Thinking of Joining?
Founded in 1877, the Dolphin Swimming and Boating Club is a diverse and thriving community of people from all over the Bay Area and the world. We are an adventurous and safety-minded club that loves the San Francisco Bay.
With the Dolphin Club at near capacity, we’re working to ensure that the Club serves everyone — our members, prospective Dolphins, and the general public. To that end, we are limiting the number of new members to ten each month. The application form will open at 7 a.m., the first Wednesday of every month, and stay open until 7 p.m. Ten names will be randomly selected from the pool of applicants. Applications are then closed until the first Wednesday of the following month.
In the meantime, we welcome you to join us at the Club on a day-use basis during our public access hours, Monday/Wednesday/Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m from November 1 to April 30 (‘Winter Season’) and the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. from May 1 to October 31 (‘Summer Season’). The day-use fee is: cash, check ($12.00), or square ($12.67) and provides access to our facilities, with the exception of boats and SUPs. It’s a great way to get to know us better… and for us to get to know you as well!
Key Dates for Applicants in 2026
| Month | Application Form opens (7 a.m. - 7 p.m.) | New Member Orientation and Board Meeting (In person attendance is mandatory) |
|---|---|---|
| July | July 1st | July 15th |
| August | August 5th | August 19th |
| September | September 2nd | September 16th |
| October | October 7th | October 21st |
| November | November 4th | November 18th |
| December | December 2nd | December 16th |
How to Join
We encourage you to explore the website and to use the club on our public access days, to become familiar with it prior to joining, to determine if this is the club for you.
More information on day-use access can be found here
Admission to the Club now involves a two-step process, and is determined by lottery:
Step 1
Fill out the Online Application Form on the first Wednesday of the month. [Read DSBC Privacy and Data Security Policy here].
The form opens at 7:00 a.m. and stays open until 7:00 p.m.
Ten names will then be randomly selected from the pool of applicants, and applications are closed until the following month.
- One application per person per month. Duplicate applications will be thrown out.
Step 2
The randomly selected prospective members will get an email with a payment link for the $133 initiation fee, a link to the Club’s waiver, and an invitation to attend New Member Orientation and the Board Meeting on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
- The initiation fee is due within five days and reserves your spot for that month.
- The initiation fee is not refundable.
- The waiver must be read and signed
- Attendance at the New Member Orientation and Board Meeting is mandatory.
- Balance of fees will be due at the New Member Orientation
If you do not hear from us within 5 days, your name was not part of the random selection.
You will need to re-apply in a subsequent month. We DO NOT maintain a waiting list.
Important:
If your application fee is not received or you do not attend the 3rd Wednesday meeting, you will lose your spot. Unfortunately, as a small, volunteer-run club we do not have the resources or infrastructure to accommodate exceptions.
Membership Includes:
- Keyed, year-round access to our historic clubhouse on San Francisco’s Aquatic Park cove.
- Use of all club facilities, including handball court, gym, hot showers and saunas, communal kitchen, and community areas.
- Use of boats, including our historic wooden fleet, after completing the mandatory rowing training (offered monthly).
- Organized club swims and rows throughout the year. (Note: You must be a member in good standing for six months before participating in out-of-cove swims. Alcatraz and Golden Gate swims require three qualifying swims and two swim helps.)
- Opportunity to join annual Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon (the original!)
- Dolphin Log print publication—three editions per year.
- Social events including mixers, dinners, and lectures open to all members.
- A range of volunteer opportunities, including events, governance, community support, and fleet and facility maintenance.
*Please note that there is currently a year+ waitlist for a dedicated locker in both the men’s and women’s locker rooms.
2026 Fees and Annual Dues
| $133 | One-time non-refundable initiation fee |
| $612 | Regular members |
| $549 | Senior members (age 65 and over) |
| $104.50 | Locker fee (when available) |
Have questions? Need additional information? Please contact membership@dolphinclub.org
Applicants for membership to the Dolphin Club shall not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sex, political affiliation, sexual orientation, physical handicap, marital status, medical condition (cancer related) conditions diagnosed as Acquired Immune Deficiency or AIDS Related Conditions, or any other grounds prohibited by law. – San Francisco Rec and Park Commission Resolution 161619a