Note: Personal swim safety buoys are now required for all swimmers at all Odyssey swims. Bring your own or purchase a BlueSeventy safety buoy from Odyssey here.
Weekly Swims with Odyssey Open Water Swimming
Odyssey Open Water Swimming provides weekly swims at the Berkeley Marina throughout the entire year, rain or shine. Each Berkeley swim is open to swimmers at all levels of comfort and experience, and swimmers can choose the distance that best suits their abilities and goals.
Odyssey coaches will set up varied routes with buoys and will oversee the swims with our support crew in kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and our motorboat. For advanced swimmers, we will have routes that average about one mile (70 lengths of a 25-yard pool). You may choose to swim longer than a mile. Beginner and intermediate swimmers can swim at their own pace and can choose to swim a shorter route, usually about half a mile (35 lengths of a 25-yard pool) or less.
Weekly Berkeley Swim Schedule
Sunday Mornings (all year)
December — May: Swimmers can enter the water any time between 10am and 10:30am. Coaches will hold a detailed briefings at 10. Swimmers are required to join the briefings when they come for the first time, and others may also benefit from participating. All swimmers need to be out of the water by 11:30am.
June — November: Swimmers can enter the water any time between 9am and 10:30am. Coaches will hold a detailed briefing at 9. Swimmers are required to join the briefings when they come for the first time, and others may also benefit from participating. All swimmers need to be out of the water by 11:30am.
Tuesday Evenings
Jan-Feb: None
April (starting April 9): 6pm
May-Aug: 6:30pm
Sept: 6pm
Oct-Dec: None
Weekly swims are just one of many offerings from Odyssey Open Water. We regularly host larger swims and races, from Alcatraz to the Bridge to Bridge swim to our new Splash & Dash race. Check out all of our Events tab to see what is coming up!
Ready to Join Us?
Click here to Sign Up on our event calendar. Online registration is required. To view our photo albums from each swim, visit our Facebook page here.
Affordably Priced Adventures
Odyssey Open Water Swimming is dedicated to providing the best open water swimming events in California at an affordable price. There are no membership requirements.
General:
$20, online registration is required.
Students:
$12 Discounted rate, online registration is required (enter code "STUDENT" for discount).
Must be a full-time student and provide a current photo student ID. Swimmers under the age of 18. When registering, have a guardian create your profile under a family account to ensure that a guardian has signed off on the waiver.
Annual pass:
Discounted swim passes, including the annual pass, will be available to purchase at the reduced rate until 3/1/2024.
$495
$295 for students (you must be a full-time student for the entire year and must show current school ID)
10-Swim pass:
$170
Valid for Tuesday and Sunday Berkeley swims (not valid for big events)
Valid for 4 months
You can always pay for swims individually and do not need an annual pass to participate. However, for those who plan on coming regularly, these passes can help you save money throughout the year. These passes are valid only for Tuesday and Sunday swims.
What You Should Bring
We’re frequently asked what you should bring when swimming with Odyssey Open Water Swimming. We recommend the following:
Swimsuit/Wetsuit: Wetsuits are not required, but many swimmers choose to wear one, especially during winter months where the weather drops to the 50s and 60s. For comparison, pools used for competitive swimming are supposed to be between 77 and 82 degrees.
If you choose to wear a wetsuit but aren't ready to commit to buying one, you can rent wetsuits at Sports Basement for a day, weekend, week, or month. Sports Basement rents Blue Seventy and 2XU suits, which are both specifically designed for open water swimming. If you have a surfing-style wetsuit, that works just fine, too, though they are somewhat restrictive to your range of motion. Visit Sports Basement’s website here.
Goggles
Bright colored swim cap (or buy a nice Odyssey silicone cap at the swim for $5). This will help you be seen during the swim.
Towel
Warm clothes, food, and water for afterward
Earplugs (optional)
Swim buoy (required)
Where You Should Meet Us
For Berkeley swims, we usually meet by the first (farther east) dock at the southeast corner of the marina, just east of the Cal Sailing Club. Check out the map below. Go west on University Ave., and as you enter the marina, stay to the left at the split, then turn left into the first parking lot.
Each swim begins with a short safety briefing that covers conditions and allows participants to ask questions. We suggest getting there 10 minutes early to change and stretch before the briefing.
Please note that in the event of an unusually low tide, we will meet and enter the water at our alternative entry point. When this happens, we will leave a sign at the usual dock notifying swimmers of the change. The location will also be updated on the registration page. The alternative entry point is just one minute up the road next to the old HS Lordships restaurant. Continue to the end of University Avenue, then take a left and continue to the end of the road.
Above is a short time lapse video of how to get there from the Berkeley Marina.
Have more questions about Odyssey Berkeley swims? Check out the FAQs below or contact Jeff at jeff@odysseyopenwater.com. We hope to see you at our next swim!
Weekly Swims FAQs
Is there parking available?
Free parking is available at the Berkeley Marina.
Do swims happen if it is cold/raining?
Yes. Odyssey Open Water swims rain or shine, warm or cold. Whether the water temperature if 52 degrees and cloudy or 70 and rainy, we will be out there in the water together. On the very rare occasions that the marina is closed, we will cancel the event on the registration site and email all swimmers who were registered.
Can first-time open water swimmers participate?
Yes. Our weekly Berkeley swims are a great opportunity to get your first swimming experience in the open water. Our coaches and staff will be there to help and support you!
How far do you have to swim?
We offer two main routes at the Berkeley swims, a half mile option and a one mile option. Swimmers can also do less than the half mile or can repeat the one mile multiple times. You can take the swim at your own pace and there is always a coach and kayaker at these swims to help those who want to work on their form or are new to swimming in the open water.
Do I need a wetsuit?
Wetsuits are recommended but not required. We have swimmers who prefer to wear a speedo and others who buy or rent a wetsuit. If you do wear a wetsuit, bring Glide or lubricant to avoid chafing.
Can I use fins, paddles, a snorkel, or buoy?
Yes, you are welcome to bring what will make you comfortable.
What are the dangers of swimming in the open water?
Open water swimming in the Bay Area presents risks due to boat traffic, cold water temperatures, and strong currents. Odyssey takes many precautions to make all of our swims safe. The Berkeley Marina -- where we do our weekly swims -- is relatively protected from winds and currents, and the only boats present are small sailboats next to the area where we swim. Odyssey coordinates with the sailing club to safely share the space. Our swim coaches and trained paddlers are also always on hand to make sure you are safe.
What is the water temperature?
The water temperature varies depending on the time of year. In the winter months, water temperature can drop to the low 50’s Fahrenheit. In the summer, the water temperature near the Berkeley Marina can rise up to 72° Fahrenheit.