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!

1 on 1 Open Water Swims now available - click here
Christmas/ New Year Timetable 2024/ 2025:
* Minimum Standard for Open Water Swims for Rookie to Experienced Adults & White Squad - Fast Kids - Bronze/ Silver+ Sqauds. * Contact Spot if any doubt of appropriate swim here
* Adults Requirement 1km non-stop freestyle under 23 minutes!
* Faster Kids Requirement = Silver Squad+ or as discussed with Coach Spot
* Kids & Rookie Adults Requirement:
White/ Bronze Squad & Adults 500 metres non-stop freestyle!

Monday December 23 & December 30 Belmont Baths Open Water Swims:
- we swim between Belmonth Baths & Belmont 16 Footers (100 - 500 metres)
- 6:30am Adults & Faster Kids: Coach Spot swims with the group.
- 8am Kids & Adult Rookies: Coach Spot is on his SUP at the back!

Friday December 27 & January 3 Salts Bay Open Water Swims:
- we do swim reps from car park side to 1st breakwall (100 - 500 metres)
- 6am Adults & Faster Kids: Coach Spot swims with the group.
- 8am Kids & Adult Rookies: Coach Spot is on his SUP at the back!
Sunday December 28 Swansea Bay Beach Swim Run 8am:
Swim Run details here Kids Swim Run details here
Sunday January 5 Merewether Swim Run 6:30am:
- Merewether Swim Run 6:30am details here

book here

Contact here

Weekend Swims

**Weekly** **Open Water Swim Squads:**
**Length:** 60 - 90 minutes
**Minimum Safety Standard:** 1km non-stop freestyle.
**Sunday, December 8:** Caves Beach Enduro Swim
* 8am Rookie Surf Swim Clinic 8am ***details here***
**Sunday December 15:** Blacksmiths 300m - 500 metre swim reps see below
**Sunday, December 22:** Salts Bay International Tri Training Day

**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.

**Locations:**
**- Blacksmiths Beach, Caves Beach, Spoon Rocks & Horseshoe Beach (Newcastle Harbour)**. ***Click Here*** for one of our Blacksmiths Swims Insta Photo Galleries
* We run regular Open Water Rookie Clinics - *details here*

Book Here

Meet beachside Lifeguard tower - swims are between Swansea Belmont Surf Club & Blackies Break-wall.

Blacksmiths Swim Repeats - it’s a beauty!
8am sharp: Sunday December 15
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!

Rookie Open water Swim ClinicS - Horseshoe beach, Blacksmiths & Caves Beach

**Sunday December 8:** 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.

Book 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.

Book Your Swim Here

Book here

Monthly Swims: 1km, 2km & 3 - 4km

Held at Salts Bay/ Swansea Heads where you are never 30 metres away from the beach, no matter what distance you are swimming! The 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. 8am SHARP start
2km swim: 1 lap of 2km course or 2 laps of 1km course. **8am SHARP start**
**3 - 4km swim:** 1 lap of 2km & 2 - 4 laps of 1km course. **7:30am SHARP start**
Please be early! We start on advertised time so make sure you are there 15 minutes before start.
**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.

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

Where We Swim

Please see our timetable for specific location and course information for upcoming swims.