Open Water Africa

08/20/2026

The Gateway to a lake Malawi swim starts here. Accommodation at Chembe Eagles Nest allows for an afternoon departure to camp at the lakes edge allowing a easy sunrise start for your swim.
Waking up and making those final preparations before entering the warm water with Senga Bay in the distance.
The Real Deal Adventure Swim.

08/13/2026

Ready to make marathon swimming history in Africa?

Meet Open Water Africa, your premier independent swim facilitator and observer.
Conquer the pristine, legendary waters of the 24km Lake Malawi Crossing or brave the ultimate, remote test, the ultra 47km circumnavigation of St Helena Island

From documentation to support and logistics, we are with you every stroke of the way.

Book your next epic swim today [email protected]

08/13/2026

Enchanted Isle, the interceptor that found its home on St Helena Island, is currently out of the South Atlantic Ocean for inspection and maintenace.

Enchanted Isle is the mothership support boat that sits away from Seahawk Odyssey on a 47km circumnavigation swim around St Helena island.

The pilot boat has adequate room for all crew providing shelter from the elemnets along with food preperation facilitys and a WC

08/13/2026

As winter comes to an end and spring begins to blossom on St Helena Island, it is the perfect time to pull Seahawk Odyssey out of the water for pre-season maintenance. Regular, in-depth maintenance is a crucial and mandatory procedure for our support vessels, ensuring total reliability throughout the upcoming season. Seahawk Odyssey is our 8.5-metre Superduck RIB, which stays alongside our St Helena Circumnavigation swimmers at all times. She is supported by Enchanted Isle, our primary mothership, which is also currently out of the water for her own scheduled maintenance.

08/11/2026

FUN FACT TUESDAY !

On this day in 1941 (85 years ago): St Helena time is made the same as Greenwich Mean Time. Previously the clocks were set 23 minutes later than UTC±00:00.
Some people still seem to operate on the previous time!
https://sainthelenaisland.info/time.htm

08/06/2026

100 years of breaking barriers in the open water.

Today marks exactly one century since Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel. In 1926, she didn't just cross a waterway; she rewrote what the world thought women were capable of, beating the previous men’s records by nearly two hours. She put marathon swimming on the map.

Since then, the sport has evolved into a global community of pioneers. Every open-water swimmer carries an individual purpose, carving out their own unique connection to the sea.

A century later, that spirit of pioneering the unknown is alive and well. We see it in feats like Dina Levačić, who recently made history as the very first person to officially swim around the rugged, isolated coastline of St. Helena Island.

From the English Channel to the remote South Atlantic, the boundaries of human endurance continue to expand. It makes you wonder:

where will open-water swimming be in another 100 years?

How far will the next generations come, and how will the historic swims of today’s era be remembered a century from now?

Tell us: What drives you to push your boundaries in the water? 👇

SwimmingHistory EnduranceAthletes WomenInSport

08/06/2026

100 years ago today - Honoree Gertrude Ederle swim across the English Channel. First female, beat the speed of all men, international superstar

08/04/2026

A shore-to-shore swim starts and finishes at the edge of the South Atlantic.

The historic landing steps at the end of the Jamestown Wharf are the definitive gateway for the 47km St Helena Ultra Circumnavigation. Standing resilient against the sea for many decades, these steps guarantee that the challenge remains identical for every generation of swimmer. To ensure absolute fairness for everyone braving the world’s most remote marathon swim, starting and finishing at this exact location is mandatory. 15° 55.23' S, 5° 43.05' W

08/03/2026

Saint Helena swimmers representing and promoting the remote island on the commonwealth stage. What a fantastic line up to represent your origin from. Congratulations all .

07/31/2026

The Ultimate Ocean Endurance Challenge - St Helena Island

St Helena welcomes YOU, the elite ultra marathon swimmer, to step up to an epic, historic adventure. Journey to this remote British Overseas Territory and prepare to conquer the St Helena Island Ultra Marathon Swim, proudly hosted by Open Water Africa.

This isn't just a race; it's a battle against the elements and a true test of grit.

The Challenge & The Rewards

• The Distance - A grueling 47km circumference swim around one of the most remote and pristine islands on Earth.

• The Conditions - Navigate raw South Atlantic swells, changing currents, and deep ocean waters ranging from 22°C to 26°C.

• The Wildlife - Share the water with massive aggregations of majestic Whale Sharks and pods of dolphins and manta rays

• The Community: Get backed by a legendary island of people providing world-class boat pilots, crew support, and unforgettable kindness.

Getting There is Seamless

Getting to paradise has never been easier. Fly on a direct flight from Johannesburg (JNB), South Africa, landing right on the island.
Whether you want to attempt a historic solo slot or coordinate a relay team, your endurance legacy starts here.

Booking windows are highly limited!

Ready to build your marathon swim itinerary? Send us an email [email protected] to secure your slot.