The David buoy

Every summer, the lifeguards place orange buoys in the waters off Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, and Mission Beach, prompting people to ask what’s that orange thing in the water is.

“It’s out there every summer,” one lifeguard told me. “Primarily for the junior lifeguards, but lifeguards use it as a destination for their training and Olympic athletes, triathletes, college swimmers, water polo players and people off the street.”

Buoy’s handler was walking up and down Newport Avenue in OB asking businesses to write messages all over him. “David Buoy started as part of a program for lifeguards to stay in shape.”

David Buoy will be placed in the water about 200 yards offshore, north of the OB Pier (June 19) and will remain through September. It should take a good swimmer about ten minutes to swim out and around it.

There are about eight buoys placed throughout the beaches, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, and Ocean Beach, "You can even take your own marker and leave a message on David Buoy.”