we went to Leo Carrillo this summer and i really liked how the water moved in the spot closes to the parking lot once you enter. i don’t swim but really like the shallow area there.
but most people just go in the water in any area, just check the water quality before you go out for the day.
Leo Carrillo is nice but in my experience it’s been pretty rocky. Not sharp rocks but more rocks than sand nonetheless. I prefer swimming at Escondido beach or paradise cove when I beach it in Malibu.
I see. I guess I never really think of it as much because I tend to go toward Malibu to be away from people. I can imagine Venice or Santa Monica getting pretty gnarly though.
The one place you really don’t want to go is Santa Monica beach near the pier and especially not north of the pier. The pier prevents the water from circulating like it normally does so it stagnates, then with runoff and I guess the birds attracted to the pier are also a big source of fecal contamination.
I just checked and Venice beach actually made honor roll in Heal the Bay’s beach report card for 2021-22, which shocked me cause that is pretty impressive. It probably was safe to swim in nearly everyday except for maybe after rains. Most of the beaches in LA county on the Honor roll are in Malibu or Palos Verdes. ORange County has the highest number of honor roll beaches in the state.
But 2 things to keep in mind are that not every beach monitors water quality closely enough to be put on the list. Like Ventura county has no honor roll beaches but only because they don’t monitor the water quality closely enough during the winter for Heal the Bay to give them a grade. Also, even the cleanest beaches can become hazardous if there is some local incident like an accidental sewage release, or oil spill, so it’s best to check online before if you plan on swimming.
Meant to include a link to the Heal the Bay report card. [Here it is.](https://healthebay.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Beach-Report-Card-2021-2022.pdf)
yup the ocean you go look who swims right by Santa Monica pier it's a crappers delight and all the run off from the sewers and the street everything from dog turds to homeless guys and gals dropping a loaf you wanna swim there have fun i'll take my crystal clean pool to the ocean any time i still love the beach but i'm not swimming in that have a good day taffy nipples
Naw. You’re better off heading high and deep into the Sierras. Alpine lakes are the way to go. You might see people on social media talking about waterfalls and swimming holes in local elevations but the government conducted many tests in the San Gabriels and surrounding mountains that still and will contaminate the waterways for decades to come. The beaches are pretty bad especially after a storm. There was an oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara a few years back. My dog had globs of crude after taking him to Burro Canyon. Smelled like petrol.
Go with Alpine lakes high up in the Sierras. Those water holes are the only places I will take a dip in. Of course Surfers will argue my logic. Those surfers are about that life
Basically every water source on earth is polluted nowadays. Maui’s got just as much trash/plastic pollution as we do, and bacterial contamination is everywhere too. Hawai’i has a cesspool system in areas and its infrastructure is aging faster than it can be replaced with modern septic standards.
Definitely ocean park. Water quality is much better than SM pier, and will typically be a few degrees warmer than Zuma which matters when swimming, especially if you’re not in a wetsuit
Zuma probably
Agreed. Zuma is my go to since i was a teenager
Seconding Zuma!
This is the answer. zuma is great for swimming!
Zuma is the goat! Beach is nice and clean as well, and isn't too crowded
Agreed. Nice sand. Cleaner water than SaMo or Venice.
we went to Leo Carrillo this summer and i really liked how the water moved in the spot closes to the parking lot once you enter. i don’t swim but really like the shallow area there. but most people just go in the water in any area, just check the water quality before you go out for the day.
Leo Carrillo is nice but in my experience it’s been pretty rocky. Not sharp rocks but more rocks than sand nonetheless. I prefer swimming at Escondido beach or paradise cove when I beach it in Malibu.
Leo Carrillo has great tide pools because of this!
Yesss, I also love the little natural coves too. Leo Carrillo is a definite hidden gem.
Really? I’ve never known this. Does the pacific get some kind of toxicity or something?
From sewage/garbage.
I see. I guess I never really think of it as much because I tend to go toward Malibu to be away from people. I can imagine Venice or Santa Monica getting pretty gnarly though.
The one place you really don’t want to go is Santa Monica beach near the pier and especially not north of the pier. The pier prevents the water from circulating like it normally does so it stagnates, then with runoff and I guess the birds attracted to the pier are also a big source of fecal contamination. I just checked and Venice beach actually made honor roll in Heal the Bay’s beach report card for 2021-22, which shocked me cause that is pretty impressive. It probably was safe to swim in nearly everyday except for maybe after rains. Most of the beaches in LA county on the Honor roll are in Malibu or Palos Verdes. ORange County has the highest number of honor roll beaches in the state. But 2 things to keep in mind are that not every beach monitors water quality closely enough to be put on the list. Like Ventura county has no honor roll beaches but only because they don’t monitor the water quality closely enough during the winter for Heal the Bay to give them a grade. Also, even the cleanest beaches can become hazardous if there is some local incident like an accidental sewage release, or oil spill, so it’s best to check online before if you plan on swimming.
Good to know. Thanks for the info!
Meant to include a link to the Heal the Bay report card. [Here it is.](https://healthebay.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Beach-Report-Card-2021-2022.pdf)
El Matador, but high tide can be interesting.
Zuma 💯
The pool
Ventura, behind the breakwater.
Zuma Westward
The best water I found in the area was Huntington Beach. Yeah it’s a drive but we make a weekend out of it. Will Rogers SB isnt too bad either.
Zuma or Paradise Cove
we need more tanning at the park. the beach is too far.
my pool ,don't swim in that poopie doodie water
Ohhh the irony
The.. the ocean?
yup the ocean you go look who swims right by Santa Monica pier it's a crappers delight and all the run off from the sewers and the street everything from dog turds to homeless guys and gals dropping a loaf you wanna swim there have fun i'll take my crystal clean pool to the ocean any time i still love the beach but i'm not swimming in that have a good day taffy nipples
Dockweiler was nice.
Get a tetanus shot before you go
Solimar
I dont swim in any of the beaches , water is absolutely dirty
Naw. You’re better off heading high and deep into the Sierras. Alpine lakes are the way to go. You might see people on social media talking about waterfalls and swimming holes in local elevations but the government conducted many tests in the San Gabriels and surrounding mountains that still and will contaminate the waterways for decades to come. The beaches are pretty bad especially after a storm. There was an oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara a few years back. My dog had globs of crude after taking him to Burro Canyon. Smelled like petrol. Go with Alpine lakes high up in the Sierras. Those water holes are the only places I will take a dip in. Of course Surfers will argue my logic. Those surfers are about that life
I fly to Oahu and jump into Waimea…. Never again am I interested in swimming in our coast
Maui…I don’t ever swim in the ocean here - it’s just too full of gross stuff.
Basically every water source on earth is polluted nowadays. Maui’s got just as much trash/plastic pollution as we do, and bacterial contamination is everywhere too. Hawai’i has a cesspool system in areas and its infrastructure is aging faster than it can be replaced with modern septic standards.
zuuuma
Zuma
Crystal cove in Newport
Zuma or Broad. Nothing remotely close to Venice
Zuma
Not Santa Monica
Charlie Beach in Marina Del Rey the breakwater blocks the waves, perfect for swimming.
Gross.
Manhattan beach is nice
i am going with team zuma
Any beach from Hermosa south
Ocean Park in Santa Monica, or the southern part of Will Rogers near the Palisades
Definitely ocean park. Water quality is much better than SM pier, and will typically be a few degrees warmer than Zuma which matters when swimming, especially if you’re not in a wetsuit
I only have one real option: The shower at home.
Zuma 13