there for a few days…pools and good sites for open water swim…??? thanks…
ryg
There is a YMCA like an hour away off island. My parents have a condo down there, and whenever I got to visit, I never know where to swim. Biking is pretty sparce too, since the whole island is private.
“open water swim…???”
Um, the ocean? You ARE on an ISLAND… 
i know i am at the ocean numbnuts…i am asking about a good pier,etc…
(some folks cant pass up an opportunity to be a smart ass)…
I usually ocean swim, as long as you aren’t there in august (jellyfish). Or, the westin has one lap lane in outdoor pool. Go early, before 7 to avoid kids swimming all over you. If you come up from the beach, they don’t question you. Where are you staying?
The island has something like 18 miles of beach - all open to the public. Just pick a spot and jump in. The terrain of the beaches there is very gently sloping so the water tends to be tame and shallow. I usually stay in the area along South Forest Beach Drive and go out in the early morning when the tide is high and winds are low. Swim parallel to the shore and you’ll be fine.
Enjoy.
BTW the beaches at low tide are awesome for running workouts. For biking, either ride a MTB on the beach or get off the island.
I will respond tomorrow, but I think you can swim at a recreation center on the island. The center host a 5 and 10 k on Thanksgiving. Contact Go Tri Sports at http://www.gotrisports.com or 843.842.4786. Go Tri Sports will have most of your needs and the owners will be able to direct you where to train. There are several good triathletes on the island. There are lots of bike paths, but don’t plan on riding them fast.
“i know i am at the ocean numbnuts…i am asking about a good pier,etc…”
Easy killer…I added the emoticon for a reason…blood pressure back down yet?
Island Recreation Center on Island
Where did you choose to swim when you visited HH?
I’m headed down there today. And I’m not interested in putting my wetsuit on just to go solo in the ocean and tease those sharks that are always hunting me.
I grew up there!
As mentioned the Rec Center is a good place to swim. They have a masters program, I believe they have two early morning sessions everyday and possibly an afternoon or evening session a couple days a week. They also have open swim times, but the youth team swims there too so make sure you check the times before showing up.
For open water swims I always go to Coligne Beach, down by the traffic circle. There is a large free parking lot off of the traffic circle across the street from the Holiday Inn. You enter the lot from Pope Ave just before the traffic circle. I am not sure if they have life guards there or not, it is a little early in the year, so you might want to take someone with you. There can be rip tides on HHI.
Also, as mentioned contact Go Tri Sports. Al organizes weekend group stuff. I think he does a Sat. open water swim/run brick work out and a Sunday group ride.
I hope you enjoy the Island!
As others have said, you can simply walk into the Ocean and OW swim absolutely anywhere on the island. The beaches are gently sloping, open to the public, rock and coral free, shallow and tame (the beaches are also great for running at low tide). You don’t need to worry about a specific “spot”. Sharks and other aquatic wildlife are pretty much non-existent in that part of the world. 18 inch (harmless) sand shark is the only thing I’ve ever seen - and that was on the end of a fishing line.
Just walk in and go.
The Rec center is good and if you do decide to get into the ocean go to South Beach in Sea Pines. Swim parallel to the beach and the hammerheads won’t get you. ; )
Seriously, there are 2-3 foot hammers and sand sharks at South Beach…sometimes bigger, don’t mess around. I started to swim from Daufuskie Island one time across the Calibogue Sound to Harbor Town and chickened out. Where there are 3’ footers there also has to be bigger ones.
Swim with a group or go to the pool.