S.P. Murleedharan completed the relatively shallow Palk Strait between Talaimannar in Sri Lanka to Arichamunai at Danushkodi in India in 13 hours 53 minutes in March 2012, but he had to brave a wide variety of sea snakes along the way.

“As an Indian I feel proud to cross Palk Strait from Sri Lanka to India. The conditions were extremely tough for swimming. The sea, pleasant in the initial stage, turned very rough. It forced me to swim against the strong wind and choppy sea.”

Since his triumphant crossing in March, Murleedharan has been busy organizing a 3.5 km fresh water swim in Vembanad Lake for January that is expected to attract up to 1,500 swimmers under the banner of the Save Water, Save Life Swimming Promoting Society. “Even though the state has no dearth of water bodies like lakes, rivers and ponds, many people don’t know how to swim. It’s in this context that we thought of organizing such an event.”

Photo by L. Balachandar.

Copyright © 2012 by Open Water Source