Updated Safety Measure: Swim Safety Buoys Will Be Required for All Odyssey Berkeley Swims 7/1/23

The safety of our swimmers has and always will be our top priority at Odyssey Open Water Swimming. This priority inspired our bright yellow swim caps and our commitment to provide coaches, support kayakers, a support boat, and countless safety measures.

As the weather continues to heat up, more swimmers, kayakers, boaters, windsurfers, and kite surfers will join us in the East Bay. This presents safety challenges. At a recent swim, a kite surfer failed to see a swimmer and made contact with them. The swimmer was treated quickly and is ready to get back in the water.

We recently announced that inflatable swim safety buoys, also called buddy bags or swim buoys, will be required at all public Odyssey Alcatraz swims. We are now extending that safety measure to all Odyssey Berkeley swims. Effective July 1, swim safety buoys or floaties will be required at all Odyssey Berkeley swims.

Why Swim Safety Buoys?

Swim safety buoys provide an additional level of protection for swimmers. They offer aid, and most importantly, increased visibility. Buddy bags are brightly colored, approximately two feet long, and nearly impossible for boaters, paddlers, and surfers to miss. However, swim safety buoys are not a substitute for life-saving flotation devices needed in emergencies. 

We are working with partners at BlueSeventy to ensure all Odyssey swimmers have an opportunity to get a custom Odyssey buddy bag. We will have a large quantity available for purchase at swims in late June. 

You may purchase an inflatable buddy bag from any manufacturer. Prices range from $10-45 for standard buddy bags and slightly more for customized bags. You can purchase from Amazon, the local Sports Basement outlet, or from us in a few weeks when the BlueSeventy/Odyssey ones arrive. Stay tuned for additional details. 

Thank you in advance for your understanding and for swimming with Odyssey Open Water Swimming.