Open Water Swimming
Whether you are a rookie starting your journey or an experienced faster swimmer trying to win medals Coach Spot can help you reach your goals. We run year round rotating our weekly Sunday open water swims between Salts Bay (Swansea Heads), Spoon Rocks, Blacksmiths Beach, Caves Beach & Newcastle Harbour. We train #RainSwellShine!
About Our Swims - below is a guide to our weekend swims. Please see our timetable for more information about upcoming swims. All of our swims meet from 15 minutes before advertised start time, and we hold a squad info and safety briefing 5 minutes beforehand, so please be early!
Sunday May 25 Merewether to Bar Beach Swim details below
Monday June 9 Salts Bay Rookie 1km to 4km Swims details below
1 on 1 Open Water Swims available - click here
Merewether Baths to Bar Beach - Strava Map here
Merewether Baths to Bar Beach Ocean Swim: 8am Sunday May 25
We are monitoring weather/ swell & will call it on Friday!
Back-Up date is Sunday June 15
Swansea Swim Run will replace this swim if postponed this Sunday!
We jump off the back of the baths (conditions depending) or swim out from in front of Surf Club.
Re-group points at Dixon Park & Bar Beach heading north & Dixon Park/ Merewether heading south.
Faster swimmers head into beach & back out to slower swimmers!
WE crack waves at the end in front of Merewether Surf Club.
Minimum safety standard is 2km in 40 minutes +/- & you have surf swim experience!
Meet Merewether Ocean Baths Huts - DO NOT leave valuables. Back-Up location is Blacksmiths is Swell is too big!
Salts Bay Swims: Monday June 9
Salts Bay Enduro Swims: we swim distances from 300 - 500 metres at a time! Faster swimmers swim further each time & slower swimmers swim less! Emphasis is on fitness & you will swim 2 - 4km+ at these swims!
Salts Bay Rookie Swims: we swim distances from 200 - 400 metres at a time! Faster swimmers swim further each time & slower swimmers swim less! These are a great way to learn to swim in the open water - you are never more than 20 metres from shore & you can usually stand up!
Monthly 1km - 5km Swims: our swim course heads west for 500 metres and back (1km total) or 1km out & back (2km) with a turnaround buoy at each end.
Rookie 1km swim: 1 lap of 1km course.
2km swim: 1 lap of 2km course or 2 laps of 1km course.
3 - 4km swim: 1 lap of 2km & 2 - 4 laps of 1km course.
Please be early - we start on advertised time.
Click Here for Salts Bay Swim Insta Photo Gallery
Turn off opposite 71 Lambton Parade, Swansea Heads down “no name” road. We meet at the end of the beach next to the car park.
Weekend Swims:
Weekly Open Water Swim Squads:
Length: 60 - 90 minutes
Minimum Safety Standard: 1km non-stop freestyle.
What to expect:
- We swim between 400m - 500 metre+ reps at a time either parallel to the beach or in/ out through the surf. We regularly re-group.
- We swim 2 - 4km+ in this session depending on your ability level.
- We do our best to match swimmers up to equal ability. It’s important to know that the group splits up so you may end up swimming alone for a short period of time until we re-group.
- Swims involves surf skills when held at surf beaches.
Rookie Swimmer? We run Rookie Open Water Clinics usually on same day details here
Locations:
- Blacksmiths Beach, Caves Beach, Spoon Rocks & Horseshoe Beach (Newcastle Harbour). Click Here for one of our Blacksmiths Swims Insta Photo Galleries
Rookie Open water Swim ClinicS - Horseshoe beach, Blacksmiths & Caves Beach
These clinics are designed for anyone scared of the surf! If you need more confidence to get you comfortable this is for you!
We have an emphasis on surf skills & getting comfortable in moving water. You will learn to relax in deep water & build confidence going in/ out through the waves. Coach Spot stays at the back with slower swimmers & faster swimmers get the chance to swim further!
* Minimum Safety Standard is 500 metres non-stop freestyle. If there is any doubt whether you can do this, go to a pool & complete the swim.
Locations/ Meeting places:
- Blacksmiths/ Caves Beach Surf Clubs on sand in front of the lifeguard tower.
- Horseshoe Beach (end of Horseshoe Road, Newcastle).
Look for Coach Spot as he will often be coaching an earlier swim group.
Meet beachside Lifeguard tower - swims are between Swansea Belmont Surf Club & Blackies Break-wall.
Blacksmiths 6 x 300 - 500 metre swims - it’s a beauty!
Sunday April 13 9am
We swim around 1, 2 or 3 buoys set 150 metres off the beach!
First swim is a warm-up around 1 buoy (300 metres return), 2 buoys (400 metres) or 3 buoys (500 metres).
We do 6 swims total with options for slower, intermediate & faster swimmers as above. Inshort, slower swimmers swim shorter & faster swimmers swim further.
We rest for a 2 - 3 minutes after each swim & go again! Everyone starts together & heads towards buoy #1. If you have overcooked it simply sit one out!
Minimum SAFETY standard? You need to be able to swim 1km non-stop freestyle (without flippers) to do this swim. Ideally you have attended one of our rookie swims. If not, please be aware that Coach Spot will be directing the swims from out the back on his SUP or on the beach & NOT necessarily at the back with the slower swimmers.
Why do this? This is the single best swim we offer to get into shape - it is painful but very rewarding!
Park opp 180 Caves Beach Road & follow 800 metre trail…
Spoon Rocks Swim
This is our all conditions location 1km south of Caves Beach Surf Club - experienced swimmers do 500 metre loops heading out to Penguin Cove & back to South Headland
Rookies stay with coach Spot on his SUP & we do a shorter version of the 500 metre loop stopping as we need to!
Our 1km non-stop freestyle minimum safety standard aplies!
Park opposite 180 Caves Beach Road & follow the 800m trail to Spoon Rocks - leave an extra 15 mins for the scenic walk!
Meet at the rocks on the southern end of beach.
Click here for Instagram Photos of our Spoon Rocks Swim
Horseshoe Beach, Newcastle Open Water Swim:
Who for? We do loops of our 500 metre swim course! If you are training for a triathlon, open water swim or just want to improve your swim fitness this is for you! Make sure you can swim 1km non-stop freestyle as this is our safety standard. This should be done in a pool (no flippers) & if you can, please give Coach Spot a time.
How Long? Swim goes for 60 - 90 minutes!
Where? Horseshoe Beach, Newcastle Harbour meeting beach end of car park - location link here
Rookie Swimmer? We have a Rookie Open Water Clinic on the same day details here
Strava Map here
Caves Beach to Frenchies Beach or Crabbes Beach Adventure Swim. We also have options for medium to bigger waves if swim below can’t go ahead…
We start at Caves Beach & swim along the beach inside the reef to Hams Beach then onto Frenchies Beach. This is a 3km return trip swim! More experienced swimmers then follow the reef to Crabbes Beach which is a 4.5km swim.
Re-group points are:
1. Frenchies Beach - 1.5km.
2. Crabbes Beach - 2.25km
3. Frenchies Beach 3km
The minimum standard for this swim is 2km non-stop freestyle & open water experience is advised!
This is not a Rookie Friendly Swim as we will be swimming in smaller groups that may split up!
Bigger waves option - we swim in/ out of the waves fro 90 minutes at Caves Beach!
* If conditions are deemed inappropriate on the morning the swim will be moved to Blacksmiths, Spoon Rocks or Salts Bay.
Norah Head Adventure Swim - Strava Map here
Cabbage Tree Harbour, Norah Head Adventure Swim: 8am Sunday May 18 Swim goes for 90 minutes. NOTE - wind & swell forecast for Sunday & we will be swimming in the more protected areas!
Swim Course: we head south behind the reefs for 1km finishing & re-grouping on the south side of Norah Head Lighthouse (out of the swell). We head back to the boat ramp for a 2nd re-group.
We then head north towards Jenny Dixon Beach - conditions will dictate how far we go. We re-group & head back to the boat ramp beach! We will make up any extra distance along Cabbage Tree Harbour Beach or will head south again as per 1st swim!
Distance: 2.5 - 4km+ Swim caters for slower & faster swimmers with re-group points!
Water Safety: 2 coaches on SUP boards for 2 groups based on speed.
* Minimum Safety Standard: 1km+ non-stop freestyle under 25 minutes.
* Meet: Cabbage Tree, Norah Head: meet showers next to the boat ramp at the bottom of Bald St, Norah Head.
Click here for Strava Map
* Note - strava map is the longer swim with shorter options offered on the day
Where We Swim
Please see our timetable for specific location and course information for upcoming swims.
Blacksmiths Beach
#1 location for calmer conditions along the Lake Macquarie Coastline! We swim in and out through the surf and along the beach to the breakwall (400 metres).
Meet at lifeguard tower Swansea Belmont Surf Club.
Spoon Rocks
This is our all conditions location. Follow the 800m trail from Caves Beach Road to Spoon Rocks - leave an extra 15 mins for the scenic walk
Meet at the rocks on the southern end of beach.
Horseshoe Beach, Newcastle Harbour
This swim involves shorter and longer intervals along the beach and around some of the buoys with coach Spot on his #SUP for water safety!
Meet beach end Horseshoe Beach Road car park.
Caves Beach
We swim in and out through the break at the main beach. We also head to Hams Beach or Spoon Rocks depending on conditions. Good coffee after this swim is guaranteed!
Meet at Caves Beach Surf Club.
Photo Gallery
Weekend Enduro Swim: Intermediate to Advanced
Length: 90 minutes
Minimum Safety Standard: ability to swim 2km non-stop freestyle (slow is okay, group is split based on ability)
This swim starts & finishes with a longer swim & includes ins/ outs or shorter intervals in between.
Locations:
- Blacksmiths Beach
- Caves Beach
- Spoon Rocks
- Horseshoe Beach, Newcastle Harbour
