Know before you go. Delve into the wind, swell, and tide forecasts for Gordon’s Bay before heading out to swim from Gordon’s Bay Main Beach to the Gordon’s Bay Harbour pier. The swim is roughly 950 metres, depending on the tide, each way in the most sheltered southeastern corner of Gordon’s Bay.
Click the image to view the swim map and download the GPX file from Plotaroute.com.
Gordon’s Bay Swim Essentials
Generally the water in False Bay is relatively warm, with the temperature dropping to low of 12-13 degrees after sustained periods of south-easterly wind. In winter, when the north-westerly wind prevails, larger swells from the southern ocean bring cool water into the bay, but those seldom drop the temperature below 14 degrees. Overall it is possible to swim ‘skins’ all year round, though a wetsuit will help insolate form cold air temperatures in mid-winter. In summer, if the south-easter has not blown, the water temperature can rise as high as 21-22 degrees.
For safety sake it is generally recommended to swim with a swim float. These make swimmers more visible to other water users, particularly the captains of fishing and recreational boats which use the Gordon’s Bay Harbour to launch or moor.
It’s always safest to make use of a swim float, if only to keep you visible to other water users.
Sea Life
Keep your eyes peeled, you never know if you’ll spot a fish, a starfish, the friendly local seal, or one of the rays that hug the sandy bottom.
