The North Atlantic has never been on anyone’s to do list for the most tropical swimming places to visit. However, one advantage is that unlike those popular tropical spots, there are many beautiful beaches in Nova Scotia that don’t involve stepping over bodies to get to the water. In fact there are many beautiful beaches in Nova Scotia that are virtually empty most of the year.
What Is the best time to go ocean swimming in Nova Scotia? The best time to go ocean swimming is between the months of August and September. This is the time of year that the waters around Nova Scotia are the warmest.
The warmest ocean water around Nova Scotia is located along the Northumberland Strait. Some areas along the straight can reach temperatures of 25C. These waters are warm due to the shallowness of the waters and some other factors.
Along the Atlantic coast the waters are colder. The less sheltered from the open ocean a swimming area is, the colder it will be. The best thing is to look for beaches that are sheltered in bays and coves. An example of a beach that is slightly warmer is Queensland beach due to its more sheltered location.
If you would like to extend your swimming season or when you do swim feel more comfortable, it is worth investing in a wet suit. You can get away with a thinner wetsuit if you are spending a long time in the water during the warmer summer months such as a 3/2. If you are going to be swimming earlier in the season or later in the season, than a thicker wetsuit will be necessary. You will also need to completely cover any other exposed skin that will be submerged in water. In my experience if the water temperature dips below 14C, the cold begins to be almost a burning sensation and is quite uncomfortable.
If you are going swimming in a more sheltered bay such as Queensland, the water will be cold but in late summer into September you can have some pretty warm days. How warm does it get? Well at the warmer Atlantic coast beaches the water temperature may hover around 17-18C or might get as warm as 20C.
A lot depends on the individual’s cold tolerance. Some stay in for a very short time and then warm up but there are others that will stay in for a long time, it all depends.
You will see many people on the beaches just enjoying the sun. Pick a day that is not too windy, since being on the ocean can be a lot windier than inland. As well it may be 29-30C inland but 18c on the coast, so its important to check the weather and dress accordingly. If you go on the right day the weather can be great and you will be able to really enjoy the beach.
