St. Helena is set to make historic waves in the extreme sports community. It is planned that at approximately 00:01 on Thursday, renowned 29-year old Croatian swimmer Dina Levačić will dive into the sea in St Helena to begin the first official ultra-marathon swim around the island, covering roughly 45 kilometers the entire circumference of the island, this challenge aims to firmly establish St. Helena on the map for marathon open-water swimmers worldwide. You will be able track the swim here.
Speaking recently in an interview on Saint FM, Howard James of Open Water Africa explained the sheer magnitude of the attempt. Howard noted that an ultra marathon swim is classified as anything over 25 kilometers, making the 45-kilometer St. Helena route nearly doubled the distance of a standard marathon swim.
Dina Levačić, who completed the grueling Oceans Seven and was named World Open Water Swimmer of the Year in 2023, shared her experience on air, comparing the Island’s pristine waters to the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea of her native Croatia. Both Howard and Dina emphasised that the swim’s breathtaking marine life and pristine conditions give St. Helena the potential to become the best ultra-marathon swim destination in the world.
Organising an aquatic endeavor of this scale requires rigorous, uncompromising safety protocols. On Tuesday, February 24th, the Tourist Office boardroom in Jamestown hosted a highly productive meeting dedicated to the integrity and safety of the St. Helena Ultra Marathon swim.
Key stakeholders gathered to discuss risk assessments, communications and emergency plan procedures, and the continuous monitoring of the swimmer. The collaborative effort included local experts such as St. Helena Government Head Emergency Planner Anel O’Bey, Medical Response lead Michael Gaga-Hale, Head of Tourism Jonathon Passaportis, Tourism Marketing representative Tyanne Williams, and swimmer supporter Zeljana Levačić.
The details of this safety monitoring was also highlighted during the Saint FM interview. Howard explained that as the formal observer, he will meticulously track Dina fluid intake, water temperature, and most crucially, her stroke rate. He told Saint FM listeners that a swimmer’s stroke rate is a vital real-time health indicator; if Dina standard rate of 60 strokes per minute drops to 55, it immediately signals potential severe fatigue or the onset of dangerous conditions like swimming-induced pulmonary edema (SIPE).
Dina will tackle this challenge completely unassisted, adhering strictly to the traditional values of open-water swimming. She will wear only a standard swimming costume, one silicone hat, and goggles, completely foregoing the aid of a smartwatch or any other performance-enhancing device. At the request of the pilot crew, she will wear a Sharkbanz for safety and peace of mind, a precautionary measure that falls under safety rather than assistance and does not violate the official unassisted rules.
During the grueling hours in the water, Dina will be supported by an experienced local fleet ensuring her safety and guiding her path. The Enchanted Isle, skippered by Johnny Herne Meanwhile, the Seahawk Odyssey, piloted by Jamie Yon and Jamie Essex, will stay closer to Dina allowing her to swim alongside the vessel on her favored breathing side.
The point-to-point route will start and finish at one of the red buoys marking a wreck in James Bay. Diving in and navigating clockwise around the island to manage the wind and currents, Dina will have to slightly divert around certain rock and reef formations. The exact path she carves through this beautiful backdrop will set the standard and official route for all future swimmers. With a solid blueprint for safe practices now firmly in place, the team at Open Water Africa and the St. Helena eagerly anticipated safe waters and a monumental success.