Taking vacation in Pensacola- any recommended pools in the area?
Taking vacation in Pensacola- any recommended pools in the area?
50 meter outdoor pool at The Club in Gulf Breeze. THere is a pool downtown under the 110 overpass. I think it is a couple of bucks for that one. Otherwise, why use a pool? The water is 80 degrees right now. There are tons of open water swimming venues.
Go to The Portifino - good indoor pool or there is that thing called the ocean you can try.
When I left P’cola in 2005, they were rebuilding the 50m pool at the University of West Florida after it was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. Prior to that, you could swim there for a couple bucks, but I don’t know now. May be worth looking into. The pool under 110 was good if you timed it right, but I have swam there and had to fight off 50 children who didn’t acknowledge the existence of lane lines. But like others have stated, the gulf is the place to be.
Well, I’ve only done two pool sprints, so haven’t taken the plunge into open water yet.
If I get the chance, where is the best (read: safest) place to try my first open water swi!m while there?
As for open water places to swim, I lived on Perdido Key and swam right out my back door, and I’ve swam at Pensacola Beach as well. I’d just get out past the break and swim parallel to the shore. If you’re not a strong swimmer, I realize that may sound daunting, but IME, even if you get caught in a rip, you’re far enough off shore that it’s not normally strong enough to take you out much further, and you’re already swimming across it anyway. Hopefully the talk of rip currents doesn’t freak you out, but they exist. Just find a couple hundred yards (a couple condos distance) that is calm and then swim back and forth. I like that much better than the pool.
The water on the north side of the island at Pensacola Beach is the bay. That’s normally calm. When people mention Portofino, the water to the north is (my guess) where they’re talking about. However, watch out for boats! In some of that area, there are ‘no wake’ buoys you can sight off of.
Remember, you only have to have a 3-ish feet of water, so don’t get in a spot where you feel like you’re in over your head, no pun intended.
what area of pensacola are you going to be staying? the reason i ask is bc if you are in perdido or gulf breeze your options will be drastically different.
what area of pensacola are you going to be staying? the reason i ask is bc if you are in perdido or gulf breeze your options will be drastically different.
This thread is timely. I’ll be staying in Miramar Beach, FL the week of July 13. I planned to just open water swim, but all this talk of rip tides has made me a bit nervous! Here I thought all I had to worry about was sharks…
Camping on Ft Pickens a few days then heading north in Escambia county for the remainder of the week.
what area of pensacola are you going to be staying? the reason i ask is bc if you are in perdido or gulf breeze your options will be drastically different.
This thread is timely. I’ll be staying in Miramar Beach, FL the week of July 13. I planned to just open water swim, but all this talk of rip tides has made me a bit nervous! Here I thought all I had to worry about was sharks…
Rip tides are nothing for a competent swimmer. If you can swim 1/2 mile or so without stopping, no Florida panhandle rip tide is going to be an issue. Just stay calm and swim. I’ve been in several rip tides. No big deal. I’ve also seen sharks while swimming. A shark expert told me the best thing to do is to stop and stay vertical in the water. Sharks don’t understand vertical prey and will likely snoop around and then leave you alone. Probably ; )
My advice is go to University of West Florida for a pool. 3 bucks and the widest range of house IMO http://uwf.edu/offices/recreation-and-sports-services/aquatics/aquatic-center-information/
If you are out at Ft. Pickens you can just swim on the sound side parallel to shore east of the actual Ft, going back towards Pensacola Beach. There is a a ledge where it stays pretty shallow, you can touch, but deep enough to swim for about 20-30 yards out.
Or go to quiet water beach. Also on the sound side.