Year-Round Open Water Swimming
We swim year-round in San Francisco Bay, including Alcatraz, Bridge to Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, and dozens of other courses. Our 2026 calendar includes more than 300 swims, of which over 100 are Alcatraz Escapes. There is no single master calendar for the company, because no two swims run the same way. Each course has its own schedule on its own page. Read on to see how the calendar works, then visit a course page for available dates. We also run many swims through our Arrange a Swim form. If you are visiting San Francisco, have a last-minute request, or want to mark a milestone, contact us. A significant share of our swims are custom, one-off events, and we regularly support swimmers pursuing personal goals and special occasions.
The Only Full-Time, Swimming-Only Charter Company in San Francisco
Pacific Open Water Swim Co. is the only full-time, swimming-only charter company in San Francisco. We operate a wide range of open water swims in San Francisco Bay for swimmers of all levels.
Our crews include experienced open water swimmers and US Coast Guard licensed captains. Each swim is tailored to the participant’s experience, pace, and goals, with the equipment and oversight required for safe operation in the Bay.
San Francisco Bay Open Water Swims
We operate San Francisco Bay’s most established open water courses, including the Bridge to Bridge 10K and the Alcatraz Escape, along with more than two dozen additional routes for every skill level. Other offerings include night swims, six-hour English Channel qualifying swims, the 10-mile Round-Trip Angel Island marathon, the 21-mile circumnavigation of San Francisco, and custom marathon training swims of any distance.
Course pages list available dates and any prerequisites.
Solo and Small-Group Swims, Built Around You
Every swim is offered solo or in a small group. Each is built around the swimmer’s goals, experience, and budget, with full access to San Francisco Bay’s most recognizable courses. Our crews and vessels are configured specifically for open water swimming, and each swim is planned around current, tide, and weather conditions.
Use the form below to begin the process.
Safety-First Operations
Safety drives every operational decision. We run small-group and private swims only, led by US Coast Guard licensed captains who are themselves open water swimmers. We do not run large-group swims, because they reduce both safety and the quality of the experience. Each swimmer receives focused, individualized support from the boat.
Captains hold current US Coast Guard credentials, and vessels are inspected and maintained for daily commercial operation.
Coaching, Clinics, and Training Plans
We offer four ways to develop open water skills. Open Water Swim Clinics are 2.5-hour sessions in Horseshoe Bay, Sausalito, covering pre-swim preparation, sighting, navigation, race-day strategy, and recovery. They are designed for swimmers and triathletes transitioning from the pool to open water. Stroke Development Clinics run five hours across two days in a small-group setting, with structured work on balance, body position, catch, pull, recovery, hip rotation, and kick timing. Private Swim Lessons take place in the pool or open water, with direct feedback on technique. Custom Training Plans are built for swimmers preparing for a specific goal, such as Alcatraz or the English Channel.
How to Arrange Your Swim
Pacific Open Water Swim Co. operates daily, year-round, with multiple vessels, running more than 300 individual swims a year across San Francisco Bay, including over 100 Alcatraz Escapes. Available dates and scheduling for each swim are listed on its individual course page, including the Bridge to Bridge 10K and Alcatraz Swims pages.
Every swim starts with our Arrange a Swim form. We do not use open registration, because pace matching is essential to safety and success in open water. Mixing swimmers of widely varying speeds compromises both. The form asks a few short questions about your goals, schedule, and pace, and we then match you to the right swim or suggest alternatives based on current conditions.
Small groups, pace-matched swimmers, professional support.
Arrange a Swim
Use the form below to inquire about a swim or arrange one for yourself or a group. We typically respond within 24 hours.
We will answer questions, review options, and build a single swim or a series of swims to fit your goals.
We look forward to swimming with you.
