Education

Dr Rip says: Wave power, there’s an equation for that

Professor Rob ‘Dr Rip’ Brander, a surf scientist, explains the difference between wave energy and wave power.

There’s a lot of water in those waves

It might sound like a ridiculous thing to say, but some waves do in fact have more water in them than others.

Sea Breezes – The Reason Nothing Much Good Happens After 8am

Learn what a sea breeze is and how timing your swim before a sea breeze kicks in will result in better water surface conditions and a more enjoyable swim.

Go on, it’s easier than you think

Are you lacking the belief to hit the open water for the first time, or step up to a longer distance or more challenging course? It’s easier than you think!

How to read a surf report as an ocean swimmer

Surf reports tend to be written for surfers, but as ocean swimmers, we can get everything we need from these reports to help us determine whether the conditions will be good for ocean swimming, or not.

Swim Safety: Channeling your inner Mitch Buchannon

Every time you enter the water with your swimming buddies, you should share the responsibility for each others safety, so it’s important you know how to assist if needed.

The Surf God giveth & taketh away

When storm swells roll in they can reshape the topography of the seafloor, leaving behind sandbanks and waves of an unknown quality so the question is always ‘will Huey the Surf God be kind?’

Nature or nurture, you’ll always be learning in the ocean

Whether you’re a natural or a nurtured swimmer, we continue to learn something new every time we go for an ocean swim.

Have you got that sinking feeling in whitewater?

Does it feel like you’re going nowhere fast when swimming in whitewater? Learn how the density of water affects your ability to swim efficiently in turbulent whitewater and how to best negotiate it.

Respecting the toothless tiger

Taking on big and rough looking surf conditions at an event can be tough, but you shouldn’t be making it harder on yourself by forgetting some of the basics of surf navigation.

OceanFit’s 10 tips for safe social ocean swims

To ensure you keep safe whilst you’re enjoying a social ocean swim, here are OceanFit’s top 10 safety tips for you to consider.

Q&A: When are big waves, too big?

How do you know when the waves are too big for you? Is it as simple as finding out the wave height, or is there more to it?

What’s the time Mr Rip?

Learn how to navigate rip currents more efficiently and reduce the chance of swimming onto sandbanks and into the surf zone.

You need to be swimming more

If you want to be strong and confident swimming in the ocean, it all starts with being a strong and confident swimmer.

Facing your fears one swim at a time

One of the biggest hurdles for new ocean swimmers is fear. But are they legitimate or irrational, and how do we overcome them?

The power of reflection

The ocean provides us with endless opportunities to learn from our mistakes, test our skills, and develop our surf sense – if we take the time to reflect.

Reality check: Does your confidence match your ability?

The ocean is a great and powerful leveller, are you giving it the respect it deserves?

Different strokes for different folks

When transferring from the pool to open water, there are some slight variations you can make to your swimming stroke when waves, wind chop and swimmer wash make the water surface bumpier.

OPINION: Fear is easy, let’s choose the higher path

I’m more sad than angry, that there are ocean-lovers out there that are spreading misinformation about sharks.

Everything you need to know about swimming in cold water

Learn about what constitutes cold water swimming, what it feels like, what the dangers are, and how to minimise the effects.

Bottom’s up: How to choose where to swim at the beach

Learn why different sections of water on the same beach can look so different and how to use this to your advantage.

Coriolis effect: When the water gets cold in summer

Why can the ocean temperature in summer be 24 degrees one day, 18 the next? Well it’s all got to do with the wind and something called the coriolis effect.

The surf sense ‘silver bullet’

Are you looking for the ‘silver bullet’ to becoming a confident and strong ocean swimmer? It’s a question we get a lot and we have the answer for you.

Andre talks ocean swimming on The Pod podcast

Andre dives deep into the sport of ocean swimming, with insights into the sport’s history, events, lifestyle, techniques, competitive tactics and where it all started for OceanFit.