Open Water Overview

Open Water Swimming has something for each swimmer. For the highly competitive swimmer, there is the contest of how fast one can navigate the course and how do you compare to others. For the recreational swimmer, it’s a time to enjoy the freedom of swimming without walls or lane lines and to enjoy the lake or ocean. For the new swimmer, it’s the challenge of learning to navigate the course and to acclimate to open water conditions.

Open water events vary in length from .5 miles to 10k. The open water season extends from May through September. During the open water season look to the Pacific Masters website for events, standings, results and other useful references. See schedule of events

Open water swimming follows rules that are somewhat different than pool competitions. One’s age is determined by the age you will be on the last day of the year. The open water points competition has divisions for swimming with and without wetsuits. swim suit rules. The rules preclude the use of tape (spider tapes, bandages, duct tape, etc.) in either category.