The Deep Blue Invitational Swim is considered by many to be the toughest swim in South Africa outside of a Robben Island crossing.
30 of South Africa’s most accomplished extreme swimmers were invited to swim 10 km at Shelley Point in the cold waters near St Helena Bay this weekend.
Cold, rough, and long…just the way they like it.
The Ripple Effect, in association with Shelley Point Hotel Spa and Country Club and Realtors International, will host the swimmers who can expect water temperatures ranging between 11–14°C. They are all prepared to spend 2½-4 hours in the rough water.
“We invite only the most committed, dedicated and passionate open water swimmers who have a proven record in long distance extreme swimming,” said organiser Tony Enderli. “An impressive field of swimmers have accepted their invitations this year. We have cold water specialists like Ram Barkai swimming as well as speedsters like Phil Emslie. For the first time we have an Eastern Cape swimmer, Brenton Williams who will be attempting to complete the 10 km swimming butterfly.”
There is also a 3 km swim at Shelley Point to benefit Dale Buddies, a social investment project overseen by the Shelley Point Hotel Spa and Country Club. In 2011 the funds raised for Dale Buddies from the Deep Blue Invitational were used to teach swimming and life skills to young children living in the underprivileged areas in St Helena Bay.
Copyright © 2012 by World Open Water Swimming Association