Swim Avila - Open Water Swimming

Tuesday, October 27th, 2026

2026-10-27T12:42:21.269-07:00

68° Water!

This was a memorable swim. The water was immediately comfortable. The visibility was as good as it gets, the surf was 2 foot and there was a small chop.

I swam one lap. Duke rode by, saw me at the showers and stopped to chat. He was going to swim after his ride.

I'll swim at 7:15 on Thursday and Saturday and go back to 7 after the time changes on Sunday.

niel

Tuesday, October 20th, 2026

2026-10-20T10:44:12.179-07:00

Tuesday Morning Bumps -

This morning the water temp was back up to 66° to 67°, there was a steady offshore wind that put a decent chop on the water, the waves were the same, with 2 to 3 footers with a occasional set of 4+. It all made for some very comfortable swimming in variable conditions.

I didn't have a route planned this morning so I just got started and kept changing my mind about the next leg of the route as I went along. I had a nice push from the chop out to the end of the Poly Pier, a bit of a slog across the chop to the end of the Avila Pier, a bit easier going back to the Poly Pier and finished up with steadily diminishing bumps the closer I got to shore.

I'll be getting in the water at about 8 on Thursday.

niel

Sunday, October 19th, 2026

2026-10-18T14:22:24.704-07:00

Tom L's Sunday Swim -

Half marathon, then a gorgeous swim around the rock. That was my morning at Avila. To clarify, I navigated the half marathon parking situation, then I swam around the rock. The water was glassy calm and 60+ degrees. There was a 3 foot wave rolling in and the swimming was excellent.

Saturday, October 17th, 2026

2026-10-17T12:41:57.405-07:00

The Best of Fall Continues -

Niel, Katie, Tom, Paula, Jodi and Hillary

Sunrise at the end of the Avila Pier.

Swimming this morning were Niel, Hillary, Paula, Katie, Tom and Jodi. At 7 AM the air temperature in Avila Beach was already 64° and it felt like it was going to be a warm day. The water was 63°- 64° with a light offshore breeze. The surf was 3 to 4 foot.

Today's route was to the end of the Avila Pier, to the end of the Poly Pier, in along the pier to the second crossbars and to the end of the Avila Pier. Tom and Paula went in. Niel, Hillary, Katie and Jodi swam to the #4 buoy, back along the buoys to #1 and in.

Niel, Jodi, Tom (hidden by the piling), Paula, Hillary

and Katie at the #2 crossbars on the Poly Pier.

The sun was starting to feel hot and the air temperature was in the 80's when we got out.

For the after swim there was Blue Fin coffee and bench swimming at Hillary's VW bus.

This coming week I'll swim at 7 on Tuesday, 8 on Thursday and 7 on Saturday.

niel

Thursday, October 15th, 2026

2026-10-15T16:35:06.178-07:00

Pier to Pier, The Other Way -

It was a beautiful morning today. I got lost enjoying the sunshine and warm water and swam a long route between the Avila and Poly Piers so it was different kind of pier to pier swim. I swam from the end of the Avila Pier to and back from the end of the Poly Pier and the third and second crossbars.

It was a bit chilly getting started. At 7 AM the air temp was 47°. The sand felt cold on my bare feet. The water felt fine but the water temperature was all over the place with cold and very warm areas. I'd guess the average was 62°. Out past the end of the Avila Pier there was a mixed SSW swell. The surf was 3 foot with one 4 footer. I had the whole bay all to myself, I didn't see many birds or anything else out there.

It was warm and sunny at the showers. This was a gift of a swim and a great way to start my day.

I'll be back Saturday at 7.

niel

Tuesday, October 13th, 2026

2026-10-13T12:03:39.308-07:00

Warm Water and Cold Toes -

The water was 62° this morning and felt really nice. The water and the sunshine felt good, however, at 7 AM, the air temperature was a chilly 45°. There was no sunshine at the showers and bare feet on the wet concrete was cold.

The surf was 2 to 3 foot with an occasional 4 plus footer. An offshore wind came up as the sun rose and the water got bumpy. The water temperature varied a lot, vertically the top 12 inches were colder. Horizontally there were patches that were several degrees colder.

Our weather is predicted to be in the low 90's by Friday so I'm looking forward to Thursday and Saturday.

niel

Sunday, October 11th, 2026

2026-10-11T12:33:18.661-07:00

Tom L. Does a Winter Swim -

Heavy thick clouds, 5.8 high tide, a wind chop, and 4 foot set waves. All that added up to storm conditions. The ocean was rocking and rolling with a strong current running from Southwest to Northeast. All that and a large pod of dolphins meandering inside the buoy line on the east side. It was an excellent day to be swimming in the ocean.

Saturday, October 10th, 2026

2026-10-10T12:49:57.165-07:00

A Martini Swim -

We had been talking about doing a Martini Swim while the water was still warm and today turned out to be the day. The course is shaped like a Martini glass and covers about 2.4 miles, which coincidentally is the distance for a full Ironman swim. The World Championship Ironman at Kona was held today so we added a nod to those folks who swam 2.4 miles this morning in stormy waters with box jellyfish before riding 112 miles and running a marathon.

In Avila Beach at 7AM we had an air temperature of 63°, a water temperature of 65°, a 5.6' high tide at 10:04, no wind, glassy water, several SW swells and 3 foot surf with an occasional sneaky 5 foot set. The water on the east side of the Avila Pier was still stinky like it was on Thursday.

We got in the water at 7:10, timed getting out through the waves and gathered up at the end of the Avila Pier.

The Martini Swim

The Avila Pier is the stem of the glass and the glass is the triangle

drawn by the end of the Avila Pier, the Avila Rock and the end of the

Poly Pier. One Martini is about 2.4 miles. One in and out and three laps

around the glass will make this a 10 to 11K swim.

From the left: Hillary and her video tow toy, Tom Israel, Niel

and Paula with the Avila Rock behind Paula.

Niel, Tom, Paula and Hillary at the end of the Poly Pier.

This coming week I am planning on swimming on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7.

niel

Friday, October 9th, 2026

2026-10-09T11:41:51.797-07:00

Heavy marine layer, 5 to 6 foot set waves, and high tide. It was my weekly bareback swim. The air temperature was high 60s and the water temperature was low 60s. The combination of a decent swell and a 5.6 high tide had the water pouring over the berm and running high up the beach, all the way to the wall at the old stairs in front of the Inn at Avila Beach. It was an excellent morning swim.

Tom L.

Thursday, October 8th, 2026

2026-10-08T14:02:16.997-07:00

Even Warmer Than Yesterday -

At 8 this morning the water temperature in Avila Beach was 68°+, there was a very high tide and the largest waves that I have seen since last winter. The biggest waves were 5 footers. Hillary and I made getting out look easy. The waves laid down just as we were waded in so we walked out, swam over the crest of one big one and on out to the buoy line. We felt pretty Pro.

We swam east, buoy to buoy, to #4. The water was dark and had a nasty chemical smell and taste. From #4 we headed to the end of the Avila Pier to try and get out of the funk.

The end of the Avila Pier was clean so we swam to #2 crossbars on the Poly Pier, to the end and back to the end of the Avila Pier.

Here we ran into two groups of guys doing their swimming qualification for Cal Fire. We came in with them along the west side of the pier. The tide had turned while we were swimming and the surf was flattening out so getting in was simple.

Niel and Hillary at the end of the Poly Pier.

There was no sun so from here we felt our way over towards the end of the Avila Pier until the pier could be seen in the fog.

Hillary and I and whoever else wants to jump in will swim at 7 on Saturday.

niel

Tuesday, October 6th, 2026

2026-10-06T17:52:08.409-07:00

67° -

That is 19.5 C / 67° F on my thermometer.

Since 1992, that is as warm as I have known the water at Avila Beach to be.

At 7 AM the rest of the numbers were a 56° air temperature, 2 foot surf, no wind, overcast skies with fog coming and going, glassy water with a small swell and as I was leaving, CalFire was unloading their PWC's for some training. I'm glad we did not wind up sharing the water.

There were no rafts of birds off shore so I swam around the reef and out to the end of the Poly Pier. I did not see any dolphins, otters or other mammals out there with me.

I'll be getting in on Thursday at 8.

niel

Saturday, October 3rd, 2026

2026-10-03T12:16:49.865-07:00

The Fall Can Be The Best Time -

Today was a summer day in October. Avila was again a hold in the early morning fog with a light offshore breeze pushing the fog offshore leaving a cloudless sky and a nice sunrise.

At 7 it was 556° and the water temp was 64° - 65°, with a small swell, 2+ foot waves and clean water. We decided to swim back and forth between the Avila and Poly Piers.

Swimming this morning were Katie, Hillary, Jodi and Niel. The warm water and the sunshine made for very comfortable swimming conditions.

Katie, Hillary and Jodi at the Avila Pier

Niel near the first buoy

Katie at the 4th buoy.

Niel and Katie planning the route

to the second crossbars on the Poly Pier.

When we were at the end of the Poly Pier there was a huge raft of birds another 1000M offshore that were feeding. We could also see dolphins that were getting in on the action.

I will enjoy these swimming conditions as long as they lasts.

I will be back at 7 on Tuesday, at 8 on Thursday and 7 next Saturday.

niel

Friday, October 2nd, 2026

2026-10-02T17:12:12.786-07:00

Tom L's Friday Swim Report -

Foggy, glassy and calm. That was Avila at 9:30 AM. The air temperature was mid 60s, and the water temperature was low 60s. It was an excellent Friday morning swim.

In the unexpected and unfortunate side effects department: an explanation for all the dead birds on the beach. As per animal rescue via one of the regulars I see, the dead birds are a result of the extended warm water. Apparently the birds cannot dive deep enough to get to the fish which normally would be closer to the surface but due to the warm water have gone to deeper depths, and they are slowly starving to death and washing up on shore. I have seen these birds while swimming, and have wondered why they look so lethargic and do not move when I am nearby. And now it all makes sense. Nature being nature, if this trend were to continue long-term, the birds would work it out and go further north. Nature's window.

Thursday, October 1st, 2026

2026-10-01T14:58:45.778-07:00

The Other Side -

This morning Hillary and I did my Tuesday Nested Triangles swim on the opposite side of the pier. I've felt that the distances between the end of the Avila pier and the buoys on the west side was shorter than those on the east side. Today was a good day to flip over Tuesday's swim and see what the difference was. The answer was that the route on the west side was 263M shorter.

Unlike Tuesday there was no offshore wind this morning so the overcast/fog was solid. The clouds were not down on the deck so visibility was good but gray with the buoys without colors or shadows disappearing into the flat light.

For numbers we had an air temperature of 57°, the water was 63°- 64°, the surf was 2 foot +/- and there were no large groups of birds, one seal and no otters or dolphins. There was a small SW swell.

The swimming was nice and the water comfortable. I've found a way to get my watch to upload to the Garmin app immediately: After stopping the app and saving the data, I go back to the watch face. When I want to upload the new data I open the Garmin app and hit the the buttons on my watch that is at 2 o'clock and open the event screen where you select Run, Pool Swim, Bike etc. As soon as any event screen opens the watch begins downloading to the app. No more waiting for an indeterminate time for the download.

Hillary and the bus are back. She is holding a blue doggie toy I found in the sand that is going to join the other found sand creatures on her party boat with the GoPro camera.

We'll swim Saturday morning at 7.

niel

Tuesday, September 29th, 2026

2026-09-29T11:52:27.184-07:00

Sunshine! -

This morning there was thick fog from San Luis Obispo to Cave Landing Road where it opened up to clear skies and sunshine. Avila's offshore breeze was keeping the fog well off the land and creating a nice sunrise. At 48° it was a bit cooler than it has been, the surf was 2 foot +/-, the breeze had put some texture onto the water. The water temperature was 63°.

My route looks a lot like a Yo-Yo but I'm calling this Nested Triangles. I began by swimming from the #1 buoy to #4, then to the end of the pier and returning to #1. Then to #3, the end of the pier and back to #1, then a third triangle by going to #2 and the end of the pier and back and finally from #1 to the end of the pier and back to #1 for a two sided triangle. The chop wasn't much but it was different enough on each leg from a buoy to the end of the pier so there were nice changes to the conditions.

The distance was the same as a Yo-Yo. Maybe I'll try this route on the other side on Thursday.

niel

Saturday, September 26th, 2026

2026-09-26T12:00:17.701-07:00

Warm and Sunny -

It was a lovely morning in Avila Beach. The air was 58° and warming up, the water was 63° with warmer spots, there were blue skies and sunshine breaking through the clouds and a rocket launch from Vandenberg.

We had a new swimmer this morning, Kate Kate has just moved here from Michigan to teach at Poly and has been swimming in their big lake, yes, in the winter too. She joined us this morning, is new to swimming in the ocean and based on today's swim will be a regular on Saturdays.

We did a loop around the buoys, Paula and Kate were ready to come in so we all called it a great start to the day.

Niel with Paula and Kate

That's not a hiccup, we from the #1 buoy we swam out a ways to avoid

crossing under the pier beneath where they are making repairs.

The Cal Poly Ride A Wave fundraiser for the Poly Collegiate Rodeo Team was held on the west side of the beach on Friday and Saturday. The bleachers face the ocean and the events take place on the hard sand at the water's edge.

This coming week I'll be swimming at 7 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

niel

Thursday, September 24th, 2026

2026-09-24T16:30:48.039-07:00

Swimming Around the Rodeo -

I had a lot of Blue Water Task Force tasks this morning and I didn't get in the water until 9.

Tom Lorish got in at the same time but we each did our own swim.

At 9 AM the overcast was clearing, it was still calm, the surf was 2 to 3 foot, it was 66° and the water was 64°. I swam short because I was meeting Tom Lorish and Duke Parmelly at 11 for pastries and stories. I stayed in close because the anchovies are in and with them are the waterbirds. There was a raft of birds offshore that extended from the far side of Fossil Point to almost the Avila Pier. Thousands, tens of thousands? I don't know. Avoiding the birds is a prudent thing to do. They use the water as a toilet and the bait fish attract seals, which will be attractive to sharks, so I avoid an area where everything is either eating or being eaten.

With the water in the mid-60's it was very easy and pleasant swimming.

This year the Cal Poly Collegiate Rodeo team is putting on their fall fundraising show in Avila Beach. The event will be at 4 on Friday and Saturday afternoons. They have set up bleachers for 3,000 spectators between the pier and the creek and it looks like a very professional undertaking. In the middle of the photo is the #2 lifeguard tower. I'll get a better photo Saturday morning.

I'll swim Saturday morning at 7, then to Pismo Beach, north of the Grand Ave. ramp, for the Surfrider annual Hands Across The Sand protest against offshore oil drilling.

niel

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026

2026-09-22T12:26:12.715-07:00

More of These Please -

I had a very nice swim this morning. Things started out well, I felt relaxed and I never felt tight, tired, bored or anything other than enjoying being in the water.

Avila was gray with overcast skies, 59° and calm. The water was 61° to 62°, glassy with a SW swell and 2 foot surf.

My plan was to swim over to and to the end of the Poly Pier and figure it out from there. I kept going around the loop and back to where I began.

At the end of the Poly Pier.

Here and at the Avila Rock it is far enough offshore

that I feel like I'm out in the ocean.

I'll swim at 8 on Thursday and meet Tom Lorish and Duke on the Avila bluff at 11 for our occasional Old Guys Talking About the Ocean meeting.

niel

Saturday, September 19th, 2026

2026-09-19T12:13:23.212-07:00

A Yo-Yo on the East Side -

The morning began with a nice sunrise but the clouds quickly moved in over Pismo Beach and changed it into a gray day. There was no wind, the water was glassy with no chop and a swell out of the SW, the surf was 2 to 3 foot, the air temperature was 55° and the water was 61°. The water looked like it was getting cloudy but that could have been caused by the lack of sunshine.

It was just Jodi and I today. We decided to do a Yo-Yo on the east side of the Avila Pier.

Niel, Jodi and the #3 buoy with seagull

On the first leg from the end of the pier to the #4 buoy I spotted on the #3 buoy, I'm blaming the grayness and the swell, and had to swim over to #4 to meet Jodi.

We enjoyed a nice swim and a good start to Saturday morning.

I'll swim Tuesday at 7, Thursday at 8 and Saturday at 9.

The CP Rodeo on the beach is Avila is next Friday and Saturday at 4PM, so it should not interfere with our morning swim.

niel

Thursday, September 17th, 2026

2026-09-17T15:09:51.622-07:00

More Coolish -

This morning the water felt colder than it had on Tuesday, more chilly getting in and it took longer for me to get even with the water temperature. I measured a temperature of 60°+/- this morning which matched how it felt. Some summers the water doesn't even break 60° so this is a very nice water temperature for Avila Beach, but a 5 degree drop in 5 days is requiring some getting used to.

It was overcast and 56° with some cotton ball clouds and a peak of sunshine, no wind, a smaller swell than Tuesday and 2 foot surf.

A four buoy Yo-Yo on the west side sounded right.

The water has stayed clean and plankton free since early in the summer. It has been a treat to have nice clean water with good (for Avila) visibility at this time of the year.

I'll be back on Saturday at 7.

niel

Tuesday, September 15th, 2026

2026-09-15T12:00:47.431-07:00

When 61° Feels Coolish -

The water temperature was 61° today and after Saturday's 65°+/- the water felt cool as I waded in. Of course 61° was very comfortable but the 3 to 4 degree drop was very noticeable. Avila was overcast and 56°, there was no wind, knee high surf and a SE swell that would give some variation to my swimming.

I felt really good. I relaxed and just enjoyed myself

and had a nice float at the finish.

I'll be back at 7 on Thursday and Saturday.

niel

Saturday, September 12th, 2026

2026-09-12T14:46:41.962-07:00

Very Warm Water -

Before we got in I measured 63° water temperature off of the Avila Pier, the water was a degree or two warmer most everywhere we swam today. When we were at the Poly Pier the water temperature reading was 65°. (I checked this on their website after the swim at https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/realtime2/CPXC1.ocean).

Jodi, Avery, Tom and Niel

at the Poly Pier

The surf was 2 to 3 foot, the water is was nice and clean with good visibility, it was overcast and 60° on the beach. January's mid to low 50's water temperatures seem a faint memory now, but in November the ocean will begin changing to winter conditions. I'll be happy if the water temperature stays in the mid 50's this winter, instead of the low to below 50° of previous winters.

We swam a tour of the water between the Avila and Poly Piers, finishing up with the 1000M leg from the end of the Poly Pier to the beach.

For this coming week I'll swim Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7.

niel

Tuesday, September 8th, 2026

2026-09-08T12:14:21.722-07:00

A Quick Start Followed By Great Swimming -

When I arrived in Avila at 6:40 it was calm, sunny, 55°, and looked like the start of a beautiful summer day. I had checked the surf report and a large south swell was predicted but the water in Avila was pretty flat with 2 to 3 foot waves. When I walked in the water felt warm, I'd measure a 63° water temperature while I was swimming. When I was chest high a 3+ foot wave came through and the next one had a face that was taller than I am. I swam under it, surfaced and found that that one had a bunch of friends. I think there were 5 or 6 5 to 6 footers before the waves went down and I got out to the buoy line. Today's waves were not packing the energy typical of waves from winter storms so it was easier to swim under them.

I swam down the buoy line to the east. When I was at the 4th buoy Jim swam up next to me. We swam to the end of the Poly Pier. Jim swam in to the beach and I went to the end of the Avila Pier, to the second crossbars on the Poly Pier, to the 4th buoy on the west side and along the buoys to the #1 buoy on the east side.

Niel and Jim at the Poly Pier

Sunny skies and 63° water was a very nice way to start my day.

I'll not swim on Thursday morning but I will be back at 7 on Saturday.

niel

Saturday, September 5th, 2026

2026-09-05T11:51:27.685-07:00

Summer Isn't Over Yet -

There were eight people in the water this morning; Paula, Claire (Paula's daughter), Tom I., Illiene, Jodi, Niel, Jim and Hillary. We are still enjoying summer swimming conditions; low clouds, no wind, a 55° air temperature and 61° water that is nice and clean. The swell from tropical storm Marie had pushed up the surf in Avila Beach to 4 to 5 feet. There was a long period between the sets and the waves were not carrying a lot of energy so getting out was just a matter of timing.

From the left is Jim, Claire, Niel, Tom L. with Paula and Eileen behind him,

Jodi in the background and Hillary on the right at Buoy #1

Tom and Eileen went bareback and were planning on going short. After we got out through the surf and grouped up at Buoy #1. We swam to Fossil Point and came back to the #2 buoy, not getting too close to the pier to avoid the fishing lines. Clare, Eileen, Paula and Tom went in while Niel, Hillary, Jodi and Jim swam to the end of the Avila Pier, to the #2 crossbars on the Poly Pier, to the #2 Buoy on the right side of the Avila Pier and came in.

This coming week I'll swim Tuesday and Saturday at 7 and maybe slip in one more as a make up for not swimming on Thursday because of a 9AM appointment.

niel

Saturday, August 29th, 2026

2026-08-29T11:13:38.018-07:00

Swimming With Silly People -

The conditions this morning were favorable for a swim to the Avila Rock, so Hillary, Tom and Niel took the tour. I measured a water temp of 62° from the Avila Pier. It was 58° under low clouds with a chance of sunshine. The surf was 2 to 3 feet and there was a small chop on the water.

Niel, Hillary and Tom with the Avila Rock in the background

Hillary's party boat with Niel, Hillary and Tom

The party boat has flags, a GoPro camera, a hula doll, a shark hula doll,

a figure of Jesus that was found on the beach and a yellow ducky to tow behind.

The swell was hiding the smaller Avila Rock so I was swimming

towards the much larger Bird Rock which is another mile further.

I'll be swimming on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7 this coming week.

niel