Before You Swim

New To Open Water Swimming?
We’ve Got You Covered.

We share the ocean with passing boats, kite-surfers, and jet-skis. Make sure you are visible. Wear a brightly colored cap. Neon colors are best. Blue and white don’t stand out in the ocean. Using an open water safety swim buoy is highly recommended. If you become a CIBBOWS member you will receive a free buoy. You can also find them for purchase online.

On this page:
Top 12 Tips
Where to Meet
What to Bring
What to Expect
Distances
Weather Conditions

Photo by Jozef Koppelman, 2022

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Top 12 Tips Before You Swim

1. Swim with a buddy.

It’s best to swim with a partner as you can watch out for each other. If you decide to get out, be sure to alert your buddy and make sure your buddy completes their swim. If you must swim solo, make sure someone knows your swim plan.

2. Don’t bring valuables on the beach

There are no lockers. Many open water swim buoys are also designed to serve as a dry bag and can hold small items (keys, wallets, phone, etc.). We recommend placing those items in a smaller zip lock or silicone pouch for extra protection from the water.

Everybody helps keep an eye on everyone else’s stuff but CIBBOWS is not responsible for your personal items.

Photo by Jozef Koppelman, 2022

3. Lifeguards

Lifeguards are on the beaches from 10 am to 6 pm Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Due to the ongoing lifeguard shortage, not all beaches will have a lifeguard on duty.

4. Start your swim against the current

So your return swim will be easier. Consider planning your swim with apps like TideChart or shallweswimtoday/nyc. If you don’t know how to gauge the current ask someone on the beach. Our more experienced swimmers will be happy to share their wisdom.

5. Swim closer to shore to begin with

If you feel nervous, uncomfortable, or are suddenly not feeling well, cut your swim short and swim to shore. Let your swim buddy know you are going in.

6. Swim within your abilities

We have some very experienced, elite, and ambitious swimmers, many of whom have been training out here for over 10 years. They know the currents and their own abilities very well. Many have acclimated to cold water. Just because someone else is doing it, doesn’t mean it’s right for you.

7. Stay clear of jetties

They are slippery, sharp, and can have tricky currents.

8. Stay within range of Grimaldo’s Chair

For your first few attempts. If you want to go farther, know that the White Building can have strong currents, as can some of the jetties near the pier/wonder wheel.

Photo by Jozef Koppelman, 2022

9. Don’t swim too far out

There is a channel out there for boats and jetskis that are much larger and moving much faster than you and that can be dangerous. Please don’t swim around the end of the Coney Island pier – it is quite far out in the water and a lot of people are fishing from the end of the pier.

10. If you get stuck

If you get stuck at a jetty or in a current and can’t go forward and are getting tired and want to get out, go backwards, allowing the current to help take you to the shore behind you. Don’t Panic! Always be prepared to change your plan. It’s the ocean. She’s in charge–you’re just along for the ride.

11. If in doubt, get out

CIBBOWS strives to have everyone’s swim experience as safe and as enjoyable as possible, but you are swimming at your own risk. Respect your limitations.

12. We are not a learn-to-swim program

We are happy to refer you to a local pool where you can learn skills you need to tackle open water, and heartily encourage you to learn how to swim so we can share the love, but you need to have some basic swimming skills in order to safely come out and swim with us.

If you know how to swim but are nervous or new to open water swimming, consider taking one of our intro clinics.

Where to Meet

Our gathering spot is on Brighton Beach just beyond where Brighton 4th Street ends. Walk keeping the parking lot and the concrete gazebo to your right and look for the lifeguard chair ahead. Weekend programs meet here and members gather here informally.

If using mapping software, type in “3162 Brighton 4th St”. That is the address of the nearby parking lot.

Payment for parking is accepted via the ParkNYC app or via the rather unreliable muni meter machines located in the parking lot. Street parking is also available. The Municipal parking lot is free on Sundays.

Our location is accessible via the Q Train’s “Brighton Beach” stop. If driving, take the BQE to Exit 7 for Ocean Parkway.

Photo by Jozef Koppelman, 2022

Photo by Jozef Koppelman, 2022

What to Bring

• Swimsuit

• Goggles

• Swim Cap – Bright colored (Neon preferred)

• Open Water Swim Buoy

• Towel

• Sunscreen

• Flip flops

• Water

Don’t bring valuables onto the beach – there are no lockers.

Informally, everybody helps keep an eye on everyone else’s stuff. But CIBBOWS is not responsible for your belongings and please don’t ask the lifeguards! They have more important work to do. If you have an open water swim buoy that is also a dry bag, stash your keys, wallet, phone and other essentials in the buoy to keep them with you while you swim. Placing these items inside another zip-lock or silicone bag for extra protection from the water is recommended.

What to Expect

There is a public restroom on the Boardwalk at the foot of Brighton 2nd Street; generally open from 8 am to 4 pm. An outdoor shower (summer and cold water only!) can be found on the Boardwalk between Brighton 2nd and Brighton 1st Streets. There are a few water fountains along the boardwalk.

Photo by Jozef Koppelman, 2022

Distances

For an interactive map check out Google Maps. You can also see a single 3 mile swim loop (Grimaldo’s Chair to the “White” Building (it’s now red), then to the Coney Island Pier, then back to Grimaldo’s Chair) with this Gmap Pedometer Course. Here are some swim distances, parallel to the shoreline approximately 100 yards out, past the jetties.

From To Yards Meters
Grimaldo’s Chair Small rocks (West of Grimaldo) 416 382
 

Grimaldo’s Chair

 Large rocks (West of Grimaldo) 619 566
Grimaldo’s Chair “White” Building (Now Red) 824 753
Grimaldo’s Chair Cyclone 1480 1287
Grimaldo’s Chair Coney Island Pier 1956 1789
White Building Coney Island Pier 2779 2541
Coney Island Pier Seagate 1703 1557
West 22nd St. Next set of rocks (either direction) 200 183
West 22nd St. Coney Island Pier 503 460
Ex-White Building (Now Red) Seagate 4482 4098
Rocks (East of Grimaldo) Small Rocks (West of Grimaldo) 776 710
Rocks (East of Grimaldo) Large Rocks (West of Grimaldo) 959 877
Ex-White Building (Now Red) Large Rocks (West of Grimaldo) 1443 1319

Current Weather Conditions