About us & the Swims
The Great Barrier Reef Ocean Swim is now in it’s fourth year of operation, and it is operated by a very experienced team from the swimming world and community. Each bring their own expertise from a broad range of commercial and non-commercial backgrounds and our mission is to continue to ensure the Great Barrier Reef Ocean Swim is one of the swimming world’s must do ‘bucket list’ events!
Our team
Gareth Sykes
Swam for Great Britain for six years, attending World and European Championships on the way and attending University of California, Berkeley on a sports scholarship. Promoted the European Masters Swimming Championships and has been involved in commercial aspects of sport for the last thirty years. Comes from an extended swimming family – his father swam at the Melbourne and Rome Olympics, one of his sons swam for Australia and his mother has been President of Swim England.
Nicole Froling
Former Australian National age champion and very well travelled swimmer. Works in Team Elite as Events and Operations manager and has attended events all over Australia and New Zealand.
Take part in one of our Ocean Swims directly above and over the Great Barrier Reef Designated one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World!
Our swims are a unique opportunity to enjoy this phenomenon of a race above beautiful coral, sea life and the crystal clear near transcendental aqua blue ocean.
For any ocean or open water swimmer – this is the true bucket list swim!
Our swim for 2024 will be from the Sunlover Pontoon located on Moore Reef, 60 km off the coast of Cairns. We will create a 1000 metre course, using floating buoys above the reef to allow us races along the side and directly over the reefs.
The swims include a full day out on the reef – transport on one of Sunlover reef ferries, enjoying the stunning Barrier Reef waters and environment. The day will include briefings, warm-up opportunities, the race, merchandise packages, photography, lunch on the pontoon, opportunity to enjoy the semi-submarine for viewing, snorkelling, all in the company of fellow swimmers, bar on the return, presentations and probably one of the most memorable Ocean Swims you will ever enjoy, anywhere in the world.
All swimmers should be capable and comfortable to swim their chosen distance, and have done so on previous occasions. No buoyancy or swimming aids, such as fins, snorkels or pull buoys are permitted on any of the 2, 3 & 5km races.
However, our ‘fun’ 1km ‘Swim the Reef’ event offers swimmers to use any aid they like to get around the course.
