More than 60 swimmers took on 12 icy swim spots in the Mother City to raise funds for marine ranger training and celebrate Marine Protected Areas Day.
Cape Town, South Africa (04 August 2026) – A group of Cape Town swimmers spent Marine Protected Areas Day in the water across 12 swim spots around the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area to support the SANParks marine rangers who protect it.
The challenge, called Swim for Life, was organised by Fish Hoek-based non-profit Guardians of the Deep. Over the course of 12 and a half hours, swimmers travelled from Noordhoek to Muizenberg, stopping for a swim at each location and speaking to members of the public about why Marine Protected Areas matter.
In total, 61 swimmers joined throughout the day. Some tackled the full route, others dropped in where they could.
The money raised from the twelve icy plunges will help Guardians of the Deep continue its work with the SANParks Table Mountain National Park Marine Unit, where the organisation has been helping marine rangers become more confident in and around the water.
One detail that may surprise many readers is that some of the marine rangers responsible for protecting the coastline either cannot swim or are fearful of the ocean. Guardians of the Deep says Swim for Life is one way of standing in solidarity with those rangers while helping raise funds for training that builds their confidence and skills in the water.
“Our Swim for Life concept is three-fold,” says Guardians of the Deep Founder and Projects Director, marine biologist Sally Sivewright. “Swim to raise awareness of the diverse life found in the TMNP MPA, including the importance of preserving this incredible natural heritage”.
“Swim in solidarity with the Marine Rangers who cannot swim or fear the water and yet are going out to sea to safeguard this precious resource.”
Through the organisation’s Marine Watch Project, rangers have already begun receiving swimming lessons, while two have gone on to earn their SCUBA certifications. The next goal is to help train rangers as NSRI first responders, particularly in areas like Cape Point where emergency assistance can take longer to arrive.
“The marine rangers are to be trained by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) as first responders. This will be especially effective in sections such as Cape Point, where the response time of the NSRI can be quite heavily impacted by the distance from the nearest base. Having trained rangers on site to respond to an emergency further protects the lives of those making use of the MPA in a recreational manner” says Sivewright.
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The Swim for Life fundraising event covered icy cold dips across twelve swim destinations, including Noordhoek (Chapman’s Corner), Kommetjie Slipway, Witsands, Olifantsbos (Cape Point), Buffelsbaai tidal pool (Cape Point), Venus tidal pool (Paulsberg, Cape Point), Castle Rock, Rumbly Bay (Miller’s Point), Seaforth, Fish Hoek Beach, Dalebrook tidal pool and Muizenberg Beach.
Guardians of the Deep says Swim for Life is one of several projects under its Marine Watch Programme, which also supports CoastWatchers volunteers. These community members help monitor the coastline, respond to marine strandings, collect environmental data and work alongside SANParks to help protect the Marine Protected Area.
If you would like to show your support, you can donate via this link to help the fundraiser reach the R20,000 mark – currently it’s about halfway there!
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