I am planning a trip to Miami for the last week in Feb and am looking for some good places to do open water swimming. I am familiar with the area (went to school there) and will have a car. I prefer a safe place with good parking access and an outdoor shower on the boardwalk area. I am nursing a broken ankle in a walking boot.
If you're in the City proper, there's the Rickenbacker Causeway which goes out to Key Biscayne. Along the south side of the Causeway and out about 150 yards is a string of white buoys that stretches along for a mile or thereabouts. Don't know if there are any showers though at the public restrooms.
Also on the north side of the Causeway, just east of the Marine Stadium, is a rowing club which has lockers & showers. You can use those facilities on a day use basis and go for a swim in the semi-circular water basin there (though it's been a good 5 years since I was there so things may have changed).
I agree with the above--try to go over the causeway and take the first exit on your right after the bridge (recently renamed tricanes beach). On saturday mornings, the hammerheads tri club and the U of Miami's tri team have open water swims. (Tricanes show up around 8:00 am)
It is very safe in that people usually go for a bike ride and leave their bikes outside of their cars while they swim and these are pricey bikes.
The place is full of fit people on Saturday mornings trying to get in a good workout--so you will not swim alone. Also, the bouys mark your distance and you will be able to tell how far you have gone...ask one of the people there and they will tell you the distances.
I used to swim with the Tricanes--I have a place in Miami Beach and go there once a month in the winter---found the tricanes to do open water swims with so as to feel safe and hey, they also have a GREAT coach with them.
If you are a former Cane, look them up, I am sure they will help you out.
Enjoy--I just got back from there and it was 85 and gorgeous!!
Claudia
Former Member
How far into the Keys are you going? If you come all the way to Key West you want to go on S. Roosevelt BLVD. This will put you in front of smathers beach. People swim out there all the time in the Atlantic.
