Swimming With The Fishes in San Diego

Swimming With The Fishes

This labor day weekend has been more about exploring the sea for us. Unlike most places that probably is cooling down already from the heat of summer, we just started to heat up. Most of the summer prior to last week, we were only in the 60s-70sF (15-21 C). It was only this week when we warmed up to the 80s-90sF (26-32 C). However, despite the air temperature is warmer this time, the water temperature for us always remain to be in the cooler side. With air temperature rising, more people are going to the beach to cool down. 

Shivering when the air temperatue got warmer? That was us after more than 2 hours straight in the water swimming with the fishes at 62F water (16.7C). Unlike air temperature, water temperature in the Pacific West Coast does not vary much and stays in the cold side. 

Cousin With Her Captured Fishes 
( girabaldi- orange fish, sea lion, friendly leopard shark that has no capability to bite, and more )

At first (at about the 2nd hour), even though I was feeling cold, I tried to ignore the cold sensation I was feeling since I still was not having enough fun swimming with the fishes. It was such a joy following them, and also, swimming in cold water is a very good calorie burning exercise. But after more than 2 hours in low 60s water, the cold sensation became shivering cold, that I had to get out of the water very quickly. When people suffer from hypothermia, they could lose presence of mind in water and most of the time results to drowning. It is always advised that one gets out from the water quickly once they feel the cold ( even before shivering starts). My only problem swimming with the fishes sometimes, is that, I forget about time while I enjoy following them, until I feel cold. :( But thanks always for the wet suit. 

Hubby With His Captured Fishes 

Swimming in Cold Water: 

The amount of time one stays in the water determines the effect of cold temperature on one's body. One can take a quick dip in very cold water without getting hypothermia. Here is some statistics from The American National Red Cross book, LIFESAVING Rescue and Water Safety, Doubleday & Company Inc., 1974:

At 60 degrees F (16 C) you have about a 2 hour safe zone. After that your expectancy of unconsciousness and death by drowning increases to 50%. This is called the Marginal Zone. ( this was the water temperature we were exposed to Saturday at the Cove )

*water temperature in San Diego ranges from low 50s to mid 60s F ( 10- 18 C)*

At 65 F (18 C ) You can swim for 4 hours before reaching the marginal zone.

At 70 F (21C ) you can swim well over 6 hours without even tiptoeing into the marginal zone.

The water temperature which is considered warm and could be enjoyed by anyone for long periods of time is 79F (26C) or higher without feeling uncomfortable.

Me and My Captured Fishes

Swimming in San Diego, Swimming in Cold:

Water temperature in San Diego seas does not vary much, maybe by about 10 degree difference between winter and summer. Water temperature depending on the depth varies from 50-65F ( 10- 18C) at anytime of the year. Usually, the water temperature reported is surface water temperature, which applies to most people having fun in the sea. The deeper one goes however, the temperature gets colder by a few degrees. Also, the more Northerly the beach, the colder is the temperature. Water temperature, tide and surf conditions are usually posted in lifeguard stations.

Wet suits make swimming more bearable and comfortable in cold water. However, some who do not plan to spend a lot of time in the water  need not really wear wet suits especially if most of the time is spent on laying down on beach. If  you just get into the water occasionally, you may still enjoy swimming without wet suits following the guidelines for cold swimming. Once you start to get bothered by the cold, get out from the water right away, hopefully, before you start shivering. Wet suit rental is like $18-$32 per day for casual swimmers, which is not cheap. If one intends to swim more often in cold water such as anywhere in the Pacific West Coast ( the Northern part is way colder ), the cost of buying your own wet suit ($80- $600 depending on quality- warmth and flexibility ) vs renting would be justified because after a few times wearing it, you get your money back. Also, wet suits last for years. Wearing wet suits could extend stay in the water for a longer period of time.

** Note: All pictures in this post were taken from La Jolla Shores and Cove, San Diego, CA. Boogie boarding and snorkeling are two of our physical and recreational activities making our stay at home feels like a vacation. La Jolla Shores and Cove are actually two of San Diego's popular diving spots, good enough for locals like us, but also is popular to tourists.**

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