Open Water Ocean Swimming, Sighting & Swell Technique

Pool-fit but ocean-nervous? Work up to a one-mile swim round the buoys at La Jolla.

Booking now
Each session1 hr 30 min a session
How oftenOnce a week
Cohort8–12 per cohort
SeasonYear-round · a new cohort starts each month

What you leave with

A one-mile open ocean swim to the perimeter markers and back

Ocean confidence and endurance in the protected water at La Jolla Cove. Cold-water acclimation, bilateral breathing in chop, crocodile sighting, drafting and swell timing.

A safety kayak escorts every session. The rotation closes on the mile, which nearly everybody who has swum the earlier stages completes.

What makes this one worth it

  • Cold Water Acclimation, Entry & Ocean Breathing
  • Crocodile Sighting & Open Water Navigation
  • Swell Timing, Drafting & Pack Swimming
  • The One-Mile Ocean Buoy Challenge & Graduation

What is included

  • All 4 sessions of the 4-week cohort — 6 hours of instruction
  • A place held for you for the whole run, in a cohort of 8–12
  • Every piece of equipment listed below, provided on the day
  • Your instructor, and their attention in a group this size

What to bring

  • Water, and something to eat if you want it
  • Nothing else — the kit is provided

How it runs

Once a week · 1 hr 30 min a session

Frequency
1x / week — 90 minutes, mornings
Session length
1 hr 30 min
Each month
4 sessions, about 6 hours
Cohort size
8 – 12 participants
Where
La Jolla Cove & the open ocean swim corridor to the quarter-mile buoy
Level
Intermediate (able to swim 400m continuously in a pool)
Commitment
Monthly — stay as long as it is worth it

What you cover, in rotation

The group works through these in order and then begins again on fresh ground. Join at whatever stage it is on — nothing here assumes you were there for the last one, and nothing runs out — or drop in for a single session if that is all you can manage.

  1. Stage 1Cold Water Acclimation, Entry & Ocean Breathing
    • Cold-water shock physiology, the mammalian dive reflex, and calming heart rate.
    • Bilateral breathing to adapt to chop, wind spray and glare.
    • High elbow recovery and a modified ocean freestyle stroke.
  2. Stage 2Crocodile Sighting & Open Water Navigation
    • Lifting eyes just above the water line without dropping the hips.
    • Triangulating shore landmarks, cliffs and navigation buoys.
    • Swimming a straight line in open ocean currents.
  3. Stage 3Swell Timing, Drafting & Pack Swimming
    • Riding ocean swells and conserving energy through them.
    • Drafting on an anchor swimmer's hip or feet.
    • Navigating kelp beds and wildlife encounters.
  4. Stage 4The One-Mile Ocean Buoy Challenge & Graduation
    • A group swim out to the half-mile and one-mile perimeter markers.
    • Treading water at depth, pacing strategy and surf exit mechanics.
    • Warm tea and an ocean swimmer community breakfast.

4 sessions in the cycle, then it begins again on new ground.

Who leads it, and what is provided

Led by USMS ocean coach / open water lifeguard.

Water safety supervision, kayak safety escort, and stroke refinement.

On the table when you arrive

  • High-visibility swim safety buoys
  • Silicone caps
  • An emergency safety kayak escort

Before you book

Know before you go

  • You must be able to swim 400m continuously in a pool before session one
  • Water is 58–68°F depending on the month; wetsuits are welcome

Not recommended for

  • Non-swimmers, and anyone with a cardiac condition affected by cold-water immersion

Cancellations and refunds follow our cancellation policy, which is the same for every activity on this site.

When it runs

August 2026

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Runs Not running

Thursday 13 August

  • 8:30amup to 12 guests

Usually runs Thursdays.

This is the operator’s schedule, not live seat availability. We check the date with them and come back to you — nothing is booked or paid for here.

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