past the breakers (or pier where I am) and swim parallel to shore for however long you feel like then head back to shore a mile or two up the beach. Repeated in-and-outs in the same area is a good work out and helps build confidence in the waves. Gets tiring if you’re not used to it. Would never recommend heading too far from shore (ie don’t swim out a mile then turn round and wonder where the hell the beach went).
If you’re new to it, make sure you swim somewhere there are lifeguards working, tell them what you’re doing and ask them about the conditions (rip tides, sandbars, pollution etc), wear a brightly colored cap and try to find someone else to swim with.
Here it’s down to about 64 now so a wetsuit would be pretty much required. I think you’re probably ok in Florida though.
Ask the local Beach Patrol if you can join in on there morning swim. If they are a large enough BP they should have daily workouts.