I’m Coach John O’Dea and I’ve been swimming in San Francisco Bay since I was a little boy at the old beach at St. Francis Yacht Club Harbor, China Beach and Baker Beach. I have an MS in exercise science and have been a personal trainer and lifeguard since 1994. In 2010 Pedro Ordenes asked me to swim with him and ultimately to coach bay swimmers. I’ve loved being part of this bay swim community since.

Like all of our SF Swim coaches I have helped countless swimmers through their fears to love bay swimming as we do. I especially look out for swimmers who need extra encouragement and keep my lifeguard eyes on swimmer safety. My #1 bay swimming tip is “learn to swim with the current and not against it.” Ask me what that means.