The Odyssey Community Responds: What’s Your Ideal Water Temperature for Open Water Swimming?

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Odyssey Open Water Swimming offers year-round swimming adventures in the East Bay, from the Berkeley Marina. As with most outdoor activities, participation starts to decline in the colder months. However, Odyssey has a dedicated community of athletes and swimmers who continue to come out week after week, rain or shine.

We recently asked our Facebook and Instagram communities for their ideal open water swimming water temperature. We received a wide range of opinions and wanted to share those with you here on the Odyssey Open Water Swimming blog.

Facebook

Question: What’s your ideal water temp for an open water swim?

  • “53 and above is fine.” – Aaron Walz

  • “See you all when it tops 60.” – Matt Lonner

  • “I like 60 and above.” – Matt Luttropp

  • “Warmer than the San Francisco Bay…I’m going to have to revisit. The Swim from Alcatraz was not the warmest.” – Chad McRae

    • Response: “It’s great in the summer. Not bad other times with a wetsuit and can feel refreshing.” – Jon Farley

      • Note: The water surrounding Alcatraz Island is typically significantly colder than the water off the Berkeley Marina, where Odyssey hosts weekly Berkeley swims.

  • “Being honest? I’m used to swimming in the Caribbean, 80-85 degrees. I’m here now, and I’m really trying to work up the courage to try swimming here.” – Robin Sterns

  • “60” – Melissa Parent

  • “60+” – Craig Anderson

Instagram

Question: What’s your ideal water temp for an open water swim?

  • “Anything over 60 is good with me!” – baum.spencer

    • Response: “60 is balmy skins weather!” – trimegtri

  • “I agree with @baum.spencer. Anything above that ‘instant brain freeze and need a wetsuit temp’ is fiiiiine by me!” – Heidi_scharein

  • “Under ice water temperature.” – dariusknight86

  • “Skins at 38F right now in PA and loving it. We may have our second winter without a freeze which has allowed for ice swimming every weekend so far yay!” – aqualu

What’s your ideal swim temperature? Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to receive updates and become part of our ongoing conversations.

Warren Wallacewater temperature, water, open water swimming, swimming, bay area, bay swim, east bay swim, san francisco swim, open water swim