I highly recommend this group if you're looking for a fun, relaxed, safety-cautious and experienced group of coaches and water support. After taking a year off pool swimming during the pandemic/patricia/plandemic, I joined Odyssey, dropping in consistently on most Sundays from 2021 to 2023. *A quick aside on the 2020 shutdowns... no matter what we call it. How many nicknames have been given to this time period, right?! Reflecting on this period, I think to myself: What a both fascinating & disappointing timespan in history to observe human behavior. Back to my swim origins with Odyssey... Although I was rusty in my open water technique and swimming skills in general, I immediately felt comfortable with this group. Even after I returned to pool swimming in mid-2021 (a 15 month hiatus), I kept Odyssey as part of my training and commuted from RWC. While drop in fees can add up, it was worth it to me, at the time to gain confidence in open water swimming, especially when I ramped up training for the 2022 Ultraman Canada event. At that time, it was so incredibly challenging to find clean water to swim in, so even though it was choppy and intimidating, I was lucky to find Odyssey when I did. Before that, I would frequent the Foster City lagoon, but bacteria levels kept increasing, in addition to the jellyfish... two major turnoffs. Lastly, there are many local coffee shops to warm up and rejuvenate after your swim in nearby downtown Berkeley. My favorite go-to was Philz, of course. On a warming, nutritional pro-note: have a warm beverage waiting for you in your car, post-swim... especially if you attend a session in January! The SF Bay is extra chilly during that time and sometimes just thinking about a warm mug of tea or coffee will help you mentally get through another lap of the swim course. Even though I've reviewed this group a few times before, it's nice to add some helpful details for local folks, especially as we head into the colder winter months. read more

Odyssey Open Water Swimming - Always so peaceful in the morning. - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Berkeley, California

Bay Area people need to spread the word about Odyssey. After last year's Alcatraz near-miss with a container ship, I would have thought Odyssey would start to do better. But once again they seem to have put swimmers in serious danger in the shipping lane on their most recent Alcatraz swim. It's like they just don't understand how it works out there. Every charter captain they've worked with ends up backing away, and they just aren't learning from experience. How long until they get someone killed or injured? It's time that we start educating the triathletes and new swimmers in the Bay Area open water community that Odyssey does not run a safe operation. They seem to be more interested in collecting money than running their swims in a competent manner. Don't let your friends do central bay swims with Odyssey if you value their lives! The Berkeley Marina stuff is probably fine but not the big swims. It's wild that they've been able to get this far, but we have to start drawing the line. read more

I had my first open water swim with Odyssey tonight and the thing that stood out the most was the people! The swims are fully supported by very patient people who are friendly and eager to help. They had two or three kayaks/SUPs out there and one person on the dock. The kayak support was great at checking in on me when I looked like I needed help and I was grateful to have someone on the dock so I could leave my things safely. In the summertime, they have Tuesday evening swims. Start time shifts based on when the sun is setting, so check their website before heading to the marina. They also have year-round Sunday morning swims and put on fun events like Alcatraz, Bridge to Bridge, and SF to Berkeley swims (for really crazy people). I've been wanting to swim Alcatraz for a while and based on how encouraging the people at Odyssey are and how on top of it their in-water support is, I'll definitely look to do it with them! Only two areas for improvement. First, $20 per swim hurts ($18 online in advance), enough so to make me want to trek to the free but oh so far away Aquatic Park instead. If you place monetary value on your time, I guess this still makes more sense. Unfortunately it's still a bit too much for me to become a regular. Second, more sighting buoys are needed! We did an out and back course with only one buoy out at the turn around point and one at the dock. This made sighting hard with all of the waves and the setting sun. All in all, I'm very happy to have this as an option for East Bay open water swimming. Although it's a little cost prohibitive to come weekly, I will continue to come before races to get the jitters out in a comfortable, supported environment. Plus, it's fun to look at the familiar Berkeley/Emeryville shoreline from a different perspective! read more

They cancelled an Alcatraz swim after accepting our payments ($295x4). They offer only credits, no refund, and then don't have any spaces to reschedule- including a special "added" session. We are from the east coast and the WL opens one day prior to the swim. Clearly they want the money only. BTW: No response to my request for a refund to my credit card. Disappointed!! We had all been looking forward to the swim read more

Joined Odyssey for an Alcatraz crossing this past weekend. I had an amazing time. The expectations, rules, swim tips were given in advance and it made the swim itself amazing. There was plenty of support and I felt safe the entire time. The pandemic had me feeling pretty down but preparing for this swim ( which I did by swimming with odyssey Sundays/Tuesdays) was a highlight. read more

This group is amazing! Whether you are a casual swimmer tired of the endless monotony of lap swimming, a competitive swimmer who wants to challenge yourself, or a triathlete prepping for your next race, then this group is for you! You are supported throughout the swim, and there are different distance options to choose from. On my longer days I never feel rushed by the crew. Super nice people and you can't beat the views while you are swimming. Odyssey also puts together open water swim races, and private swims as well. I look forward to my Sunday swims with Odyssey! read more

Amazing. I'm so happy to have discovered this group. Not only do I get to exercise, but I get to spend time among nature's elements while feeling safe and secure with the Odyssey staff watching out for us. My only piece of constructive criticism would be that I wish the swims were open a tad longer. Growing up my swim practices were two hours, and it'd be great to be able to stay out a little longer than 90 minutes since swims only happen a couple times a week. I 100% recommend this group if you are looking to try out open water swimming. It's so fun and rewarding. read more

Odyssey is an amazingly organized, adventurous, safe and friendly group of swimmers, kayakers and organizers. Warren has created something truly great with this team. read more

Odyssey Open Water Swimming - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Berkeley, California

Had a great time with my first experience of open water swimming with Odyssey. I'm training for the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon and went from zero open water swimming to completing my first sprint triathlon with just a couple of sessions with Odyssey. Warren briefs swimmers thoroughly before the swim begins and is always present in a kayak if you run into difficulty. The swims usually last for about an hour and most people tend to swim together, although you can break off if you're slower or faster. He sets up an easy to navigate course of buoys in the Bay, taking into account the weather and water conditions at the time. Organisation of sessions and communication around them is, in general, excellent. The sessions are a little expensive at $18 if you pre-book and $20 if you don't, but for an open water novice, they provide an accessible way to start swimming in the Bay with the safety of a group and a support vessel. P.S. The Tuesday evening sessions are really my favourite way to spend a weekday evening! read more

If you live in the East Bay and are sick of schlepping to SF's Aquatic Park, look no further! Odyssey Open Water Swimming is a blast and conveniently located in the Berkeley marina. First off, these guys are super friendly and welcoming. Warren and his crew have a great energy, so definitely don't be intimidated. The diversity of swimmers is wide--some are training for swim events/triathlons and some swim just for fun. When you first show up, Warren goes through the route of the day and anything that you should know before starting. Let's be real, for newbies, open water swimming can be terrifying. The water is cold, you can't see the bottom, and what about the sea creatures?! This is your opportunity to ask questions and put your mind at ease. There are routes as long as 1.5 miles, but you are completely welcome to do as little as you're comfortable with. Once everyone is in the water, Warren and his crew watch everyone on kayaks. I've been to a few absolutely gorgeous Sunday swims--the sun is out, the water is relatively warm (though I still wear a wet suit), and the water looks like glass. All in all, whether you're looking to work out or get in touch with nature, this is your answer! Don't forget your wet suit (unless you're brave), your goggles, bright swim cap, ear plugs (helps if you're prone to sea-sickness) and towel. Oh, and some anti-fog for your goggles. read more

You're in great hands with Odyssey Open Water Swimming. Swimming SF Bay can be dangerous and Odyssey will give you great practice if you're newer to salty cool open water swimming, or they'll allow you to stretch your limits if you're more experienced. I had a GREAT time! Recommended. read more

Odyssey Open Water Swimming - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is about as good as it gets. This is great for any level from beginner to elite with varying distances as well. I went out last Sunday and the waters were quite calm. You essentially swim from buoy to buoy. If you only want to do a half mile (which is what my husband did) its an easy out and back pattern. I swam one mile. There is a little bit of a current sometimes but I don't think it is every really that bad (it is nothing like swimming up a river current). It was just something I noticed as I was swimming a little section of swim. It is in a very safe location so you don't have to worry about boats and such. Warren was awesome. When it comes to open water I always feel like I am panicking when I swim compared to a pool (which is why I came out to train in the first place). I explained my panic feelings I get to Warren and he basically just explained that all of that was normal and to just go out and do what you can do. Turn around if you need too, stop and rest if you need too, wave him down if you need too. I just felt really safe and it made the entire open water swim experience extremely joyful. Water temperature varies throughout the year but it is always wetsuit worthy. It is March and the water temperature was 62 degrees. Perfect wetsuit swimming weather for sure. Awesome location for those on the East Bay - located along the Berkeley Marina so it is really easy to get to and ample parking. read more

The Odyssey group is great and the swimming challenge is whatever you want it to be. Its a great way to gain confidence in open water for an upcoming race or just have a casual swim to clear your head after work. The group is open and welcoming to all swim levels and I highly recommend you check it out. I can't think of anything I'd rather do than enjoy a sunset swim in the bay with Odyssey (oh, and its generally 10 degrees warmer than SF Aquatic park if that's appealing to you). read more

I was getting bored of lap swimming and wondered, what's next? During a search online, I found out that some crazy people like to swim from Alcatraz to the wharf. It sounded pretty scary and spoke to the adrenaline junkie in me. But the Alcatraz swim isn't the main thing Odyssey offers. They meet every Sunday morning and Tuesday eve. (during the summer) at the Berkeley marina where Wallace (owner and coach) sets up a course for swimming. He, and others keep an eye out for the swimmers from kayaks. Swim a half mile, 3 miles or whatever moves you. Train for a triathlon or swim for fun or exercise. Odyssey has several events throughout the year including a bridge to bridge, 6 mile swim from the GG to the BB, a race at the beach in Alameda, a swim at Angel Island and cruise after, as well as the Alcatraz swim. Best part is that Warren runs a friendly, fun, safe and supportive environment. Every week, there are a few who have never swam in open waters, and many regulars - all are welcome. read more

I went out with Warren and the rest of the crew a few times during August & September in preparation for the Keller Cove 1 mile swim up in Richmond, CA. The location is close to ideal to practice open water swimming. The stretch of the Berkeley Marina where Warren does the swims is mostly calm and very open. It's also relatively warm. Also, the few times I stopped to just get my bearings and observe the local environment -- it's really kind of beautiful. Calm water, blue skies, hills in the distance. Warren is also pretty good about setting up swimming courses. What he usually does before the swim starts is set out a bunch of buoys that mark a long course and a short course. So if you can only handle a mile or half mile swim, you can take the short course. If you are stronger and need to prepare for longer event, you can do the long courses he sets up -- which are usually at least a mile. Warren usually hangs around the group in a sea kayak watching and observing, and making sure nothing bad happens. Unlikely given that this section of the bay isn't subject to much boat traffic, sea mammals, or strong ebb - flood tides. He also pairs up with some of the local kids swimming teams that have kids trying out open water events to go along with their pool competitions. So you get an interesting mix of kids who make a lot of noise (but swim incredibly fast) and 20-30 something triathletes squeezing in their swim time before running off to family obligations. So if you are in the East Bay, and don't want to go all the way to Aquatic Park in SF to get your open water swimming time, Warren's crew is the way to go. read more

This is a great way to learn open water swimming. And a good way to spend 90 minutes whether you've had a lot of open water experience or none. I practiced my first open water swims here. The water in the Berkeley marina is calmer and less populated than on the San Francisco side, which made it ideal for a beginner. And Warren, who is the coach, was very friendly and made me feel comfortable and welcomed. It's a quiet and beautiful setting with the SF skyline in the backdrop. It was also fun to see the pictures that Warren took from his kayak while we were swimming. I'll definitely be going back. I'd like to try one of the evening swims. I heard it's beautiful to be here when the sun is setting. read more

I swam with Odyssey last summer to get ready for the Vineman Aquabike swim. Even though I had less experience swimming, I posted a better time at the Vineman than my friends who were training in regular swimming pools. Apparently open water is different than swimming in pools. Many of my friends were struggling with the Vineman swim in the Russian River. If you training for an open water swim this is a great place to do it. Warren is there with a Kayak so I didn't worry about anything. Having the other swimmers there is makes it fun. The location at the Berkeley Marina is perfect for me. Just email Warren to get started. read more