Anyone swim in gulf or ocean in November?

[Disney Ella]

Is the water warm enough to swim in? When I do an Internet search on water temperature, I get different answers from the mid-60s (too cold for me) to mid-70s. Anybody actually done it who could comment?

 

[winniedapooh]

OK disneyella you are from the northeast and mid 60's is too cold for you, lol??? I think that is the warmest it gets up here in New England. Call me crazy but I think I would take a dip in the mid 60's in Florida, but I will be interested in seeing what others have to say.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

72 is the coldest I dive in, and that's with a wetsuit. if the sun's out, mid-70's in the gulf isn't too bad, that's what the water temps are right now.

 

[ADisneygirl]

When we used to come here to visit I could swim at the beach in Nov./Dec. temps. The temperatures were pretty cold out on Jones Beach on Long Island too most of the summer, so I hardly noticed any discernable difference. Now that I actually live here, it is far too cold in the water in November! Last time I'm usually able to stand it is early October.

You, still being a Northerner, should be able to take it!

 

[Disney Ella]

I suspect that on the day I was born, a southern woman passing through town went into labor early and gave birth at the same hospital. Tragically, the babies were switched in the hospital nursery, and I have had to endure years of ice, snow, and cold while my parents' real child swelters in the southern heat - heat that was meant for me!

I really cannot stand cold water the older I get, so I hope they get those resort pools warmed up before my next onsite trip! For this trip, we are bringing my parents along for their first, and probably only, trip to Florida. I am planning a day to do things you can only do in Florida and was thinking the beach might be nice, but judging by what y'all have said, I think we will find the water too cold.

 

[dpuck1998]

If you can't stand cold water I don't think the ocean will ever be warm enough for you. Even in the summer it doesn't really get that warm. I have been in the water in jan and after a few minutes in it doesn't bother me at all. However it is a little "shocking" at first

 

[Sylvester McBean]

visit our coast in the summer and you'll find the gulf temps to be in the mid-80's, it's awesome.

 

[rejobako]

I'm a southwestern Florida gulf coast native, so I'm a wimp unless it's bathwater temperature. That being said, even I can still stand the water in November. Takes a long time for the change of seasons to catch up to the warm gulf basin, and I usually don't complain before Christmas if the air temperature is also warm.

On the other hand, Florida's east coast beaches are usually too cold for my taste.

 

[MamaLema]

We swam at Clearwater Beach the first week of November. We found the water to be a little chilly, but great after a few minutes.

BTW, we are from Canada so I don't know if that makes a difference

 

[Disney Ella]

I'm sure you Canadians are a lot tougher than me! I would love to visit Florida in the summer. There are so many parts of the states I would like to see.

I guess part of my problem is determining how important seeing water in Florida is to my parents. When they were younger, they really liked the ocean, but when we took them on a day trip to Ocean City, NJ a few years ago, they barely went in the water. (It was the end of September and the water was even warm enough for me!) All they will say when I ask them what they want to do in Florida is "We'll be happy to do whatever you plan."

 

[ducklite]

I've been in the Gulf in early November, but by mid-month I find it too cool to really enjoy. The ocean is pretty much always too cold for my blood.

Anne