Dave Berry Puts His Head Down…and Swims and Swims and Swims

Dave Berry (@openwater_snap) was honored as the Swim Ireland 2024 Open Water Swimmer of the Year.

He wrote, “I’m absolutely honored and thrilled to receive this recognition. It’s been an incredible year filled with challenges, milestones, and unforgettable experiences, all made possible by the unwavering support of my family and friends. The eligibility window from September 1st 2023, to September 9th 2024 included some of my proudest achievements: completing three Triple Crowns and 21 marathon swims, including 300 km along the Leinster coastline. It feels a bit bonkers when I look back, but as soon as I complete a swim, I’m already looking ahead, eager for the next challenge and the chance to immerse myself in the water again.”

The 49-year-old Berry has been on a Barraesque tear over the last three years. “Three years into my open water journey, it’s been nothing short of a brilliant adventure. This sport has pushed my limits, brought me to breathtaking places, and introduced me to incredible people who share the same deep passion for open water swimming.“

2024 Marathon Swimming Highlights [where he swam 404.8 km over 129 hours 13 minutes]

16.1 km Angel Island – Round trip in San Francisco Bay, USA in October in 6 hours 50 minutes
24.8 km crossing from Kish Bank Lighthouse to Kilcoole Co.Wicklow in September in 5 hours 40 minutes
22.7 km Dál Riata Channel crossing from Scotland to Ireland in July in 9 hours 19 minutes in 13.4°C water
10.2 km crossing from Robben Island to Melkbos in Cape Town, South Africa in January in 2 hours 54 minutes in 10-16°C water
33 km False Bay crossing from Miller’s Point to Rooi-Els in Cape Town, South Africa in January 2024 in 9 hours 15 minutes i
298 km “Length of Leinster” that cumulatively took him 85 hours 15 minutes along the coast of Leister in the following swims [see map below]:
11.2 km from Carlingford lough Co. Louth to Kikeel Co.Down, Ulster in October in 4 hours 10 minutes in 11.6°C water
11.5 km from Hook Head Co Wexford to Rathmoylan Cove, Co. Waterford, Munster in September in 6 hours 14 minutes
21.5 km from Kilmore quay to Hook Head in Co. Wexford in September in 6 hours 56 minutes in 16°C water
20.3 km from Carne beach to Kilmore quay, Co. Wexford in August in 5 hours 1 minute in 15.8°C water
17.2 km from Raven Point to Carne beach, Co. Wexford in August in 5 hours 56 minutes in 16.4°C water
23.6 km from Cahore point, to Raven Point Co. Wexford in August in 5 hours 38 minutes in 17.2°C water
19.1 km from Dunany point to Carlingford lough – Dundalk Bay Co. Louth in August in 6 hours 41 minutes in 14.3°C water
12.7 km from Termonfeckin to Dunany point Co. Louth in July in 3 hours 23 minutes in 14.4°C water
16.3 km from Balbriggan Co Dublin to Termonfeckin Co. Louth in July in 5 hours 24 minutes in 14.8°C water
20 km from Clone Strand to Cahore point Co. Wexford in July in 5 hours 4 minutes in 15.4°C water
25.3 km from Magherabeg beach, Wicklow to Clone Strand, Co. Wexford in July in 5 hours 18 minutes in 14°C water
19 km from Lambay Island East, Dublin to Balbriggan, Dublin in June in 5 hours 26 minutes in 13.8°C water
21.6 km from Kish Bank Lighthouse to Lambay Island East, Dublin in June in 5 hours 28 minutes in 13.4°C water
19.7 km from Newcastle to Magherabeg beach, Wicklow in June in 4 hours 29 minutes in 13.9°C water
13.5 km from Kish Bank Lighthouse to Dún Laoghaire Harbour, Dublin in June in 4 hours 49 minutes in 13.3°C water
25.5 km from Dún Laoghaire Co Dublin to Newcastle, Co Wicklow in June in 5 hours 17 minutes in 13.5°C water

Berry upped his game from the previous two years – which were momentous in themselves. He swim a cumulative total of 268.9 km over 78 hours 24 minutes in 2023 and a cumulative total of 207.6 km over 70 hours 36 minutes in 2022. Those highlights included the following swims:

45.9 km 20 Bridges circumnavigation swim around Manhattan Island, New York City in October 2023 in 8 hours 25 minutes 12.2 km from Cliffs of Moher (Mullaghroe South to Doolin pier) in Ireland in October in 4 hours 19 minutes in 15.2°C water
25 km from Kish Bank Lighthouse to Rush in Ireland in October in 7 hours 24 minutes in 15.4°C water
35 km North Channel crossing from Northern Ireland to Scotland in September in 12 hours 32 minutes in 16.4°C water
29.4 km Bristol Channel from Wales to England in August 2023 in 10 hours 15 minutes in 18°C water
14.4 km Strait of Gibraltar crossing from Tarife, Spain to Morocco to set a new Irish record in August in 3 hours 12 minutes
DNF 35 km North Channel crossing from Northern Ireland to Scotland, falling 4 km short due to ill health in June in 13°C water
15.4 km from Kish Lighthouse to Poolbeg Lighthouse in Ireland in July 2023 in 5 hours 30 minutes in 15.5C water
16 km from Kish Lighthouse to Bray Co.Wicklow in Ireland in June 2023 in 4 hours 21 minutes in 13.8°C water
15.4 km from Dingle Harbour to Coonanna (across Dingle bay) in Ireland in May in 4 hours 39 minutes in 12.9°C water
12.8 km from Dún Laoghaire harbour to Bray beach south, Co. Wicklow in Ireland in May in 2 hours 31 minutes in 12°C water
11.3 km from Dún Laoghaire Baths, looping Dalkey Island finishing at Seapoint in Ireland in May in 3 hours 27 minutes
20 km from Kish Bank Lighthouse to Lambay Island, Dublin in October 2022 in 4 hours 31 minutes in 13.8°C water
33.5 km English Channel in October in 12 hours 35 minutes in 17°C water
20 km from Kish Bank Lighthouse to Greystones, Wicklow in September 2020 in 4 hours 2 minutes in 16.5°C water
15.7 km from Kish Bank Lighthouse to Seapoint, Dublin, Ireland in August in 5 hours 43 minutes in 16.5°C water
21 km Galway Bay two-way crossing in Ireland in July in 8 hours 30 minutes in 18°C water
DNF 12.7 km Kish Bank Lighthouse to 40ft due to thunder and lighting storm in July 2022 in 3 hours 39 minutes
32.3 km Catalina Channel crossing in June in 12 hours 6 minutes in 19°C water
19.1 km from Fastnet lighthouse to Baltimore, Co.Cork, Ireland in June in 6 hours 39 minutes in 11°C water
35 km Extreme Winter Relay North Channel from Northern Ireland to Scotland in January in 12 hours 51 minutes in 8°C water, the first crossing of the North Channel in winter