Open Water (Ocean) Swimmimg Question

Most of us swim in open water when we have time, not necessarily due to best time for a tide. Your experience might greatly differ depending on the water surface conditions (chop, surf, current, taste of water...)

I have not noticed a difference hitting the same swim spot AM vs PM or high vs low tide. Some say the high to low tide is bad since it lends to extra nasty rip currents, but if you're out there swimming a mile, rip currents aren't going to be an issue anyway. (Resist the urge to go "wheeee!" as is drags you out super fast!)

I do 100% of my swim training in San Francisco bay so I pretty much get it all: cold, dark, tides, currents, swells etc. I swim when it works for me. I like it in the morning because its usually calmer. But the afternoon, especially when the tide is coming in and there's a little wind, well, that's when some sesriously good work can be done. Swim against the tide to 'work,' and with it to recover. Natures intervals.

toadbra---It would help if we knew where you were doing your OWS. Miami waters varie from OWS in the English Channel.
That said, I ocean OWS exclusively 2-4 times a week. My favorite time to swim in as early in the morning as possible because NORMALLY, the sea is less rough in the morning here in Miami.
If "current" is your problem I would suggest that you pick a swim route where you are swimming WITH the current. What I do (if the current is ripping) is to walk along the beach "up current" a mile or so then enter the water and swim "down current" to my exit point.
Hope this helps

I am in Hilton Head Island, SC. Yesterday, the waves at high tide (when I was out there) were 4-5 feet.

I entered the water and swam with the current (which may be like cheating) but there was no way I could have swam into it as it was brutal enough as it was. Again, this was only my 2nd Open Water Ocean swim as I'm used to the pool or lakes in KY.

The good news is that this type of training will make you ready for some tough TRI swims. You swam in conditions that were only a little bit (maybe a foot) worse than the Bone Island TRI here in January. I can't say I would want to train in that all of the time, but there were plenty of people in TRI who were not physically or mentally prepared for the conditions and either dropped out or struggled. You weren't really cheating swimming with the tide since many races will attempt to accommodate the tide that way. If you swim parallel to the beach, then once you get out there the time of day shouldn't make too much difference. That said, I usually swim early.