Catalina Swim Adventures
Get on the list

Local training swims

Open water close to home, between trips

You don’t have to wait for the next Catalina trip to get in open water. These three are the ones that come up most in the group — real Southern California swims, not part of anything we run, but worth knowing about.

Palos Verdes

  • Cabrillo Beach to Redondo Beach (or the reverse) — a straight-line course just over 24 km (about 15 miles), crossing five cities: Los Angeles, Rancho Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes Estates, Torrance, and Redondo Beach
  • Swum 50–400 meters offshore, threading between kelp beds — the ocean floor drops from 150–250 feet to 2,500 feet along the way
  • 21 vista points mark the course; expect swells, currents and eddies, fog, and stiff winds
  • Whales, dolphins, sea lions, seals, sea otters, and Garibaldi are all regularly seen here — this is a full-length crossing, not a casual training swim, and not something to take on alone or unplanned

Zuma Beach

  • 30000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu
  • Lifeguards on duty during daylight hours; a large lot (2,025 spaces) right off PCH
  • Rip currents are common here — avoid the corridor between Towers 8 and 9, near lifeguard headquarters, where the county itself trains lifeguards on rip current rescue
  • Westward Beach, just southeast, has a steeper sand shelf and heavier shorebreak — recommended for strong swimmers only

Hermosa Beach

  • One of the three South Bay “Beach Cities” along with Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach; the pier sits at the end of Pier Avenue
  • Water runs roughly 70°F in summer, 55°F in winter
  • Home to the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim, an annual open water race from Hermosa Pier to Manhattan Beach Pier
  • The Strand runs the length of the beach and about 20 miles north to Santa Monica, if you want a long walk or run to pair with a swim

Before you go

None of these are guided swims

We don’t run trips to these spots — they’re just real, popular places our group already swims. Go with a buddy, check conditions and lifeguard status before you get in, and know where the rip current zones are at whichever beach you pick.