What is the right temperature to swim in Florida? Some like it hot. Some do not.

The first thing to remember is that Florida is a big state, so the difference in temperature from Jacksonville to Miami can vary greatly. Plus, weather and water conditions also vary in the Gulf vs. Atlantic – the Gulf tending to be on the warmer side.

To give you a good idea about ocean temperatures locally, if you prefer to swim in the ocean…Typical temperatures in the New Smyrna Beach (NSB) area throughout the year typically average from 60s to 80s. December through March averages around 65. Once you hit April, you are probably in the low 70s – great swimming weather in my opinion. Average water temperatures here will gradually rise month by month, so that you will probably hit 80 in June, July and August. Water temperatures in NSB probably won’t go below 70 again until December.

If your pool is heated, and you are wondering the best pool temperature for swimming, that – my friend – is pretty subjective. My thoughts would be to keep it around 70 because 60s are cold. Also, the higher your pool temperature, the more your heater has to run, so the higher your heating costs will be. The warmer your pool, the more of a chance there is for algae to grow, so you may have to use more chemicals, the hotter you go.