Back to the Ocean
JULY 6, 2022 ISSUE

I’m so thrilled we’ve started our Open Water for Total Beginners program. To share these skills with novice ocean swimmers and introduce them to the fabulous world of ocean swimming, is very exciting. To do it at this time of year is even better. There is nothing like swimming in the ocean in winter. The water at this time of the year is so clear and pristine; except of course after all this recent rain. Still in a few of days it ought to be back to its former glory. I urge you to get in and experience how the ocean makes your body and mind feel, to see the marine life and the beauty of the rock formations. There is nothing quite like it.

I remember when I started ocean swimming and how nervous I was. I didn’t really have much of clue about any of it and relied on my friends to chaperon me. I can still get nervous at times in the surf, particularly when it’s wild and furious like it has been recently. I have learned to always be aware of my level of competency and not to push myself too far beyond my comfort zone. The ocean must be respected.

After years of swimming in different conditions and bodies of water I have developed a deep love of swimming in the open sea. There is a transformation when your body is immersed in salt water. It just feels so wonderful! Many have written about the positive effects of cold water swimming, not just on the body, but also on mental health. For those keen to swim, the water temperature around Sydney at the moment is around 17 – 17.5C, so not too bad at all. Do try it.
 
Since our last newsletter, I have returned from a week of magical swimming in the warmer waters around Heron Island. This cay on the Barrier Reef is such a wondrous place, particularly at the end of May and into June, when the Manta Rays come to visit. If you haven’t had a chance to experience Heron, think about it. My trips to this amazing place have certainly opened my eyes to the remarkable beauty and plethora of marine life on the reef. Swimming across coral, along side all sorts of turtles, stingrays, Eagle Rays, various sharks, Manta Rays, and schools, and schools of brilliantly coloured fish is just awesome. There is really nothing like it. My visits here feed my soul. For me, and I suspect for others, visits to Heron Island can be life changing. If you’re keen to learn more about swimming in the waters around Heron Island, come and chat with me. 

We’re running another set of Masterclasses this Saturday under the guidance of the terrific Rachelle Ting. Those attending will improve their freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and breaststroke. Held in an indoor pool, this is the perfect time of the year to get your stroke/s in order. We’ve still got a few spots left, so if you’re keen, reach out and we’ll book you in. The details are below in the newsletter. 

I would like to congratulate everyone who has continued to come to squad training and SwimFit in this wet, and at times, inclement weather. You are rock stars and will reap the rewards of keeping your training up in the coming months. I look forward to seeing your continued commitment in the weeks and months ahead. Well done! 

As always, yours in swimming,

Kari Baynes
Director 

Photo: Stunning turquoise ocean off the coast near Adelaide. PC: Ellie Kallmier

The main focus of this first session was to get a strong grounding with safe entry and exit practices, and build understanding of the ocean and how to work with the conditions to stay safe.

The session started with a dry-land discussion of the conditions, including learning about how to locate rips, sand banks and safe entry and exit points along the beach. Diana taught the swimmers tips for checking wind direction, understanding surf reports and generally getting a good picture of what to expect before even touching the water. Then the swimmers took to the water and practised diving under waves to get a good feel for the timing. During this class they also practiced locating rips and learning how to let yourself get taken out by one, and then how to exit the rip current back to safety.

These awesome swimmers and instructor Diana had so much fun with the session that we’ve added some extra ones to our schedule to make this a fortnightly series. The next upcoming session is scheduled for Saturday July 16th.

Photo: The awesome open water crew pre-swim on Sunday, Bondi Beach. PC: Diana Galosi

Q: Do I need to book in every week, or can I just turn up on the day? 
A: Yes, you do need to make a booking for every class or session you want to attend. Bookings are important to make sure that the sessions don’t overfill, but also so we know who to expect in case of any last minute changes. If a class or session is cancelled or we’ve had to change the start time we get in contact with everyone who has a booking, so if you’re not on the list you won’t be kept up to date.

Q: How do I know if a class or session has been cancelled? 
A: We’ll get in touch! If we need to cancel anything for any reason we’ll always contact you if you’re booked in. We will usually try to call or SMS as well as email, and once the class has been cancelled on MindBody you’ll receive an automated email too.

Q: Do your classes and squads still run when it’s raining?
A: Yes! Our sessions run regardless of the weather, and will go ahead unless the conditions are deemed unsafe.* This could include extreme cold and electrical storms.

*The exception is for our Open Water for Total Beginners sessions, which are always subject to the conditions.

Q: Can I pause my auto payments if I’m going away or need to take a break? 
A: Absolutely. There are a few conditions for autopay suspensions to be aware of before getting in touch:

• You may pause your pack or auto payment for a minimum of two weeks and maximum of three months, on two occasions per twelve month period each.
• In order for your suspension to be correctly processed, we need at least 48 hours notice before your next payment is scheduled. Due to the setup of the auto payment systems on MindBody, suspensions requested within this timeframe may not be processed in time meaning you may be charged for that payment.

If you’re ever unsure about something or if you have any other questions or concerns, please get in touch to chat with someone from our team. Happy swimming!

As per our updated COVID-19 Safety Plan (which can be found on our website here), you will be required to send your current vaccination certificate for us to verify before your first class.  You may do so by forwarding it to us, or sending us a screenshot via SMS. Your certificate will not be stored by us once it has been verified. We have a fully vaccinated team and do require you to be fully vaccinated before joining any of our classes, for the health and safety of our staff and other swimmers. 

Do you have a particular event you are training for and think you could benefit from a custom built training program?

Get in touch for more information!

Our mailing address is:
Sydney Swimmers
PO Box 830
Newtown NSW 2042
Australia
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