Robben Island Cape Town Double Swim with Dolphins

Graham was accompained by a school of wild Dusky dolphins while completing this magic long distance endurance swim from Robben Island (the former prison of Global political icon Nelson Mandela) to Cape Town and back again (The Robben Island Double), one of only a handful of long distance swimmers to complete this particular swim. The swimming distance was approx 15km and it took place just off the south coast of South Africa in the cold, shark infested waters of the Atlantic Ocean, against the backdrop of Cape Towns most awesome Table Mountain. Time approximately 5 and a half hours.

This swim has been recognised by the CLDSA Cape Long Distance Swimming Association of South Africa. This particular swim was recognised by various international news channels, including Carte Blanche, Africa's flagship magazine and actuality programme as an epic achievement, pushing human spirit and endurance to the limits. Graham was nominated by Out There Adventure Magazine as Out There Epic Adventurer of the year 2009 and quoted as 'having achieved one of the toughest extreme events in the world'.

The first leg of the swim between Robben Island and Blaaubergstrand was completed with swimming companions Dr. Otto Thaning and James Saunders. The spontanious decision by Graham to turn around and complete the double swim 'carpe diem' resulted in the most awesome of human experiences.

Completing this swim accompanied and 'pulled along' by such incredible animals truly was a magnificent experience, which touched those on the boat and reiterated for me the magnificence of our great oceans. At a critical stage of mental and physical exhaustion, five wild dusky dolphins swam side by side with me for about a mile, gently weaving their way under me, next to me and in front of me and it certainly felt like they were enjoying themselves. I completed the swim exhausted but exhilarated and have felt on a high ever since.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• dolphins
• dolphin
• swim
• robben
• island
• graham
• long
• distance
• grindley-ferris
• swimming
• cape
• town
• open
• water
• ocean
• extreme
• adventure
• outthere
• epic
• endurance
• achieve
• table
• mountain

[KarenNamaste]

Wonderful, but I'm so sad you've changed the soundtrack! I loved your wife's glee and the 2 original pieces of music where far more exciting

[GrahamGFerris]

Hi

YouTube removed original soundtracks automatically - copyright violation. I agree they were pretty cool tracks and of course nothing better than my wifes joy !

[valleystylez]

i really have to try this before i die.

[ClaireDinnie]

Superb! I wish you the best with this! This will touch many hearts!

[ntwwtn]

amor à natureza e natureza com amor

[petercobbledick]

This is amazing.

Peter, Atlantic Surf Pods, UK

[Sentinal3131]

@iammdeepak1 thats what i was thinking! i this are was great white shark waters

[robjames363]

your life is truly blessed my friend you have lived a life i could only dream i just wish the world could see how beautiful it is to swim with dolphins in there own enviroment and not in a fish tank in captivity look how beautiful they are and how carefully they pass around you and under you . also just because you think the dolphins will protect against the sharks yeah they have done in the past but they wont protect everyone people should not make that mistake sharks need respect!!!!!

[herkulesguff]

big thumbs up. wonderful video. i really like the piano song too. what track is it?

[iammdeepak1]

How shark infested are these waters? Do the dolphins repel sharks? Good job with the swim!

[duckjd]

I was going to add this to my site but embedding was disabled so I didn't

[machristan]

great party at least some guests did arrive!

great achievement with topping.