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cgroch
Joined: 22 Jun 2006
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 Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 6:53 am Post subject: Swimming on beaches in Korea |
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I've read a lot of posts about the beautiful beaches, but no one really mentions actually getting in the water! Is there a reason for this? Is the water brutally cold or dirty? Further south, is the water any warmer?
I was planning on island hopping in the West Sea; are those beaches swimmable at all?
What about on the beaches south and east? Any of those decent enough to get into? Jeju?
Are there jellyfish in Korean waters?
(swimmable = clear water, nice sands, no jellyfish, bearable water temp: at LEAST 22 degrees celsius)
Thanks so much! I love swimming, and would love to know if this is something people do in Korea! |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 3:51 pm Post subject: Re: Swimming on beaches in Korea |
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| cgroch wrote: |
I've read a lot of posts about the beautiful beaches, but no one really mentions actually getting in the water! Is there a reason for this? Is the water brutally cold or dirty? Further south, is the water any warmer?
I was planning on island hopping in the West Sea; are those beaches swimmable at all?
What about on the beaches south and east? Any of those decent enough to get into? Jeju?
Are there jellyfish in Korean waters?
(swimmable = clear water, nice sands, no jellyfish, bearable water temp: at LEAST 22 degrees celsius)
Thanks so much! I love swimming, and would love to know if this is something people do in Korea! |
West sea = mud beaches. Wave action makes dirty (silted) water.
East sea = sand beaches. Sun and sand = crowded.
Water temps are typically between 5-15 degrees C. Yup, it is chilly.
I have never encountered jellyfish that are harmful to people.
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cgroch
Joined: 22 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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Haha, 'haven't encountered jellyfish harmful to people.'
Is that possible? Either way, they scare me to death, and I'm incredibly terrified of them, big or small. The beaches I go to around here have huge (beach ball size) ones that can kill, and I think I've been permanently traumatized.
Thanks for the other info, though! |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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| cgroch wrote: |
Haha, 'haven't encountered jellyfish harmful to people.'
Is that possible? Either way, they scare me to death, and I'm incredibly terrified of them, big or small. The beaches I go to around here have huge (beach ball size) ones that can kill, and I think I've been permanently traumatized.
Thanks for the other info, though! |
Perhaps I should rephrase that...
I am aware of the many kinds of jellyfish that can really ruin your day like the Portugese man 'o war or the Australian box jellyfish to name a couple.
I have never ecnountered, on the beaches of Korea, a jellyfish that would be harmful to people. There are some small (2-3cm), clear ones but they don't "sting" people, even when you play with them. |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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Northeast beaches are pretty nice. Soft sand, clear water, a bit cooler than what you're looking for but pleasant once you're in.
Some get really busy in high season (approx july 15 - aug 15) but others just down the road will be empty. Koreans are drawn to crowds & personally I dont mind a crowded beach -- enhances people-watching, you can buy cold beer, & there are fresh-water showers at hand. Happy moods prevail.
Not world-class. Swimming areas are roped off & smallish to save you from getting chopped up by motorboats. Some beaches are shallow, some drop off quickly with some pretty harsh undertow. Some are really dirty.
But there are some fairly pristine beaches to be discovered too. You have to bring what you'll need & please clean up after for the next people, but there are certainly some nice spots for some memorable oceanside times.
(The jellyfish are few, cute, & harmless.) |
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jlb
Joined: 18 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 9:02 am Post subject: Beaches |
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Jeju has some great beaches...blue water and sand. I swam at Udo Island, just off Jeju and it was one of the nicest places I've been.
Daechon Beach for the Mud Festival is very nice as well on the West Coast.
The beaches near Sokcho were beautiful as well. I went in winter though, so don't really know about the swimming prospects. |
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Moldy Rutabaga
Joined: 01 Jul 2003
Location: Ansan, Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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The beaches themselves are pleasant, but the swimming season itself, when the water is warm enough, is short. Here's what to expect:
Ken:> |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:55 am Post subject: Re: Swimming on beaches in Korea |
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| cgroch wrote: |
I've read a lot of posts about the beautiful beaches, but no one really mentions actually getting in the water! Is there a reason for this? Is the water brutally cold or dirty? Further south, is the water any warmer?
I was planning on island hopping in the West Sea; are those beaches swimmable at all?
What about on the beaches south and east? Any of those decent enough to get into? Jeju?
Are there jellyfish in Korean waters?
(swimmable = clear water, nice sands, no jellyfish, bearable water temp: at LEAST 22 degrees celsius)
Thanks so much! I love swimming, and would love to know if this is something people do in Korea! |
swimming swimming.. as in wanting to swim swim?
well, its easy enough to get into the water.. but its cold 10 months out of the year.. and during the 2 months when its not... its warm.. but it breaks close to the shore.. rocks get thrown at you as they are lifted off from the waves.. people walk around with bloody ankles, etc.
I've 'waded' into the water everywhere you can imagine during those 2 months.. but swimming.. meaning currents and waves hitting so close to shore (in the desireable areas) its a different story.
Swimming pools are popular in Korea however. |
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ella
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:58 am Post subject: |
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| people walk around with bloody ankles, etc. |
Good grief, are you serious? Where are triathlons held, then? |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 3:25 am Post subject: |
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| ella wrote: |
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| people walk around with bloody ankles, etc. |
Good grief, are you serious? Where are triathlons held, then? |
Don't know.
But I saw some damn bloody ankles in Busan last year.. everyone had rubber rafts to bounce off each other with lifeguards watching. If you waded into the ocean outside of that boundary without your rubber raft even.. a whistle would blow.. and a lifeguard would tell you to go 'down there'.
Even on the rubber rafts.. people would do spills on the rocks (often). My ankles were bloody and knicked up from wading.. but I saw one girl who must have been on the raft and too close to shore.. she had scrapes up and down her back and bleeding profusely. Funny thing is she didn't realize it. She was just talking to her friends all nonchalantly and such.. and everyone else (who noticed) was somewhat gaping in observation. |
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ella
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:59 am Post subject: |
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| Okay... where are the non-ankle-bloodying beaches, then? |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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| ella wrote: |
| Okay... where are the non-ankle-bloodying beaches, then? |
Sokjo and Gangneung was really nice. (Gangwon-do area).. the northeastern part of South Korea.
I've never been between Gangneung to Busan on those beaches.. probably good there.. as that entire side of Korea is the good side for beaches.
In Busan, Gwanilee (sp?) is where the locals go to avoid the Haeundae Beach crowds. |
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ella
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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| I've thought about Gangneung but I don't know what kind of teaching opportunities there'd be. It's much farther north, wouldn't it be too cold for swimming much of the year? |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:52 am Post subject: |
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| ella wrote: |
| I've thought about Gangneung but I don't know what kind of teaching opportunities there'd be. It's much farther north, wouldn't it be too cold for swimming much of the year? |
Being too cold for swimming much of the year is true with everywhere in Korea. Even in Busan or Jeju-do. Its all about the same everywhere in regards to a swimming/beach season.
You really only get a few good months of it. |
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matthews_world
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 5:02 am Post subject: |
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Don't forget about them urchins, plus oceans are a good place to get pink-eye.
I've swam in Andong Lake before and have incredibly enjoyed it. |
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