Open Water Swimming with the NADS

Immerse yourself underwater on South Beach. Join us for a 1 to 2 mile ocean swim for a unique communion with the Universe. 10AM Sundays on South Beach at the 12th St Lifeguard stand All levels welcome. Bring your fins if you like.

For about twenty years, swimmers from all over the world have been meeting at the ocean next to this Stand. Expect 2 to 20 people, calm to ruff water, no wind to windy & temperatures for air and water from cold to hot. Variety is what makes every swim unique. Only the time and place remain the same.

Parking is available in the Municipal City parking lot on 13th Street between Ocean Dr. & Collins (about $1.50 per hour & usually available at 9:45am). Free parking is available for 3 hours in the two lots for Flamingo Park (pls. read signs). One lot is on 11th St. at Jefferson. The other is on Michigan Ave. between 14th & 15th St. (Access from Alton Rd. at 15th St. Go east 2 blocks to Michigan Ave. turn right & lot is on your left). Walk to middle of the park & head east. Walk down 13th street to the Ocean. The 12th St stand is 1 block to your left.

Ocean Swims are always free and everyone is welcome. We stay in the guarded swim area but at the buoys located at the most distant area from shore. The distance is from 1.25 miles up to 3 miles depending on water conditions & level of the swimmers. We regroup at each buoy in front of every lifeguard stand. We remain parallel to the beach so you can get out and walk back. Let someone know before you do or we will go looking for you and disrupt our swim if you don’t. Wearing a Lycra cap helps us see one another and keeps jet skis (that are not supposed to be in the swim area) in sight of you.

Important: Don’t bring valuables to the beach. The lifeguards are advised by their supervisors not to be responsible for swimmers personal items.

Many times the guards that know our group may allow us to put our belongings in their site or on their stand. They do this as a personal favor, which we ask you to respect on an individual basis and each time you come. Do not put anything on a Lifeguard stand or assume anything without first asking the lifeguard. If you come and the others are doing this, you may do so as well knowing that someone has already ask their permission before you arrived. If you are first, wait for someone who knows the guards to do this please.

Be aware that some guards want us to place things in one spot, others in a different area. Therefore, please ask where they would like you to put your things.

Occasionally they will say no. Please remain polite and respect that their superiors tell them not to do this. We are not there to make their work environment more difficult. New and temporary guards do not have the job security of senior guards. Polite understanding will more likely solicit their assistance as they build seniority and become acquainted with us.

Sunscreen is advisable as is a bottle of water.

Any other questions, or check whether water conditions call me. I am home until 9:45 on Sunday.

Yours,

Barry Gollop Open Water Swim Host/ Coach/Instructor www.Nadadores.org 305 531-0561 (no texting)

PS: Jelly Fish Season (September – December). When the water is clear, Jelly Fish can be easily spotted with goggles. We swim if we can see them and when they are not in mass. This can change at any time and during a swim. Their sting is unpleasant but not unbearable unless you have an allergy (similar to bee allergies). Vaseline helps if you want to coat arms and legs, but not necessary. Lifeguards have vinegar if you get stung. Stings last about 20 minutes, and are not usually too painful. Benadryl works well as the reaction is similar to a mild allergy. Men of War are more unpleasant and their sting is more severe. It feels like an electric jolt and then starts to paralyze the nerve. Tentacles may continue to pump venom even when they are detached. Do not try to remove these with your hand or the hand will get stung. Use a handful of sand or go to a lifeguard stand where they will put on a glove to remove it. They may leave a welt, which may last for some time. They are more common in winter. They float on top of the ocean with tentacles that hang down underwater. On calm days, they are more easily spotted than Jelly Fish, which are submersed. When they are present we swim at our own risk depending on how many we see. On ruff days in choppy water, tentacles may break off which you cannot spot.

They will sting independently of their separation so please caution.