Is it safe to swim at the beach in Santa Cruz, CA? (74 degrees)?

Question

Is it safe to swim at the beach in Santa Cruz, CA?

On Thursday, the high is going to be around 74-75 degrees, is it ok to swim at the beach with that temp, or will it be dangerously cold? My family is planning on going there to swim if its safe... Thank you!

Answer 1

The water is about 53 degrees right now in Santa Cruz, so without a good wetsuit you have about 15 minutes of an excruciatingly painful swim before hypothermia begins to set in.  (IE - No, it is not safe without the proper equipment...)

Answer 2

I just went Saturday and It was fine we really don't have warm water in northern California its a bit warmer down south but still

doesn't get to warm.Watch where you swim their was dirty water in parts of Santa Cruz last week.Good look