This was a world’s first circumnavigation swim around Maui, Hawaii, to usher in the age of expeditions swimming. This is the proof of concept that, ultimately, we’re planning on taking around the world,” said Epic Swim founder Robby Seeger. “The idea is that the best open water swimmers from six continents come together for the first time and they’re actually swimming together. We’re moving it out of the soul aspect of the sport for the bigger discussion around ocean health that is happening globally.”

Participants in the swim included Hawaii’s John Kaleimakali’i Clark, Ryan Leong and Stefan Reinke, Scotland’s Andrew Donaldson, Chile’s Barbara Hernandez, India’s Prabhat Koli, New Zealand’s Jonathan Ridler, Ghana’s Yvette Tetteh, the United States’ Sarah Thomas, Egypt’s Mostafa Zaki, Croatia’s Dina Levačić, France’s Marion Joffle, South Africa’s Sarah Ferguson, and Australia’s Paul Blackbeard.

The Epic Swim Maui is connected to the United Nations Ocean Decade, an initiative designed to generate important knowledge of the world’s oceans and promote sustainability. In connection with the swim, water samples will be collected for international studies on microplastics and “forever chemicals” that disturb natural ocean environments. In addition to these professionally-led studies, there are plans to provide research opportunities to local Maui students. Top water safety experts and oceanographers along with community partners all played a dynamic role in this ambitious event and documentary production.

Open water marathon swimmer Sarah Thomas shared on social media: "I was so lucky to spend 10 days in Maui, adding my arms to the @epicswimmaui adventure swim that is just about to finish up circumnavigating the island of Maui. I got to meet and swim with swimmers from around the world, who turns out are even better humans than swimmers. It was such a gift to be able to join them for a small part of that journey. Beautiful water. Beautiful people. And I saw a shark!”

Accomplished waterman Seeger, director Stefan Schaefer, and their partners are busy in post production, and expect to release both a limited TV series and a feature-length documentary from the 400-plus hours of footage shot before, during, and after the event. Follow along on this production journey at: epicswimmaui.com