Reef Relief Squad

Cayman Bogue Swim

Register to swim the Bogue today!

ARE YOU READY TO BRAVE THE BOGUE?

The local name for the passage of water between Cayman Brac and Little Cayman is “The Bogue” and is the deepest inter-island channel in the Caribbean at over 4,000 feet deep. In 2021, a group of 16 Cayman Islands swimmers took on the challenge to swim across The Bogue while raising money for the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI). After a successful inaugural event that raised more than US $50,000 in support of CCMI’s conservation and education efforts, the organisers wanted to expand the experience, creating a whole weekend of activity to generate interest in the event, encourage travel to the Sister Islands, and raise money for a local environmental non-profit (CCMI).

Join CCMI’s Reef Relief Squad and swim this 5-mile stretch of water with us on 29 April 2023.

Bogue Swim Information

DATE: Saturday, 29th April 2023; 8 am start time

WHERE: Cayman Brac to Little Cayman (all participants are transported to the start point by boat, leaving from Little Cayman the morning of Saturday, 29th April)

COST: US $325/swimmer (includes: race entry, welcome pack with event shirt and swim cap, finishers medal, entry to the Welcome Drinks/Packet Pick up event, entry to the Bogue Bash: Band & BBQ dinner, transport to the event start by boat, and tour of CCMI)

In 2023, the Cayman Bogue Swim is expanding!

Due to increased interest in open water swim events, we are now offering additional entries as well as several categories of participation:

  1. Race swim – for swimmers who are competing to win
  2. Open water swim –  for swimmers looking to swim a challenging event and/or achieve a personal best
  3. Relay – relay teams can be either 2 or 4 person teams, with swimmers covering a part of the full distance (approx 2.5 mi each for swimmers on 2-person relay teams and approx 1.25 mil each for swimmers on 4-person relay teams)

Registration requirement: All swimmers must show they have completed a minimum of a 1-mile distance in an open water swim in the previous 12 months. Details of this are requested during the registration process.

SPACE IS LIMITED! REGISTER EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT!

Register to swim the Bogue today!

Bogue Swim Weekend Events

Friday, 28 April 2023:

  • arrival to Little Cayman
  • welcome drinks/packet pick up for swimmers

Saturday, 29 April 2023

  • 8 am: Bogue Swim starts in Cayman Brac
  • 7pm: Bogue Bash: Band and BBQ event*

Sunday, 30 April 2023

  • Bogue Sail event
  • Tour of the Little Cayman Research Centre with CCMI staff
  • Departure from Little Cayman

* Registration includes entry for participants to attend the Bogue Bash: Band & BBQ; additional tickets for friends, family, and supporters can be purchased HERE.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is the swim?

The distance for the Bogue Swim is five miles. For the race and individual swim categories, swimmers will cover the distance by themselves.

For the 2-person relay, each swimmer will swim approximately 2.5 miles. Members of the 4-person relay will swim approximately 1.25 miles each.

Are there qualifying standards for swimmers?

The event organizers require that any swimmer participating in the RACE or OPEN SWIM categories (the entire five mi distance) will need to provide proof of having completed a minimum of one-mile distance in the previous 12 month period.

What is included with my event registration fee?

Your registration fee includes:

  • event entry
  • on-island transport for event activities
  • welcome packet
  • entry to welcome drink event
  • transport to Cayman Brac for the start of the swim
  • finisher medal
  • entry to the Bogue Bash: Band & BBQ event
  • tour of the Little Cayman Research Centre

Who pays for flights and accommodations?

Each participant needs to arrange and pay for their own flights to/from Little Cayman as well as their on-island accommodations.

Here are two sites we recommend for a variety of accommodation options:

In addition, CCMI will offer a limited number of beds at the Little Cayman Research Centre for a low fee. Accommodations are dorm-style with separate areas for men and women. Please email info@reefresearch.org for information about this option.

Accommodations are NOT included in the registration fee.

What will proceeds from this event support?

Proceeds from the Cayman Bogue Swim will support important work at CCMI, including sustaining our operations and ability to run cutting edge research projects on coral resiliency in addition to offering wide-ranging education and scholarship opportunities to students for residential programmes at the Little Cayman Research Centre. This allows us to make an important difference in Cayman – and throughout the region – as we work to protect the marine environment and support and inspire the next generation of ocean stewards and marine scientists.

What if I am not in the Cayman Islands, how can I participate?

If you want to join the cause but will not be in the Cayman Islands, you can still participate by donating to our event in honour of the swimmers who are braving the Bogue!

Donations are tax deductible, and there is an option to dedicate your donation in honour or in memory of someone.

Are monetary donations tax deductible?

Yes, CCMI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the US (ID# 22-3609293) and all donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Many thanks to the sponsors of the Cayman Bogue Swim 2023

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