Swim Club
Who
Anyone comfortable crossing the surf line and swimming in open water.
Where
We meet near the Sámara sign at the beach end of Via Arriba.
When
The Swim Club meets every morning at 06:00.
Venue
- Oval shape venue with 1,800 m east/west by 1,200 m north/south axes.
- Northern entirely points along 2,400 m gently sloping grey sand beach.
- SW and SE ends bounded by rocky outcrops and reefs.
- Southern exposure to open Pacific Ocean.
- No detectable currents in north half beyond the surf line.
- Tidal currents among southern reefs.
- Tidal range can exceed 3 m (9.8 ft).
Conditions
- Best swimming is during dry season mid-December to mid-April.
- Torrential rain during wet season washes enormous amounts of flotsam into the bay.
- Under water visibility can be good (10 m, 33 ft) to poor depending on surf stirring up fine sand.
- Minimal hazardous wild life: occasional invisible stingers, sting rays, red tide.
- No sharks or crocodiles!
- Very few powered water craft!
- Entry is easier at low tide when surf is blocked by outer reefs.
- “Surf shadows” created by reefs at east and west ends make entry and exit easier when surfers are smiling.
Courses
There are several fixed marks in the bay. One is a yellow buoy approximately 900 meters from the start (red line). Swimming most of the way parallel to the beach allows swimmers to easily return to shore and walk back. The yellow line is the GPS track of a typical 2.25 km (1.4 mile) swim.
What
To bring
Swimming googles.
To not bring
Any valuables larger than a cellphone that will be left unattended on the beach. Cell phones, wallets and few other small items can be towed in swim buoy dry bags.
Optional
Rash guard, fins, snorkel, towable swim buoy, wearable dry sack . . .
