Sarasota YMCA Sharks Masters Swimming holds its Open Water Saturday workouts throughout the year at Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota on the west coast of Florida.

Open Water Saturdays is an official U.S. Master Swimming team-sanctioned workout where swimmers of all levels are welcome to the group swim. Siesta Beach is known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and has been recognized as having the whitest and finest sand in the world.

For safety reasons, check in with team coaches Rick Walker or Laura Hamel for the first time. Fins are required for those swimmers who cannot keep up with one of the packs while a brightly colored swim cap is required for all. When the water dips below 70ºF (21ºC), wetsuits are required unless the swimmer has proven cold-water swimming experience.

“This is a great way to get some open water experience while having fun with the group,” says Hamel. “If you are focused solely your individual performance, this practice may not be for you. We expect swimmers to buddy up and watch out for each other. There are almost always two or three different packs for a variety of swimming speeds.”

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