20 Best Lakes For Swimming In Southern California (2023 Updated)

I purchased several copies for Xmas gifts including my son’s year 1 school teacher. Makes a great gift for anyone who likes the outdoors, bushwalking and looking to discover new holiday destinations.

I think the authors have done a great job researching and presenting this book. Well done!.

I was expecting to find many unusual or hidden gems in this book but I think I can find more information on Instagram. The quality is also a little poor. Looks nice on the coffee table though.

As we are currently travelling around Australia in our caravan we will attempt to swim at all places recommended in the book. Some notable exceptions in the book were Salmon Bay on Rottnest Island WA which is a beautiful beach with excellent snorkelling.

Additionally, Cossies Beach on Direction Island in the Cocos Keeling Islands is another picture perfect beach with an awesome “Rip” snorkel.

and they’ve done a great job, especially with the open water tracking. I’ve been a longtime Garmin user, and have worked through the ebbs and flows of open water swim tracking from Garmin Fenix 2 (abysmal) through to the 5 series (better, but still some quirks).

Realtime GPS tracking for open-water swimming is an interestingly complex puzzle for product engineers: you need good hardware that can make a quick connection while the watch is out of the water, and some creative software solutions, to make sensible guesses from those snippets of data, about where you are and how fast you’re swimming.

So far, the Swim 2 has given me the best tracking I’ve had in a Garmin watch in open water (that’s entirely along the western shores of Lake Ontario for now). Indeed, I recently sold my Fenix 5s and downsized to the Swim 2, since that’s mostly what I use it for.

Occasionally I miss the incredible range of stuff you can do with the Fenix series (and related) watches, but the price difference is huge, and if mostly you use a tracker for swimming, pool and outdoor, then this is the watch for you (it will also track biking, running/walking, and cardio through the heartrate system on-board the watch, but with nothing like the bells and whistles of the far more expensive multi-sport/activity watches.

It will, however, track your heart rate in the water, as will the most recent Fenix series, I believe). I haven’t yet tried the watch in pool mode, but if you follow DCRainmaker, he put this (and every other!) watch through its paces, so I expect Garmin has done solid work on the pace, stroke and rest detection here.

Another review here at MEC notes a problem with GPS tracking during breast-stroke, and that highlights an important limitation of this or any other watch-based GPS during swimming: it needs to be above surface at some point during your stroke cycle, to connect (however briefly) with the GPS satellite network.

One thing I’ve found is that the tracking is pretty bad if you only have it in standard GPS mode, but improves dramatically if you use GPS+GLONASS mode. This makes intuitive sense: the more signals the watch can access in those brief moments above water, the less fuzzy the location calcuation should be!.

Not as good as my previous Garmin Forerunner watch which stopped charging and was sent in for repair with no news at all. Very short time between connecting to GPS and being able to start open water swimming or it reverts to a screen that takes ages to return.

Miscalculates pool swimming distance even when set properly to 50m. Otherwise suffices for open water and pool times. I do not use all the extra phone and messaging apps as I am not good with the technical aspects.

I miss my Garmin Forerunner.

A poor quality, I had 2 replacement band in 3 months, first one the clasp broke off, second time the strap at the end where screws fell off it looks like the band stretched. So im looking for rubber band strap not silicones ones they dont last and i wasted my money for this watch with poor quality of the bands.

not very happy. My last swim watch i had was TOM TOM and the band lasted 18 months then i got second one to replace it. this is the best watch for swim but unfortunately i unable to upgrade this brand due they no longer available.

Garmin wasted my money.

I have been looking for bottoms for my tankini top, but after three c-sections the bikini bottoms just don’t work for me anymore. I was nervous to do a skirt, but this has exceeded my expectations and it almost looks like a tennis skirt.

I like that the waist is a little higher and not cutting into the pooch that C sections mamas get. The underneath are short shorts which I liked, (goodbye chaffing) and there is a pocket on the side.

I haven’t tried them in water so hopefully they aren’t see through but I’ve been really happy with them so far. I feel like I can be a cute mom and still be covered when I hang out with my kids at the pool.

I was in Florida maybe 10 years ago and found this bottom at a local swimsuit boutique. I absolutely love the skort. I live in Michigan and you can find a swimsuit skirt but it always has the underwear type underneath.

I love the shorts/ skorts underneath because it holds my thighs in and gives me confidence that nothing is going to be exposed. My first pair has lasted 10 years and I just recently bought another one.

I literally kept the tags for 10 years so that I could re-purchase we needed and plan on buying a couple more. I highly recommend this bottom. It’s cute and gives great coverage!.

I bought a swimsuit top in a department store. I have a hard time finding one that fits me. I really loved this one but they were sold out of the matching bottoms in my size. I looked on the tag and looked up the company that made it and sure enough they had my size in the bottoms.

It was also on sale, so I bought a skirt and a bottom and it fit me perfect. I am very pleased with the purchase.

For information this book is 5 stars. For publication it is 1 star. Issues: 1. the font is too small. 2. The publisher has used grey print on white paper! It is VERY difficult to read. Overall: 2 stars.

This book has changed my life. As a uni student on a budget, and a nature lover, this book gives me information on all the most beautiful swimming spots within three hours of my home city, Sydney. I’ve lived here for 25 years and I would never have known about 3/4 of these places nor how to find them.

My hope is that people who find and share these places will inspire others to respect the culture of wild swimming and encourage people and governments to protect these places and improve water quality for now and future generations.

Fantastic! Have discovered many many swimming holes around sydney and beyond I never knew exsited. My weekend summer bible at the moment. Highly recommended for those amongst a who like wild swimming :-).

I received this a while back but recently went to the lake to use it. This doesn’t come with a pump but a portable pump works just fine. It was super easy to set it up. I followed the instructions and within less than 45 minutes I set it up.

It was easy to carry into the lake with no problems. Also, it was super easy to get on and off. I love how this has a cover so you won’t get sunburn. And it has a place to put your drinks to keep them fresh all day.

This honestly feels like a boat but a way more convenient for the price if you can’t afford a boat like me. Everyone had a great time on this we can’t wait to return back to the lake and use it again.

Also, it was a total of 6 adults and we had no issues. To store this and take out the air took about 45 minutes but was able to put it in my car with no problem. Overall, this is great for the summer because it is so much fun! And I know it will last me forever because the materials is so strong and sturdy.

I bought these for my 2-year old for our week-long beach vacation. She wore them pretty much every day of our vacation, either to the beach or the pool. They have held up well but you can tell they’ve been to the beach.

It’s very hard to get sand out completely but I imagine that would be the case for any water shoe. Fit is true to size. My daughter wears a size 5 and these fit well. They are a little tough to get on her feet but it’s difficult getting most shoes on any toddler.

I have heard that many water shoes cause blisters after wear but we have had no issues. However, we did “wear them in” first by walking around the house in socks before taking them out to the water.

I was looking for water shoes with flexible soles for my 2. 5 year old. We had these shoes last year, and I couldn’t find anything better so we went with these again. They are very functional. My daughter can walk with ease over the large and small rocks at the lake.

The down sides: they are not the easiest shoes to get on (I think a strap on the top of the foot would allow easier on-off), the soles wear out over the course of the summer if they are worn on rough surfaces (rocks, concrete), and they do get stained over time (you can’t just rinse them off after your kid walks through a mud puddle and expect them to be good as new).

Pros: The garment looks good and apart from the ‘Improvement Points’ is functioning to date. Cons: I have purchased other Jammers and the Hexagonal Jammer comfort/fit is not as good fit around the groin/rear area.

At the back, just under the waistband, the surface of the fabric has begun to ‘fur’. This phenomenon occurred without the garment having been subjected to any washing process nor standard detergents.

Note this has also occurred to other Jammer models (3No) purchased. It is unclear yet whether or not this condition will worsen affecting the longevity of the garments.

We bought this as a “life jacket” for swimming at the beach. Fortunately I was paying attention when my 4 year old who weighs 30-40 lbs stepped into a deep spot, the swimmy floated while the water was up over my sons nose he was trapped and panicking without being able to make a sound.

Swimmys need to have a crotch strap so kids don’t slide down. I was terrified and angry at the same time. DONT TRUST SWIMMYS.

I bought this for my 3 year-old grandson, and it’s very small. It squeezes his little arms, and the belt had to be fully extended. He weighs about 38 lbs, and it’s supposed to fit up to 50 lbs. Otherwise, it would be fine.

The quality feels great, and it definitely works.

Purchased this for our 2-year-old granddaughter to use in the pool. It kept her afloat without her losing her balance. After an hour of having this, she would jump right into the deep end and would come right up and float.

The only issue was have is that the part that goes around her chest rubbed two spots on either side of her underarms. Our 5-year-old granddaughter has the same one and it rubs spots on her arms after about an hour.

Otherwise, it’s a great product.

The map is excellent. It has all the hotspots waypoints listed so they can be easily loaded into a GPS. It also has nice descriptions of the hotspots and recommended fishing techniques, baits and lures.

I love the large map size and the extensive details. The fish better beware!

Strongly recommended, if plan to fish this lake. This lake loaded with unmarked shoals is a must for navigation along with your electronics.

I bought this for swimming laps in a saline pool. At first it was great – the cut actually covered my hips and chest in a reasonable way without impeding my stroke. Although the polyester wasn’t particularly comfortable compared to spandex suits, I got used to it pretty quickly.

After about a year of weekly wear (followed immediately by a cold-water rinse after each use) I took a couple months off swimming. When I put the suit back on I heard the telltale cracking noise of elastic breaking.

In a few months of not being worn, the elastic had hardened and is now completely shot. Replacing the elastic around the legs and the straps is excessively complicated, so it looks like I’m throwing out a suit that is otherwise in great condition.

I bought this to use at the pool so I wouldn’t ruin more expensive beach suits. I was initially drawn in by the great price but it has quickly become my favorite thing to swim in. Whether swimming laps or rough housing in the pool with the kids it stays in place.

The lack of shelf bra is great as everything stays contained. As a larger chested person, swimsuits with shelf bras are sometimes too restrictive. Overall I’m in love with it and I hope MEC brings more colours in again.

I’d love to get my hands on a red one.

I have been swimming recreationally for many years and have gone through many MANY suits. I am familiar with polyester and know from experience that they last much longer than the lycra type, but at a cost of comfort (unforgiving in stretch) and that they fit on the small side.

I ordered online and chose one size up and it fit as expected. I would never use it in a triathlon for reasons explained in the previous review. Otherwise they do the job just fine. I have had mine for several months now and swim almost every day.

I would rate this suit as a very functional but basic suit. Don’t buy this suit if you want to be stylish.

Honestly I was a bit nervous about buying a swimsuit online. I always have problems finding a swim wear that I love and fits my body (I have an average body but swimsuits seem to be designed for models).

I also have two small children and have found ir very hard to find something fashionable but at the same time practical and comfortable when one is playing in the pool with small children. I JUST CAN´T BE HAPPIER WITH THIS SWIMSUIT.

Worth every penny. I don´t think I´ll be buying swimsuits elsewhere after this buy. Totally recommend it. Plus I had trouble with my shipment and received the best customer service ever.

I’ve always avoided one pieces because they can easily look matronly, but this one is super flattering (especially for the booty). I’ll definitely be wearing this as a bodysuit with pants too. My only qualm is that I’m tall so it’s a little short for my torso (could maybe be improved with adjustable straps).

I’m typically size 6 tops/8 bottoms and the medium is a good fit for me.

I love this suit more than I thought possible. It is the perfect high cut leg and cheeky coverage. It also stays in place so well. If I had a critique it’s that it doesn’t offer much in the way of nipple coverage, and there’s no support.

My breasts are perky enough it’s not an issue for me – so I’m in love with this suit.

I’m at the beach now on vacation wearing this one piece and I have NEVER felt more sexy. I’m a 50 year old with natural large breast, so the struggle is real. However THIS is keeping them up! Stomach snatched with ease! So comfortable! I will be in this daily!! THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME FEEL GOOD!!.

This top is the most comfortable swimsuit top I have ever owned. We do a lot of boating, and if you’ve ever spent time on a boat, you know those waves can bounce the boobs… but this top holds everything in place with style! As a bonus, I also wear this top underneath various t-shirts even when I’m not around water because it doubles as a cute sports bra.

I have the black and white stripe top and wore it under a white t-shirt and it was super cute! You will get your money out of this top, guaranteed! Lastly, I usually wear more of a triangle-style bikini top, so I thought I might not like all of the coverage on my chest, but I was wrong.

I absolutely love it! My husband kept giving me compliments as well!.

This is the best swim top I have EVER owned!! I am a 36-38B and purchased a Medium – fits PERFECTLY! This swim crop is beautiful, fill coverage, and worth every penny! I am a mother and I have been searching for the perfect swim top for awhile now and this one meets ALL of needs – functional, high quality, full coverage, multi-purpose (swim top and sports bra – I mean how AWESOME is that!), and classy.

The first time I wore it to the beach with my son I got MULTIPLE compliments on it! I feel good in this swim crop, which doesn’t always happen, especially with a swim suit. I did purchase the BFFs as an insert for more support (I nursed my son and needed a little extra padding).

Having the insert is a great option for those looking to add a little extra push-up and support. The length of this crop is perfect – higher neck line, slightly below the bust line for extra length, and the cross back keeps it secure.

I also wanted to note how wonderful the Albion Fit customer service is. I had a question and received a response quickly and professionally. I felt respected and heard while working with them. If you have been looking for the perfect swim top, look no further and purchase the Hang Ten Game Changer Swim Crop!! You will LOVE IT!.

If you want cute and functional with great support this top is for you! I absolutely LOVE that I can wear this to the beach, swimming, or as a sports bra out hiking when it’s hot. The material is the best, the cups are removable and I love the coverage.

I’m 5’8″ and struggle with finding a suit where I feel comfortable so combined with the black high waisted ruched bottoms, it’s the perfect combo to help me feel covered and confident! 10/10 would recommend.

Chapter 1- My teenage daughter owns more jolyns than her drawer can hold. As a swimmer and a waterpolo player she lives in her swimsuits. So. as a Mom that tries to keep my body and mind fit, I swim laps At the gym and Love it ! Why can’t I have a Jolyn too? Chapter 2- I can! Down from a weight of 240 , now in the 180s ( because after many years I decided to put myself first ) I ordered a Jolyn size 40.

Bc I had NO idea what size I would be in “swimsuit” #s! In a beautiful deep burgundy color in the hope to camouflage some of my less than smooth lady parts. Chapter 3- How do I like it? LOVE the color….

WISH the suit had a shelf bra , bc let’s face it … anyone who needs a size 40 needs some melon support! WISH the back was a little more “ full coverage “ , especially near the tailbone. DISCOVERED I may actually be a size 38 but would like it a bit longer ( so maybe a “Tall “option) Chapter 4- if you ever need a Mom Guinea Pig to try out some suits sized 38 and above send them over! I’ll give them a try in the lap pool and send you my second Novel -entitled – “ Not just your daughter’s Jolyn” Sincerely, Karen Coughlin 3465 Wheelhouse Ave Sacramento , CA 95833 650-296-4517.

I got the “peacock” color which is truly lovely. I like the tie back style. Both points makes Jolyn unique and desirable for their swimsuits. However, I was not very impressed with the quality. The butt fabric already started pilling after just 3 wears.

While there is an inside liner to make the swimsuit thicker and not see through, it is already stretching out after <10 wears. I do prefer a thin strap but these straps are a little too thin for me. At least it doesn’t provide much support for a bustier chest.

We will see how it holds up overtime but I think I will be purchasing a nike suit next time for the quality and cost benefits.

This is my daughter’s favorite JOLYN style to date. She is petite, but full busted and we have had worries about wardrobe malfunctions with other JOLYN styles, particularly the Brandon. The Murray holds everything in place nicely, even when swimming butterfly.

She also likes that it provides more compression, which seems to give her more definition in the bust area than other styles, and comes up a little higher so she isn’t hanging out the top and sides of the suit.

Her friend, who is small busted but has a long torso also likes this style, so it seems to be good for many body types. It has decent bottom coverage for my daughter, who wears size 4/6 pants.

Super

TranslateShow in original languageIch bin eigentlich ein großer Fan von Lonsdale. Für gewöhnlich ist die Qualität sehr gut. In diesem Fall wurde an dieser STelle wohl etwas gespart. Nach dem ersten mal waschen löst sich seitlich bereits eine Naht.

Sieht gut aus und trägt sich auch fein aber ist halt nicht für lange Dauer gedacht. Angesichts des günstigen Preis geht das auch noch in Ordnung.

TranslateShow in original languageIch habe die Badeshorts für meinem Sohn bestellt, aber da er etwas korpulenter ist, saßen sie nicht ganz so gut. Vielleicht wäre da ein breiter Gummizug die bessere Lösung.

This suit is gorgeous fit perfect, true to size, quality is bomb!! first time ordering off of this site and I’m very impressed. I am 5’3″, 127 lbs. I ordered small top, medium bottom which is standard sizing for me.

Def recommend!!.

I’m not usually one for neon colors but I really love this suit and the way it pops! You truly stand out in this piece and it fits perfectly! Excellent quality, THANK YOU!

Love love love. I ordered a size medium, I wear a 32DD or 34D. I wear a size medium top. Fit nicely.

Very nice but too big. I was a competitive swimmer throughout high school and continue to swim for exercise today. I wanted to treat myself and get cuter suits, so I decided to try the Jolyn brand. I knew the suits ran small so I decided to size up from my Speedo size.

The suits seemed to fit when I tried them on, but when I went to swim in them, they get bubbles in them when I do a flip turn because they are too big. This is most likely because I have a small bust, so I don’t think sizing down is necessary for me.

If anything I might need to size down from my Speedo size. I really think the suits are cute so I’m going to try getting a smaller size and hopefully it works better for me!.