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Writer's pictureMartin Spierings

Lap and Coached Group Pool Swimming in Santa Cruz

Updated: Oct 8



We've compiled a list of pools and their availability for both doing your own lap swimming workout or finding a coached masters or adult swim group in the Santa Cruz area.


Skip to masters/adult group swimming info HERE.



Public Lap Swimming:



Cost: $8 / swim


Lap Swim Schedule

Mon-Fri 6:00am-7:30pm

Sat-Sun: 9.00am-4:00pm


Overall Experience: Has had problems over the year with staffing and closures but seems to have stabilized over the last year or so with new management and settling after pandemic.


UCSC

1156 High St, Santa Cruz, CA


Cost: $120 / quarter, $320 / year, have to pay $2.95 parking.


Schedule (varies by quarter): Check current schedule.

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 6am-1:30pm, 3:40pm - 8:00pm

Monday, Wednesday 8am-1:30pm, 3:40pm - 8:00pm

Saturday TBD

Sunday 8am-6pm


Overall Experience: Nice pool. Parking is a pain at times. And it's sometimes closed during holidays.




The City of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department is working diligently to open Harvey West Pool to the public by Summer 2024. More details will be forthcoming.


Overall Experience: Harvey West is a great and underrated pool among the redwoods, although capacity is small (6 lanes). There are plans to revitalize the venue. You can read about it here.



Cost: $99/month membership + $99 sign up fee.


Schedule:

Mon-Fri: 5:30am-9:00pm

Sat / Sun: 7:00am-8:00pm


Overall Experience: Expensive option if you're not swimming regularly. It's a nice pool and the hot tub is an added bonus.




Cost: $175 / month but there's a waiting list

Overall Experience: They have a couple of nice pools and facilities but it's STILL on a booking system with 45 min slots and it's hard to get in.










Cost: $69.99/month + $49.99 enrollment


Schedule:

Mon-Fri: 4:00am-11:00pm

Sat / Sun: 6:00am-8:00pm


Overall Experience: Narrow and shallow lanes (limited to 4) with a lot of non-swimmers using this pool




Cost: $93/month + $800 initial membership fee


Schedule:

7:00am- 6:30pm

*must call no more than 24 hours in advance to reserve a lane for 45 minutes. 5 lanes in total.






Cost: Drop in/guests $5.00 per swim

Membership:

Residents living in SLV:

$40 (individual), $100 (family)

Residents living outside of SLV:

$80 (individual), $200 (family)

*Membership good till May 2022


Schedule: School Year

Mon / Weds: 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Sat / Sun: 1:30pm - 4:30pm

*closed Dec 18 - Jan 2nd



Cost: Membership price not available on website.


Schedule:

Mon-Fri: 6:00am - 9:00pm

Sat / Sun: 8:00am - 6:00pm


Overall Experience:

Salt water pool, but it's short and shallow. Only 50 feet or about 17 yds long. You must be a Toadal Fitness member first and still have to reserve a lane.






25 Penny Ln, Watsonville, CA 95076


Schedule:

Mon-Thu: 5:00am - 10:00pm

Fri: 5:00am-9:00pm

Sat / Sun: 8:00am - 6:00pm


Overall Experience: Haven't been there since the refurbishment.


Masters/Adult Group Swimming:


Simpkins Adult Fitness:

Now coached by triathlete and experienced swim coach, Mike Bennett.


Cost: $9/workout

Mon/Wed/Fri: 6am and 7:15am

Sat: 9am


Cost: $110 / month for ALL SESSIONS

$60/month for weekends and Friday morning triathlon specific.


Soquel High School

*schedule changes often

Tues-Thurs: 6:00am-7:30am

Sat: 8:00am-9:00am

Sun: 9:00am-10:30am


Simpkins

Mon / Wed / Fri: 12:00pm-1:30pm



CRUZ Masters:

Cost: $100/month. $10/drop in.

UCSC

Mon / Wed / Fri: 12pm

Tue / Thu : 6am, 7am, 6pm

Sun: 10am


Seascape Sports Club Adult Fitness:

Cost: $20/month + membership

Schedule:

Tues / Fri: 6:15am-7:00am






2,030 views4 comments

4 Comments


livbaker
Jun 06

Hi! Do you know which pools in the county are salt-water?

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Replying to

Yes good question. Cabrillo fitness in Soquel - https://www.toadalfitness.com/cabrillo-fitness - and the newly refurbished Toadal Fitness in Watsonville are both salt water - https://www.toadalfitness.com/watsonville-freedom. This blog needs an update so thanks for the nudge!

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stevebeth8
Nov 23, 2021

Hi Martin. I think UCSC is also offering community swimming although I'm not sure of the details.

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Martin Spierings
Martin Spierings
Dec 31, 2022
Replying to

Added!

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