From the Glynn County government in Georgia, in light of the environmental impact of the 2019 cargo ship capsizing incident, it is not recommended to swim within the area between St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island.
Though the beaches are still open for recreational purposes, it is encouraged to enjoy their sandy beaches, even without the option of swimming.
There are going to be Lifeguards present from Memorial Day to Labor Day, between the times of eleven am and four pm, but even so, there are going to be rip currents, natural formations, and hazardous conditions to be aware of.
Therefore, between the days of Labor Day and Memorial Day, there is going to be a warning system in place that will notify guests of the present danger levels of the water.
Is the Water at St. Simons Island Clear?
As with most ocean areas with a river delta or outlet connected, there will be a certain amount of opaqueness instead of the usually clear water associated with areas like the Florida Keys.
This is because the geological area around the ocean waters around St. Simons Island is not known to have a naturally occurring stone.
This means that most of the soil around the beaches and forest cut off are sediments from the surrounding mountains and were moved there by the waterways. This means that there are times during the season when the waters will be cloudier than usual.
Are There Big Waves on St. Simons?
Many films speak of California waves and Hawaiian surfing, but if you take a closer look at the eastern coastline of the United States of America, a few beaches might surprise you.
Georgia, does not ring the household name of surfing haven, but then have you heard of Tybee Island, St. Simon’s Island, and Jekyll Island?
The best surf in all of Georgia is said to be at these three spots, which have been said to have regular three-foot waves, but rarely get to the point where the wave breaks.
Are you Swimming at Your Own Risk?
As mentioned in the article earlier, there are going to be periods of time in which there is going to be a lifeguard on duty between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
On the other hand, there will be a period in which you will be swimming at your own risk because the lifeguard will not be present.
At this time, it would be wise to have a group of people go to ensure the safety of any swimmers. During this time, do not swim alone, or the consequences could be fatal.
Are There any Lifeguards?
Lifeguards, as mentioned in the section before this one, are only on duty for half of the year. Therefore, if you are going with your family, it might be wise to go during the times when they are on duty.
This will be during the warmer times of the month, between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The summer months will be busier than the rest of the years, which is why the lifeguards are.
When you go swimming in the wintertime months, remember to have safety measures in place that will make up for not having a lifeguard watching.
How Cold is the Water?
The waters in the Georgian ocean are known to have certain temperature fluctuations that take place around November and Memorial Day weekend.
Winter waters will be colder, but the real drop in temperature takes place at the end of November, right when the winter solstice takes place.
Which then also means that the temperatures will jump in the late spring or early summer, right when the Lifeguards are put on duty. Between November and March, the coldest waters will be later in the year, which might be a good time to switch to fishing.
Final Thoughts on Can you Swim in the Ocean at St. Simon’s Island
If you are a beginner at surfing, Georgia will be a certain destination that can be utilized because of the lower numbers of people during the best surfing season.
November is colder than, say, the summer waters, but the waves become more consistent and are at such a height that would not intimidate a novice surfer.
The summertime might have higher numbers of families, swimmers, and the like, which would make it harder to get clean runs from surf to beach without interference. Yet, there will still be enough space for youngsters to take a turn.