Oceans 8 Charity Swim | 2026
23 May - 24 May SAST (+02:00)
Durban Undersea Club
Details
Welcome to South Africa’s first warm water ocean challenge of its kind – dedicated entirely to charity!
Created by charities for charities, the Oceans 8 Charity Swim is a multi-stage open water swimming event in Durban that unites swimmers, change-makers and big-hearted supporters to make a lasting impact!
Swim 1, 4, 8 or 16 miles, or up to six individual 1-mile events.
All the funds raised go directly to supporting 14 inspiring NGOs (see the Charities Page on website for details).
Information
Day One - Saturday 23rd May 2026
EVENT 1 I 07h30 – 08h45
Age-group medal race for 61 - 70 years and start of 16, 8 & 4 mile
EVENT 2 I 08h45 – 10h00
Age-group medal race for 51 - 60 years
EVENT 3 I 10h00 – 11h15
Age-group medal race for 41 - 50 years and 2nd event for 4 milers
EVENT 4 I 11h15 – 12h30
Age-group medal race for 31 - 40 years
Day Two - Sunday 24th May 2026
EVENT 5 I 07h30 – 08h45
Age-group medal race for 71+ and disabled, and 3rd event for 4 milers
EVENT 6 I 08h45 – 10h00
Age-group medal race for 14 & under
EVENT 7 I 10h00 – 11h15
Age-group medal race for 15 - 20 years and final event for 4 milers
EVENT 8 I 11h15 – 12h30
Age-group medal race for 21 - 30 years
Contingency Day - Monday 25th May 2026
*** 1 MILE SWIMMERS – You only need to enter your age-category event if you are competing for your age-group medal. Non-competitive swimmers are welcome to choose any of the 8 events to participate in.
Swim 8 miles on Day 1 (Saturday 23rd May) and 8 miles on Day 2 (Sunday 24th May).
Monday 25th is a contingency day if conditions are poor on either of the previous days.
Each double mile will start every 75 minutes from 07h30.
Swimmers will swim the 1-mile course twice during each event.
Entry fee includes bespoke Oceans 8 costume, shirt, kit bag, cap, medal and goodie bag:
EARLY BIRD (by 31.12.2025) - R1,000
REGULAR (from 01.01.2026) - R1,100
Minimum of R5 000 to be raised via GivenGain for your charity of choice by Thursday 21st May (see Charities Page on website for details). Prize awarded to the top fundraiser in each charity.
Limited to 5 swimmers per charity.
No swimmers under 12 years of age.
All swimmers must have completed any official sea swim prior to the event and must be able to complete a mile in less than 30 minutes.
Wetsuits are permitted (2-minute time penalty per mile applies).
Online entries close at midnight on Wednesday 15th April 2026
Swim 4 miles on Day 1 (Saturday 23rd May) and 4 miles on Day 2 (Sunday 24th May).
Monday 25th is a contingency day if conditions are poor on either of the previous days.
Each mile will start every 75 minutes from 07h30.
Entry fee includes bespoke Oceans 8 costume, shirt, kit bag, cap, medal and goodie bag:
EARLY BIRD (by 31.12.2025) - R1,000
REGULAR (from 01.01.2026) - R1,100
Minimum of R5 000 to be raised via GivenGain for your charity of choice by Thursday 21st May (see Charities Page on website for details). Prize awarded to the top fundraiser in each charity.
Limited to 30 swimmers per charity.
No swimmers under 12 years of age.
All swimmers must have completed any official sea swim prior to the event.
Wetsuits are permitted (2-minute time penalty per mile applies).
Online entries close at midnight on Wednesday 15th April 2026
Swim 2 miles on Day 1 (Saturday 23rd May) and 2 miles on Day 2 (Sunday 24th May).
Monday 25th is a contingency day if conditions are poor on either of the previous days.
Swim events 1, 3, 5 & 7.
Entry fee includes bespoke Oceans 8 costume, cap, medal and goodie bag:
EARLY BIRD (by 31.12.2025) - R600
REGULAR (from 01.01.2026) - R700
Minimum of R3 000 to be raised for the 10 invitational charities (see Charities Page on website for details) by Thursday 21st May.
All funds raised by 4-mile swimmers will be split equally between the 10 invitational charities. Prize awarded to the top fundraiser.
Limited to 30 swimmers.
Participants under 12 years of age must swim with a tow float and a registered adult (DQ if finishing without).
Wetsuits are permitted (2-minute time penalty per mile applies).
Online entries close at midnight on Wednesday 15th April 2026
Choose one of the 4 events on Day 1 (Saturday 23rd May) or Day 2 (Sunday 24th May).
Entry fee includes cap, medal and goodie bag:
EARLY BIRD (by 31.12.2025) - R150
REGULAR (from 01.01.2026) - R200
Minimum of R800 to be raised for the 10 invitational charities (see Charities Page on website for details) by Thursday 21st May.
All funds raised by 1-mile swimmers will be split equally between the 10 invitational charities. Prize awarded to the top fundraiser.
Limited to 50 swimmers per time slot.
Participants under 12 years of age must swim with a tow float (DQ if finishing without).
Wetsuits are permitted (2 minute time penalty per mile applies).
Online entries close at midday on Thursday 21st May.
Swimmers only need to enter their age-category event if they are competing for their age-group medal. Non-competitive swimmers are welcome to choose any of the events on either day to participate in.
Organiser
Oceans 8
Information
Day One - Saturday 23rd May 2026
EVENT 1 I 07h30 – 08h45
Age-group medal race for 61 - 70 years and start of 16, 8 & 4 mile
EVENT 2 I 08h45 – 10h00
Age-group medal race for 51 - 60 years
EVENT 3 I 10h00 – 11h15
Age-group medal race for 41 - 50 years and 2nd event for 4 milers
EVENT 4 I 11h15 – 12h30
Age-group medal race for 31 - 40 years
Day Two - Sunday 24th May 2026
EVENT 5 I 07h30 – 08h45
Age-group medal race for 71+ and disabled, and 3rd event for 4 milers
EVENT 6 I 08h45 – 10h00
Age-group medal race for 14 & under
EVENT 7 I 10h00 – 11h15
Age-group medal race for 15 - 20 years and final event for 4 milers
EVENT 8 I 11h15 – 12h30
Age-group medal race for 21 - 30 years
Contingency Day - Monday 25th May 2026
*** 1 MILE SWIMMERS – You only need to enter your age-category event if you are competing for your age-group medal. Non-competitive swimmers are welcome to choose any of the 8 events to participate in.
Swim 8 miles on Day 1 (Saturday 23rd May) and 8 miles on Day 2 (Sunday 24th May).
Monday 25th is a contingency day if conditions are poor on either of the previous days.
Each double mile will start every 75 minutes from 07h30.
Swimmers will swim the 1-mile course twice during each event.
Entry fee includes bespoke Oceans 8 costume, shirt, kit bag, cap, medal and goodie bag:
EARLY BIRD (by 31.12.2025) - R1,000
REGULAR (from 01.01.2026) - R1,100
Minimum of R5 000 to be raised via GivenGain for your charity of choice by Thursday 21st May (see Charities Page on website for details). Prize awarded to the top fundraiser in each charity.
Limited to 5 swimmers per charity.
No swimmers under 12 years of age.
All swimmers must have completed any official sea swim prior to the event and must be able to complete a mile in less than 30 minutes.
Wetsuits are permitted (2-minute time penalty per mile applies).
Online entries close at midnight on Wednesday 15th April 2026
Swim 4 miles on Day 1 (Saturday 23rd May) and 4 miles on Day 2 (Sunday 24th May).
Monday 25th is a contingency day if conditions are poor on either of the previous days.
Each mile will start every 75 minutes from 07h30.
Entry fee includes bespoke Oceans 8 costume, shirt, kit bag, cap, medal and goodie bag:
EARLY BIRD (by 31.12.2025) - R1,000
REGULAR (from 01.01.2026) - R1,100
Minimum of R5 000 to be raised via GivenGain for your charity of choice by Thursday 21st May (see Charities Page on website for details). Prize awarded to the top fundraiser in each charity.
Limited to 30 swimmers per charity.
No swimmers under 12 years of age.
All swimmers must have completed any official sea swim prior to the event.
Wetsuits are permitted (2-minute time penalty per mile applies).
Online entries close at midnight on Wednesday 15th April 2026
Swim 2 miles on Day 1 (Saturday 23rd May) and 2 miles on Day 2 (Sunday 24th May).
Monday 25th is a contingency day if conditions are poor on either of the previous days.
Swim events 1, 3, 5 & 7.
Entry fee includes bespoke Oceans 8 costume, cap, medal and goodie bag:
EARLY BIRD (by 31.12.2025) - R600
REGULAR (from 01.01.2026) - R700
Minimum of R3 000 to be raised for the 10 invitational charities (see Charities Page on website for details) by Thursday 21st May.
All funds raised by 4-mile swimmers will be split equally between the 10 invitational charities. Prize awarded to the top fundraiser.
Limited to 30 swimmers.
Participants under 12 years of age must swim with a tow float and a registered adult (DQ if finishing without).
Wetsuits are permitted (2-minute time penalty per mile applies).
Online entries close at midnight on Wednesday 15th April 2026
Choose one of the 4 events on Day 1 (Saturday 23rd May) or Day 2 (Sunday 24th May).
Entry fee includes cap, medal and goodie bag:
EARLY BIRD (by 31.12.2025) - R150
REGULAR (from 01.01.2026) - R200
Minimum of R800 to be raised for the 10 invitational charities (see Charities Page on website for details) by Thursday 21st May.
All funds raised by 1-mile swimmers will be split equally between the 10 invitational charities. Prize awarded to the top fundraiser.
Limited to 50 swimmers per time slot.
Participants under 12 years of age must swim with a tow float (DQ if finishing without).
Wetsuits are permitted (2 minute time penalty per mile applies).
Online entries close at midday on Thursday 21st May.
Swimmers only need to enter their age-category event if they are competing for their age-group medal. Non-competitive swimmers are welcome to choose any of the events on either day to participate in.
Organiser
Oceans 8
Info
Welcome to South Africa’s first warm water ocean challenge of its kind – dedicated entirely to charity!
Created by charities for charities, the Oceans 8 Charity Swim is a multi-stage open water swimming event in Durban that unites swimmers, change-makers and big-hearted supporters to make a lasting impact!
Swim 1, 4, 8 or 16 miles, or up to six individual 1-mile events.
All the funds raised go directly to supporting 14 inspiring NGOs (see the Charities Page on website for details).