Attempts to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar date back to 1927 when English swimmers Mercedes Gleitze and Miss Hudson first tried to cross from Tangier to Gibraltar but failed. A year later, Mercedes Gleitze tried again from Tarifa, Spain and became the first person to swim across the Strait, reaching Morocco in 12 hours, 50 minutes. In the 1990s, as interest grew in completing this iconic marathon swim, locals in the area worked with the Red Cross to support attempting swimmers like Mercedes and Miss Hudson. This led to the founding of the Strait of Gibraltar Swimming Association (ACNEG) in 1999 to formally organize and assist with Strait crossing open water swimming attempts.
Swimming across the Strait of Gibraltar is no easy feat. There are several challenges one might face swimming across the Strait: strong currents, the distance at almost 9 miles at the narrowest point, and the variable weather and water conditions including cold water temperatures of 15°C, potential fog, winds, and the large amount of big ships and tankers passing through the Strait. This obstacle can take over 10 hours of non-stop open water swimming to complete. Only the most physically and mentally prepared open water swimmers try to tackle this feat.. Swimmers rely on ACNEG and other specialist groups who offer detailed advice and practical support to deal with problems in currents, variable water temperatures and jellyfish, which are all common to this huge body of water, which is the size of the United States.
Pilot Whale Pod (Globicephala melas) in the Strait of Gibraltar
The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and separates Gibraltar and Peninsular Spain in Europe from Morocco and Ceuta (Spain) in Africa. Comprising shallow, warm waters, the strait is home to various marine life. Since the Strait is a UNESCO protected biosphere reserve, at the top of the list of the preservation of the strait is the sea life. At least 7 species of cetaceans, including dolphins and whales, either live in or migrate through the Strait following food sources and established routes. Responsible ecotourism activities allow visitors to observe these animals while minimizing disturbance of their habitats.
Over the 19 years that ACNEG has officially organized Strait swims, many remarkable athletes have completed the approximate 14.4 km journey. Notable swims include athletes completing the Oceans Seven challenge, which includes iconic swims on each continent like the Strait of Gibraltar. While records are not officially tracked for the Strait, hundreds of swimmers apply each year to take on this meaningful open water challenge with support from ACNEG’s experienced team.
Swimming across the Strait of Gibraltar represents an iconic pursuit, drawing athletes to follow in Mercedes Gleitze’s history-making footsteps from 1928. While extremely challenging, the unique marine environment of the Strait and comprehensive support offered make this approximately 9 mile swim, traversing the Moroccan coast and Spain border, an unforgettable experience for prepared open water swimmers seeking their next meaningful challenge.
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