• Recommended
  • This event was last held on Sat, 26 Apr 2025

Sharkskin Caves Beach Ocean Swim

  • @ Caves Beach NSW
  • 9 followers

Entries

Sharkskin Caves Beach Ocean Swim is organised by
Online entries are closed

Features

More Information

  • 8:00 am – Registration and on-the-day entries opens (Caves Beach SLSC)
  • 8:30 am – 500m swim registration/entries closes
  • 9:15 am – 1.5km swim registration/entries closes

Daffodil Dip – Non-Swim

  • 8:50 am – Dip briefing
  • 9:00 am – Dip start
  • 10:00 am – Dip ends

400m Daffodil Dip Swim

  • 9:00 am – Marshalling / Swim Briefing
  • 9:15 am – Swim start

500m Juniors Swim

  • 9:15 am – Marshalling / Swim Briefing
  • 9:30 am – Swim start

1.5km swim

  • 9:45 am – Marshalling/Swim Briefing at Spoon Rocks
  • 10:00 am – Swim commences
  • 15 minutes after the last swimmer returns a presentation will be held in front of Club House

Whilst at Caves Beach, if the tides are right, we encourage visitors to take the opportunity to explore the magnificent ocean caves at the southern end of the beach.

Stay around for the hospitality at the Surf Club Bar, or venture further afield and visit the shops and eateries in Caves Beach and Swansea and explore the beautiful lakefront parks, walkways and beaches.

  • Public transport is available, with a bus service available to Caves Beach Road.

There is also plenty of street parking around the area and carparking available at the beach via Mawson Close, or above the surf club, off Caves Beach Road.

BYO Swim Caps

Participants in 500m and 1.5km swims need to BYO brightly-coloured swim cap to wear during the swim.

Shuttle Bus

There will be a shuttle bus available to take swimmers to the walkway through to the beach at Spoon Rocks for the 1500m swim. Alternatively, it’s a 15-minute walk, for those that would like to stretch their legs before the event.

Bag Drop

There will be a bag drop area available at the Caves Beach Surf Club, where
participants can leave their belongings for their swim.

Categories

  • 500m – Three age categories, based on age on the day of the swim ie 9, 10, 11
  • 1.5km – Eight age categories based on age on the day of the swim, plus overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Age categories: 12-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

Prizes

Sharkskin vouchers will be awarded for overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd places ($200, $100 and $50).

Under 18 Swimmers

Parents/guardians of swimmers aged under 18 must complete the online entry form, not the swimmers themselves. They must include their consent to the entry with full name and phone contact, entered into the Emergency contact fields. Just a phone number, a first name, or a number and first name will not do. Entries of U18 swimmers without this complete parental/guardian consent will not be accepted. Entries of U18 swimmers also must use the parent’s email address, not that of the U18 swimmer.

  • Swimmers physical condition will be their own responsibility and all participants are encouraged to train in preparation for this event.
  • The minimum entry age is 9 years for the 500m swim and 12 years for the 1500m swim. All competitors under the age of 18 will need parental consent to participate.
  • All swimmers must swim the prescribed course and ensure that their name is marked off at the registration point prior to their swim.
  • All swimmers must return their timing device immediately upon their swim completion. There will be a collection point near the finish line.
  • All swimmers must wear a swim cap, race number and timing device.
  • All swimmers must cross the official finish line to register the completion of their swim, or notify officials on the day if unable to do so.
  • A swimmer may use extraneous aids such as flippers, snorkels, floatation clothing or devices but will not be eligible for any prize or qualify as an official place getter.
  • If in the opinion of an event medical officer or a water safety official a competitor is physically or otherwise incapable of starting or completing the Caves Beach Ocean Swim or has been in the water for an inordinate time, such competitor may be disqualified from starting or be removed from the water at any time and provided assistance to shore.
  • There will be a number of safety craft patrolling the course. Please signal them if you need any assistance. Your safety is our priority.
  • All decisions of the race committee will be considered absolute and final.

Location

  • Caves Beach
  • Caves Beach NSW, Australia

Results

Most recent results

2025 results are available

Previous results

2024 | 2023 | 2022

Sign in to leave a review

Reviews

About

Tourism Australia’s official 2025 Best Australian Beaches ranked Caves Beach in the Top 10 Beaches in Australia.

Now in its 21st year, the Sharkskin Caves Beach Ocean Swim offers seasoned club swimmers through to first-timers an unforgettable opportunity to experience a vibrant and family-friendly series of open water swims and activities at one of Australia’s best beaches.

The main 1.5km swim tracks along the protective Spoon Rocks Breakwater before turning north over the shallow reef & and sandy bottom to finish at Caves Beach.

There’s also a 500m swim for the kids (9-11 years) looping around a course set in front of the surf club.

This year, in partnership with Cancer Council NSW, the event introduces the first “Daffodil Dip” in the Hunter Region. The Daffodil Dip gives you the chance to just take a refreshing dip at Spoon Rocks Beach or swim the 400m return journey out to the tip of the break wall and back – the choice is yours. The focus is firmly on fun and the intention to create a wave of hope for local cancer patients.

With plenty of water safety personnel and a designated area for those who just want to splash in the ocean to spread hope, it’s perfect for anyone wishing to show support in a truly unique and memorable way.

To enter the Daffodil Dip, visit the Cancer Council website.

The clifftop walk above the course provides spectators with a superb vantage point to watch all events from start to finish.

Sub-Events

500m Ocean Swim
  • Junior Swim
The junior swim, for 9 to 11 years, will take place in front of the surf club, with swimmers looping around a set of buoys close to shore and surrounded by water safety.
  • 9 - 11 Years Old
1.5km Ocean Swim
  • Spoon Rocks to Caves Beach
Swimmers assemble at Caves Beach surf club before moving to the starting point at Spoon Rocks. The start is a smooth entry into the water, protected by the Spoon Rocks breakwater – built in the 1960s to try and make Caves Beach into a safer harbour for ships carrying coal; today, it provides a safe, secluded beach for locals. The swim then follows a reef north towards Caves Beach passing cliff formations and caves. On a clear day swimmers can see the ocean floor for much of the 1.5kms. It’s a relatively simple and immensely enjoyable course for most swimmers.
  • 12 Years Old
400m Ocean Swim
  • Daffodil Dip Swim
The Daffodil Dip Swim heads 200m east along the protected Spoon Rocks breakwater before turning a buoy to swim the return 200m westward back to the beach.
  • 9 Years Old
Fun Ocean Swim
  • Daffodil Dip – Non-Swim
Non-swimming participants can dip, paddle, or just frolic in the safety zone and still be a part of the fun watching the start of the 400m and 1.5km events.
  • 9 Years Old

Related Articles

5/5
Sharkskin Caves Beach Ocean Swim has received 1 reviews with an average rating of 5 out of 5

Excellent100%

Very good0%

Good0%

Fair0%

Poor0%

Reviews

Advertisements

Advertisement

Events near Caves Beach NSW

No results available

Reset
partner-logo-vorgee-white-450-01
partner-logo-oceanfit-white-450-01
partner-logo-vorgee-white-450-01
partner-logo-speedo-white-450-01
partner-logo-oceanfit-white-450-01

Copyright © 1999-2025 oceanswims.com. All rights reserved.
‘OCEANFIT is a registered trademark of OceanFit Pty Ltd.