Just did a quick check with lifeguards in Newport Beach, who said water temps are clocking at 72.5 degrees.

Down in Laguna Beach, temps are at 71 degrees, and in Seal Beach they are ranging from 68 -70.

If you’re headed out for a surf, definitely leave the wetsuit at home. And if you’re gearing up to go back to school, head out to enjoy the warm bath water! The air temps are baking at the coast, find out more on Sciencedude’s blog.

Here’s some snapshots of Newport this morning:

Click here for the full slideshow.

Post from: OC Beach Blog

Check out photos I snapped today at Seal Beach.

Quick guide to Seal Beach:

Seal Beach, Orange County’s northernmost beach, is one of the few that still has a quaint feel. Expect families and college students here, with mostly gentle waves. It’s one of the few that has an old school wooden pier, with a statue of a seal greeting people who take a relaxing stroll.

How to get to Seal Beach.

Where to eat:

There’s a Ruby’s at the end of the pier that offers great sandwiches and soups, and you can’t beat the view. Right across from the pier, Bogart’s coffee shop is perfect for a few snacks, and they have wireless if you want to plug in to work from the beach. Farther up Main Street, you definitely don’t want to miss Nick’s for a breakfast burrito, best for after a morning surf session.

Surf:

Seal Beach is a great beginner’s or longboard spot, with an easy break north of the pier. If you want lessons, contact M & M Surf Lessons. There’s also a less crowded spot near the San Gabriel River, parking at First and Ocean. Beware of sting rays in the area.

What to do for cheap:

Each Wednesday until Sept. 2, they have a concert at the pier from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. It’s free to attend, and a great relaxing way to spend a weeknight with family or friends.

Parking:

Both sides of the pier, $3 for two hours.

Want more on this beach? Check out this Beach Wiki that will give you tons of great tips on the area.

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The rip currents are being produced by a south swell hitting the shores, and could pose a threat to inexperienced swimmers and surfers, according to the blog.

The advisory will be in place through late Tuesday. Read more here about the rips, and what the surf will be like.

Check out this multimedia interactive on what rips are all about.

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Save Our Beach’s “Monthly Beach Cleanup” will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the 1st Street beach lot (corner of Ocean & 1st).

They will provide a parking pass and protective gloves. They are expecting a large turnout at this clean up, so if the lot is full head over to get a spot in any residential streets nearby.

Save Our Beach has also started hosting private clean ups for groups of 20 or more, such as businesses or school field trips. They will even meet you in other areas such as Bolsa Chica, Long Beach and Doheny State Beach.

More info, contact Kim Masoner, Founder of “Save Our Beach”  at (562) 884-6764 or  email kim@saveourbeach.org.

When: Saturday, 11 a.m.

Where: Seal Beach (1st and Ocean)

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Seal Beach Lifeguards on Saturday were reporting 65 degrees in the water, while in Huntington Beach it’s also 65.  Newport Beach lifeguards called the water temp 67 today and down south in San Clemente it’s a comfy 70 degrees.

If you’re planning on paddling later today or tomorrow, the most you’ll need is a thin short sleeve fullsuit for that a.m. surf and no more than a spring suit for the afternoon session.

And keep your fingers crossed that it continues to warm up and hopefully we’ll see the toasty low to mid 70 degree temps we saw a couple of weeks ago.  However, I would keep that fullsuit handy just in case it drops drastically again.

Post from: OC Beach Blog

Both Seal Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach - areas known for high populations of sting rays - reported about 20 hits at each beach on Saturday.

 Seal Beach lifeguard Capt. Joe Bailey said several could be seen near the San Gabriel river jetty, where the rays like to hang out because the water gets warm in that area. Just this morning, one lady came in with sting ray hits on each foot.

Sting ray encounters can be hit or miss, Bailey said. While there were 23 reports to lifeguards on Saturday, only three came in on Sunday. Last week, they had 21 reported injuries. On average, they are having anywhere between three and 10 reports each day. 
There’s a number of factors that may cause sting rays to be close enough to shore to sting beachgoers. Generally, they are more likely to be near the shoreline when surf is small, or the tide is low.

“We’re definitely in one of the higher end of sting ray injuries,” he said.

This is what can get stuck in your foot

Cal State Long Beach experts say that anywhere from 16,000 to 40,000 sting rays can be found in Seal Beach, figures obtained from tagging research they have done in the past.

Last year, nearly 500 victims reported injuries to lifeguards, nearly double of what they saw in 2006. Seal Beach has 1/3 of the nation-wide reports when it comes to sting ray injury reports. Read more about that here.

Down in Bolsa Chica, lifeguard Diego Busatto said Saturday was a busy day for sting ray injuries, because of the number of people at the beach. Bolsa is averaging about five to 10 reports a day. 

“Generally, we have a lot during summer when the water warms up,” he said.  

Busatto said that the sting rays can be found in high numbers north of the new tidal inlet, because they enjoy the nutrients that are coming from the estuary.

He said that victims should soak their feet in hot water for about 30 minutes. Lifeguard headquarters at both beaches have hot water buckets for people hit by sting rays.

Stingray hits usually happen when they are stepped on, so lifeguards recommend doing the “stingray shuffle” when entering the water, moving feet back and forth along the ocean’s bottom.

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Supporters gathered on the sand and along the pier to cheer the swimmers on. There was little wind, making conditions ideal for swimmers.

“There was a little bit of a chip, a little bit of wind. But it was warm and the water was clear,” said Mark Steenhausen, of  Rossmoor, who ended up finishing 10th.

The water was a toasty 65 degrees for swimmers, up from a numbing high 50s just last week.

“Last week, we would have had to worry about hypothermia,” said announcer Scott Weir. “Today, it wasn’t a problem. It was really warm out, we lucked out.”

Aaron Nicholas and Cameron Rehm, of Chino Hills, brought some fun to the event, sporting tuxedo Speedos they made for their high school swim team.

“I did better than I thought I would,” said Nicholas.

Check this Website for more info: www.sealbeachswimclub.org. The times won’t be in until later tonight, but here’s who came in at the top for their divisions:

1-mile Male:

1. Logan Redondo

2. Alex Morrill

3. Alec Baumann

1-mile Womens:

1. Alison Godbe

2. Victoria Andreas

3. Audrey INgerson

3-mile Male:

1. Andy Bray

2. Kevin Sellers

3. Simon Miller

3-mile Women’s:

1. Kelsie Cummings

2. Shelby Elmore

3. Jenny Cook

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The water is pretty toasty too, let’s hope it stays that way for a bit.

Here’s some snaps from this morning, just in case you missed it.

And if you’re really having a boring Friday night at home alone, check out these past Session Shots:

The Wedge in Newport Beach

Girls training at Salt Creek

South side of Seal Beach Pier

North of the Seal Beach Pier

56th street in Newport Beach

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The swim is hosted by the Seal Beach Swim Club and starts at 8 a.m., with check-in starting at 6:30 a.m. 

More info:  www.sealbeachswimclub.org

Details:

Where: North side of Seal Beach Pier

Time: Check in at 6:30 a.m.; event starts at 8

Date: Sunday, July 12

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If you have your own ’70s equipment or you want to borrow a board, there are plenty of sticks available. Contestants must pick out of a hat to see what board they’ll have to surf on in each heat.

Trophies and prizes will be handed out for the best ’70s style, best ride, deepest  pearl, etc.  This event always draws a good crowd of spectators and a handful of notable surfers.  Last year Peter “PT” Townend was carving away on some old relics.

Entry into the event is $30 and includes a T-shirt.  Following the contest is an awards ceremony at J. King Neptunes in Sunset Beach.

Contest entry forms are available at the Katin Surf Shop in Sunset Beach.

When: 7 a.m.,  Saturday July 18

Where: Anderson Street, Sunset Beach

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