Open water swimming in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe. We swim Alcatraz more than anyone! Marathon swimming, training, and coaching… Safety, prep, and success.
Our reviews say it all!
You’re gonna miss SF’s summer off you’re not swimming with us in the next month.
It’s the best time of year, every year!
SwimAlcatraz.com
Flashback to 6 years ago…
Zach Margolis is an hour into the 21-mile circumnavigation of SF, which he successfully completed in 5 hours 45 minutes.
Zack is one of the ‘Speedy Boys’ in SF swimming and we chose a big flood for his attempt… Zach did the harder part.
Wait for when he realized I was filming… 🤣
Start: SF county line near Daly City, south of Ocean Beach.
Finish: Hunters Point/Candlestick Point, at the SF county line in the bay.
This was taken near Pt Lobos, just north of Ocean Beach, before we get to Mile Rocks.
September 6, 2026 from 10:00-12:30pm in Sausalito at Horsehoe Bay.
https://www.pacificswim.co/open-water-swim-clinics/
Designed specifically to help swimmers transition from the pool to swimming in the San Francisco Bay.
Whether you dream of swimming from Alcatraz or are pondering a triathlon, we’re here to help you get started.
This introductory clinic covers:
* Key safety tips and what to know before entering the Bay
* Sighting and navigation techniques
* Breathing and stroke adjustments for open water
* Race strategies including entries, exits, pacing, and buoy turns�
Please note: This is not a learn-to-swim session. All participants must be able to swim 200 yards comfortably in the pool.
PSA: It’s not just a great experience for a job well done, it’s the law. Backstroke under all bridge spans!
🤣🫶🏼
08/21/2026
We have the warmest water of the year, and it’ll stick around a bit. Lots of swims. Lots of swimming! Join us.
Link in bio.
08/08/2026
Enjoyed spending the morning with a great group from NZ… Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz on the morning’s flood. Nothing like swimming 4.6km in 45 minutes!! 🤣 A 1:01/100m pace… (Yes, it’s a current assisted swim) Come join us!
Come back again soon!!
We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Rebecca Thompson.
Rebecca swam with us several times over the years. This short film is from one of her swims in San Francisco Bay last summer.
Rebecca was a gifted scientist, a remarkable endurance athlete, and by every account, an exceptionally kind person. She approached every challenge with quiet determination, humility, and grace.
To her family, colleagues, friends, and fellow swimmers — our hearts are heavy with and for you.
We are grateful to have known her and to have shared time with her in the water.
Rest in peace, Becky.
Alex Kostich **new course record** 10.6-mile Vikingsholm in 03:48:51.
We watched Superman swim today!!
This is the fastest known time for the course, besting Jorge Angel's time of 04:20:32 set on August 3, 2020.
The swim was observed by Kathryn Filley for the Lake Tahoe Open Water Swimming Association.
Suzanne Heim Bowen and Michael 'Mikey' Flaherty served as crew on this record-breaking swim.
07/29/2026
A day after turning 19, Tamar swam the 14-mile San Francisco 4 Islands course in 5:53:56, unofficial. What a great swim, Tamar. It was a beautiful night out on the bay!
Believing in yourself is the first step to approaching a marathon swim, and it was SO fun watching Rachel Clark shout out the positive mantras as she worked her way across the 12-mile True Width course in a time of 06:02:30 - a full hour faster than she had anticipated!
Parents and crew, Theresa and Lincoln, were aboard doling out positive, encouraging energy for Rachel the entire swim. All were amazed with how beautiful the sunny, glassy swim conditions were!
Rachel’s swim was observed by Vincent Vandersall for the Lake Tahoe Open Water Swimming Association (tahoeopenwater.org)
Congratulations, Rachel!!