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Challenge your fears

Come and experience Africa’s premier 5km Indian Ocean swim. 

Rated as one of the toughest Ocean Swims in the world, the Nelson Mandela Bay Bell Buoy Challenge, takes place in the Indian Ocean waters of Algoa Bay – a potential World Heritage Site given that it’s rich in both terrestrial and marine biodiversity. This ‘biodiversity hotspot’ is one of the unique dive sites in the world and is listed in the top four richest areas in the world in terms of biodiversity.

CAN YOU conquer your fears of the deep ocean and swim the Bell Buoy Challenge?

Qualification & Minimum Age

When paying for your entry, you are confirming that you are healthy, fit and brave enough to complete THIS 5km deep water ocean swim where the half-way point is approximately 2.5km out to sea. For safety reasons, the age limit for the Bell Buoy swim is a minimum of 14 years of age (in the year of the race) in accordance with the FINA rules for open water swimming (OWS 1.2).

Zsports reserve the right to request proof of your ability to compete in this race and if an entrant fails to satisfy the organisers of their ability to complete a swim of this nature (if such information is requested) will be withdrawn from the event and have 80% of their entry fee returned to them. 

From 2022 there will be TWO CATEGORIES of entry – ELITE and SOCIAL. The Elite category will compete for the prize money and may not have any outside assistance for their swim whilst the Social category will be encouraged to provide their own seconds and sighters to assist them with their swim. 

Safety Swim Buoy

Because of the nature of the Bellbuoy Challenge swim and the number of swimmers in the water, the use of a sanctioned Swim Buoy / Tow Buoy is compulsory for ALL swimmers.