Reef-edge loop with real marine life. Watch the outgoing tide on the western leg — it moves.
A real open-water swim with real marine life and a real current. Tow a buoy — this is a shipping lane, not a pool.
Enter from the Villingili beach steps on a rising tide. Sight the first orange buoy 200 m out at 11 o’clock.
≈ 0.5 kmSwim the reef edge north for 900 m keeping the coral shelf on your right. Visibility is 20 m plus on a clean day.
≈ 0.9 kmThe channel crossing at 1.1 km is the only boat traffic — sight every six strokes and cross it deliberately, not casually.
≈ 1.4 kmTurn west at the second buoy. This is the outer leg: deeper water, bigger swell, and the turtles.
≈ 1.8 kmAt 2.0 km you turn south and pick up the current. Free speed for about 600 m — take it and stop fighting your stroke rate.
≈ 2.3 kmWatch the tide on the western leg. On an outgoing tide it moves at 2 km/h against you and this becomes a very different swim.
≈ 2.7 kmFinal 400 m back inside the reef to the beach steps. Shallow — lift your hands over the coral heads on the last 100 m.
≈ 3.2 km