Sydney ocean swimming. Sharks. Deep open water. Riptides. At first glance, it might sound like the start of a bad horror movie. However, open water ocean swimming is really popular in Sydney, and ocean races are huge events here. I’ve always loved swimming and used to swim competitively, so the idea of entering an ocean swimming race had caught my eye for years. I must admit, I was put off, mainly for the reasons above. Perhaps I’ve seen Jaws a few too many times. I also had a painful run-in with blue bottles the literal first time I went into the ocean in Australia.
But this summer, I decided to do it. I trained for, entered, and completed, not one, but two open water ocean swims! These were the Sydney Harbour Splash on Australia Day, at Rose Bay, followed by the Cole Classic at Manly the following week. It was a lot of fun and an amazing accomplishment. If you’re thinking of trying out ocean swimming in Sydney, I would 100% recommend it. Here’s what you need to know about Australian ocean swimming, from the perspective of someone new to the sport:
What are ocean swimming races?
Sydney ocean swimming involves organized, timed races of a set distance (most often 1km or 2km, although longer races are available), within the open ocean. This may involve going out and back, or a course that starts and ends in two different places.
Races are usually divided by gender, age group, and race distance, with different starting times depending on your category. All racers wear an ankle band, with a timing chip, so that you can get your exact race times.
Safety is the most important element of ocean swimming, with lifeguards stationed on lookout points and surfboards in the water, all throughout the course to keep an eye on participants. The course route should also always be clearly marked, so you know exactly, in advance, where you will be swimming.
Given the strong connection between Australia and the oceans and surf culture, it’s no surprise that ocean swimming has been a popular Aussie pastime for decades.
Looking for other ways to keep fit in Sydney?
Cole Classic swim
The Cole Classic 2019 swim at Manly Beach occurs every year in early February and is one of the biggest ocean swims in Australia. Thousands participate in the Sunday morning swim, as well as the Sun Run 10km race the day before. I decided the 1km swim was for me- starting at picturesque Shelly Beach and ending at Manly, it seemed like a great challenge and a fun accomplishment. (The Manly to Shelly Beach swim is 1km, although there are longer races which go out further into the open ocean.)
I mentioned I also did the Sydney Harbour Splash- I actually found this swim at the last minute and signed up as a precursor to the Cole Classic. As it was on Rose Bay, the water was really flat and calm- this is definitely a good race for beginners to check out. That being said, there were so so many rays
Training
There are lots of training plans online, which would be the best starting point, but my main focus was on swimming regularly and building up to the distance. I am close to the Willoughby Leisure Centre, which has a great indoor pool, and I also like to swim at Balmoral, Manly, or Northbridge Baths. My aim was to go a few times per week, although in retrospect I probably spent too much time in the pool, where I was more comfortable, and not enough time in the ocean.
If you’re training for a race, you want to keep to a fairly healthy diet. I recently discovered a fitness meal plan company called Macrobite and have been ordering from them regularly—I find the prices fair and the food is really tasty. Check out our Macrobite review on our sister site to read more.
On the day
On the day of the Cole Classic, we were lucky to have spectacularly beautiful weather- a perfect Sydney day. However, had the weather been overcast, I think my experience may have been very different.
It is an amazing atmosphere, with literally thousands of swimmers of all ages chatting, stretching, getting ready, and mentally preparing themselves for their swim.
When my race was lining up, I must say I didn’t feel mentally prepared at all. Super nervous would be a better way to describe it. Shaking in my Speedo, the gun went off and there was only one thing to do- run awkwardly into the water and start swimming.
The finish
The actual race went fine- the water was smooth and warm, and I tried to stay near others, because, let’s be honest, the deep open ocean is scary. My first Manly ocean swim all went by very fast, and I was feeling pretty confident until I neared the finish line, which was on Manly Beach.
Close to the beach, the surf was larger than I’d anticipated. In a way this helped, because you were, in effect, riding a wave into shore, which sped up your time. However, for each wave that propelled you forward, you were then sucked back and underwater. It was really frightening and gave me flashbacks of getting stuck in a riptide as a kid in the Bahamas. I don’t feel as I was actually in danger, as so many lifeguards were around, but it was really unsettling.
I kept swimming as hard as I could and finally made it to shore, almost falling over as my legs felt like jello. Running into the finish line, I received a medal, successfully having completed my first Cole Classic. My time came in at just over 27 minutes, which I was super happy with- my goal has been to get under 30.
For the rest of the morning, there is a really fun atmosphere in Manly, so it’s worth sticking around- lots of vendors and market stalls, food, and a convivial atmosphere with lots of swimmers and spectators. I even ran into, literally, a former Australian Prime Minister, who had just completed the 2km swim in his budgie smugglers- anyone living in Australia can probably guess who this is. Point being, you never know who you’ll run into!
More into land sports? Check out the City2Surf, Sydney’s most iconic race.
How is ocean water swimming different from pool swimming?
Swimming is swimming, right? Actually, I was wrong. Ocean swimming is so much tougher than pool swimming. Never did I realize how much I’d miss the smell of chlorine and that black line on the pool’s floor.
The ocean can look deceptively flat before you start swimming, but quickly, you’re likely to find yourself with sinuses full of saltwater. While the saltwater adds buoyancy and is more enjoyable than a chlorinated pool, even the smallest of tides are likely to toss you around a bit. Breathing for ocean swimming definitely takes some getting used to, as does navigating. It’s easy to find yourself gently pushed off course, so I find it very helpful to pop my head up every so often and look around.
But for me, getting my breathing right is definitely the hardest. I won’t pretend to be an expert, but check some great tips for ocean water swimming here.
If you’re training for an open water race, try to train in the ocean as much as you can. Although the pool is fantastic for building up speed and endurance, ocean training will help you be much more confident and prepared for the actual race.
Here’s where to find more oceans swims in 2019-2020.
Open water swimming clubs
There’s always safety in numbers, and there are some clubs that swim regularly in Bondi, Manly, and elsewhere. I’m not a member of a swim club, but I imagine it would be a fun way to keep fit, stay safe in the water, and meet new people. If you’re near Manly, the Bold & Beautiful Swim Squad is a really popular Manly swim club, and there are many more local clubs that can be found around Sydney.
Bondi Icebergs pool also has a really dedicated group of swimmers and would be a fun group to join. While Icebergs is a private pool, Bondi ocean swimming is also popular, although I prefer the Northern Beaches over the Eastern Suburbs, but depends where you live.
In addition to joining a club, you might want to try some ocean swimming lessons to learn some skills and get your confidence in the water.
Ocean swimming in Sydney- why do it?
Ocean swimming in Sydney, or elsewhere, is an amazing exercise for a full-body workout, it’s a lot of fun, and it’s a great excuse to spend more time at one of Sydney’s stunning beaches. Also, all race participants get a medal afterward- yea!
What equipment do I need?
Not much is required to get started, but my top tips would include making sure you’ve got:
- Athletic-cut swimsuit. I prefer a one-piece for the additional warmth, but any suit that provides support and doesn’t bunch up uncomfortably is fine.
- Swim cap. I have long hair, and keeping it out of my face helps immensely. The cap also allows the goggle straps to slide on and off smoothly, without getting tangled in my hair.
- Goggles. You can buy specific ocean-swimming goggles, which often have particular tints for coping with the sunlight. You might prefer this, but I found my normal Speedos were fine. As long as you find a pair that fits your face well, you should be ok.
- Sunscreen- Goes without saying in the Aussie sun. (Here’s why sun safety is so important, especially for expats.)
- Some swimmers also like to use nose clips, as it keeps water out of your nose and sinuses. I haven’t tried this, but you might want to.
- For warmth or sun protection, a suit with long sleeves or a surf shirt helps too. For many races, you can’t be in contention to place if you have a wetsuit, but suits with arm coverage or full coverage should be fine.
- Completely optional, but you might want to consider a Fitbit or smartwatch to track your swimming. I track all my swims with my Fitbit- it’s just a budget-level model, but with ocean swimming, you might find it hard to judge your distance. Unlike in the pool, where you can clearly count your laps, I find ocean swimming harder to gauge, so a fitness tracker helps ensure you swim the correct distances when you’re training.
Have you tried an open-ocean swim? Would love to hear your experiences below!
(Blog cover photo is also courtesy of Cole Classic, https://sunruncoleclassic.com.au/)