Known by a handful of global traveling swimmers, La Paz Bay in Baja California is one of the best places in the world to do open water swimming.
With wonderfully clear and aqua-blue waters filled with marine life, the location is cold in winter and warm in swimmer and beautiful year-round.
With 244 islands and inlets in the Sea of Cortez (Mar de Cortes) under UNESCO protection as World Heritage Bioreserves, the Isla Espíritu Santo group are considered the crown jewels, the primary tourist destination of the area.
“The swim took place in a water that was 23°C. There was a false alarm caused by a sword fish. My escort boat team thought it was a shark.”
“I have done other swims around the area, mostly night swims to get used to swimming at night. It was always fascinating seeing the sun rise in the company of sea lions.”
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.