Asia's Top 50 Open Water Swims

20th annual Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim across the Istanbul Strait in Turkey

20th Annual International Bosphorus Swim or the Samsung Intercontinental Bosphorus Swimming Competition

Stephen Redmond swimming in the Tsugaru Channel on his quest for the Oceans Seven, captured in the film Defeating Oceans Seven by Red Bull Media House

Doug Woodring (on right) with trisolothon competitors in the Sheko Challenge in Hong Kong

noun - Asia's Top 50 Open Water Swims is an annual list of some of the most popular, best organized, most challenging and most scenic open water swims throughout Asia. The list is selected from the hundreds of open water swimming competitions throughout Asia and the Middle East and is managed by the World Open Water Swimming Association:

2016 Top 50 List

1. Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim - 6.5 km (Kandili, Asia to Kuruçeşme, Turkey)
2. Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival - 3.3 km (Jih Yueh Tan, Taiwan)
3. Clean Half Marathon Swimming Open Water - 15 km Solo Swim & Relay (Hong Kong)
4. Cold Half Marathon Swimming Open Water - 15 km Solo (Hong Kong)
5. Asian Beach Games - 5 km, 10 km (various countries, Haiyang, China in 2012)
6. India National Open Water Swimming Competition - 81 km (Behrampur, River Bhagirathi, West Bengal, India)
7. Atami Open Water Swimming Japan Grand Prix - 0.4 km, 1 km, 2 km, 1.6 km relay (Shizuoka, Japan)
8. Xiamen-Kinman Swimming - 7.1 km (Tiamen, China to Kinmen, Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait)
9. International Masters Open Water Swim - 0.8 km, 3 km, 2 km relay (Izu National Park, Shizuoka, Japan)
10. Etihad Holidays Splash Dash - 0.2 km, 0.7 km (Corniche Bay, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)
11. Turkish Victory Day Swim - 4.5 km (Canakkale, Hellespont, Turkey)
12. Lord Bryon's Swim Festival - 4.5 km (Canakkale, Hellespont - Turkey)
13. Bosphorus International Swim - 7.1 km (Istanbul Strait from Meis, Greece to Kas, Turkey)
14. Temiz Korfezde Yuzelim - 5 km (Kocaeli, Turkey)
15. Kenting Sea Swim - 3 km (Kenting, Taiwan)
16. International Masters Open Water Swim – 0.5 km, 2 km relay, 3 km (Izu National Park, Shizuoka, Japan)
17. Southeast Asian Games - 5 km (Hambantota, Sri Lanka)
18. Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union Sea Swim – 2 miles (Mount Lavinia Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka)
19. Interclub Masters’ Open Water Sea Swim – 1 km (Mount Lavinia Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka)
20. Singapore Open Water Swim -0.5 km, 1 km, 3 km, 5 km (East Coast Park, Casuarina Grove, Singapore)
21. Iran Open Water Swim - 3 km (Noshahr Northern Beach, Caspian Sea, Iran)
22. Bali Ocean Swim - 1.2 km, 5 km, 10 km (Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia)
23. Okinawa Uruma Hamahiga Open Water Swim - 0.4 km, 1 km, 5 km, 1.6 km relay (Tokashiku Beach, Okinawa, Japan)
24. Nichinan-Kaigan Nangoh Open Water Swim - 0.4 km, 1 km, 2 km (Miyazaki, Kyushu, Japan)
25. Trans of Guns Tanegashima Open Water Swim - 0.8 km, 1.6 km, 3.2 km, 1.6 km relay (Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan)
26. Atami Open Water Swim Race Japan Grand Prix - 0.4 km, 0.8 km, 3.2 km, 2 km relay (Atami, Shizuoka, Japan)
27. Aichi Minamichita Open Water Swim - 0.4 km, 1 km, 3 km (Aichi, Japan)
28. Minamiboso Kyonan Open Water Swim - 0.4 km, 1.6 km, 3.2 km, 1.6 km relay (Chiba, Japan)
29. Shiga Biwako Open Water Swim - 0.4 km, 1 km, 3 km, 1.6 km relay (Lake Biwa, Shiga, Japan)
30. Nihonsandaikei Okumatsushima Open Water Swim - 0.4 km, 1-mile, 2-mile, 1.6 km (Okumatsushima, Japan)
31. India National Open Water Swimming Competition - 30.5 km (Behrampur, River Bhagirathi, West Bengal, India)
32. Genkainada Kokuteikouen Open Water Swim - 0.4 km, 1 km, 3 km, and 0.8 km and 2 km relays (Fukuoka, Japan)
33. Izu Oshima Open Water Swim - 1 km, 2 km, 1.6 km relay (Oshima Island, Japan)
34. Okinawa Tokashiku Beach Open Water Swim- 0.4 km, 1 km, 5 km, 1.6 km relay (Okinawa, Japan)
35. Sakurajima Kinko Bay Open Water Swimming Championships - 4 km (Kinko Bay, Kagoshima, Japan)
36. Sheko Challenge - 2.2 km, 4 km (Shek-O Big Wave Bay to Back Beach, Hong Kong)
37. Japan Open - Open Water Swimming - 10 km, 4 km relay (Tateyama, Chiba, Japan)
38. Nakijin Open Water Swim Race - 3.8 km (Uppama Beach, Nakijin, Okinawa, Japan)
39. Yonaguni Island Circumnavigation - 29 km (Yonaguni Island, Okinawa, Japan)
40. Tsugaru Channel - 19.7 km (between Honshu and Hokkaido, Japan)
41. 358 Swim – 3 km, 5 km, 8 km (Hamilo Coast, Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines)
42. All India Sea Swimming Competition - 24 miles (Chorwad to Veraval, India)
43. Chikugo River Swim Race - (Chikugo, Japan)
44. Cambodia Sea Festival - 3 km, 5 km (Ochheuteal Beach, Cambodia)
45. Odaiba Open Swim Race - (Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan)
46. Ganga River Long Distance Swimming Competition - 10 km (Bihar, India)
47. Five Lakes of Mount Fuji - (Shizuoka, Japan)
48. FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup - 10 km (Xinjin River, Shantou, China)
49. 1.8K New World Cross Harbour Race - 1.8 km (Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong)
50. Palm Open Water Challenge Cup - 6.5 km swim (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

2015 Top 50 List

1. Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival - 3.3 km (Jih Yueh Tan, Taiwan)
2. Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim - 6.5 km (Kandili, Asia to Kuruçeşme, Turkey)
3. Clean Half Marathon Swimming Open Water - 15 km Solo Swim & Relay (Hong Kong)
4. Cold Half Marathon Swimming Open Water - 15 km Solo (Hong Kong)
5. Asian Beach Games - 5 km, 10 km (various countries, Haiyang, China in 2012)
6. India National Open Water Swimming Competition - 81 km (Behrampur, River Bhagirathi, West Bengal, India)
7. Atami Open Water Swimming Japan Grand Prix - 0.4 km, 1 km, 2 km, 1.6 km relay (Shizuoka, Japan)
8. Xiamen-Kinman Swimming - 7.1 km (Tiamen, China to Kinmen, Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait)
9. International Masters Open Water Swim - 0.8 km, 3 km, 2 km relay (Izu National Park, Shizuoka, Japan)
10. Etihad Holidays Splash Dash - 0.2 km, 0.7 km (Corniche Bay, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)
11. Turkish Victory Day Swim - 4.5 km (Canakkale, Hellespont, Turkey)
12. Lord Bryon's Swim Festival - 4.5 km (Canakkale, Hellespont - Turkey)
13. Bosphorus International Swim - 7.1 km (Istanbul Strait from Meis, Greece to Kas, Turkey)
14. Temiz Korfezde Yuzelim - 5 km (Kocaeli, Turkey)
15. Kenting Sea Swim - 3 km (Kenting, Taiwan)
16. International Masters Open Water Swim – 0.5 km, 2 km relay, 3 km (Izu National Park, Shizuoka, Japan)
17. Southeast Asian Games - 5 km (Hambantota, Sri Lanka)
18. Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union Sea Swim – 2 miles (Mount Lavinia Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka)
19. Interclub Masters’ Open Water Sea Swim – 1 km (Mount Lavinia Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka)
20. Singapore Open Water Swim -0.5 km, 1 km, 3 km, 5 km (East Coast Park, Casuarina Grove, Singapore)
21. Iran Open Water Swim - 3 km (Noshahr Northern Beach, Caspian Sea, Iran)
22. Bali Ocean Swim - 1.2 km, 5 km, 10 km (Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia)
23. Okinawa Uruma Hamahiga Open Water Swim - 0.4 km, 1 km, 5 km, 1.6 km relay (Tokashiku Beach, Okinawa, Japan)
24. Nichinan-Kaigan Nangoh Open Water Swim - 0.4 km, 1 km, 2 km (Miyazaki, Kyushu, Japan)
25. Trans of Guns Tanegashima Open Water Swim - 0.8 km, 1.6 km, 3.2 km, 1.6 km relay (Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan)
26. Atami Open Water Swim Race Japan Grand Prix - 0.4 km, 0.8 km, 3.2 km, 2 km relay (Atami, Shizuoka, Japan)
27. Aichi Minamichita Open Water Swim - 0.4 km, 1 km, 3 km (Aichi, Japan)
28. Minamiboso Kyonan Open Water Swim - 0.4 km, 1.6 km, 3.2 km, 1.6 km relay (Chiba, Japan)
29. Shiga Biwako Open Water Swim - 0.4 km, 1 km, 3 km, 1.6 km relay (Lake Biwa, Shiga, Japan)
30. Nihonsandaikei Okumatsushima Open Water Swim - 0.4 km, 1-mile, 2-mile, 1.6 km (Okumatsushima, Japan)
31. India National Open Water Swimming Competition - 30.5 km (Behrampur, River Bhagirathi, West Bengal, India)
32. Genkainada Kokuteikouen Open Water Swim - 0.4 km, 1 km, 3 km, and 0.8 km and 2 km relays (Fukuoka, Japan)
33. Izu Oshima Open Water Swim - 1 km, 2 km, 1.6 km relay (Oshima Island, Japan)
34. Okinawa Tokashiku Beach Open Water Swim- 0.4 km, 1 km, 5 km, 1.6 km relay (Okinawa, Japan)
35. Sakurajima Kinko Bay Open Water Swimming Championships - 4 km (Kinko Bay, Kagoshima, Japan)
36. Sheko Challenge - 2.2 km, 4 km (Shek-O Big Wave Bay to Back Beach, Hong Kong)
37. Japan Open - Open Water Swimming - 10 km, 4 km relay (Tateyama, Chiba, Japan)
38. Nakijin Open Water Swim Race - 3.8 km (Uppama Beach, Nakijin, Okinawa, Japan)
39. Yonaguni Island Circumnavigation - 29 km (Yonaguni Island, Okinawa, Japan)
40. Tsugaru Channel - 19.7 km (between Honshu and Hokkaido, Japan)
41. 358 Swim – 3 km, 5 km, 8 km (Hamilo Coast, Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines)
42. All India Sea Swimming Competition - 24 miles (Chorwad to Veraval, India)
43. Chikugo River Swim Race - (Chikugo, Japan)
44. Cambodia Sea Festival - 3 km, 5 km (Ochheuteal Beach, Cambodia)
45. Odaiba Open Swim Race - (Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan)
46. Ganga River Long Distance Swimming Competition - 10 km (Bihar, India)
47. Five Lakes of Mount Fuji - (Shizuoka, Japan)
48. FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup - 10 km (Xinjin River, Shantou, China)
49. 1.8K New World Cross Harbour Race - 1.8 km (Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong)
50. Palm Open Water Challenge Cup - 6.5 km swim (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

2015 Clean Half Extreme Marathon Swim, Hong Kong

The 9th annual Clean Half Extreme Marathon Swim in Hong Kong from Stanley to Deep Water Bay, 15 km, with relay teams of 5 people, solos, or yak swimmers (2 swimmers and a kayak who rotate every 30 minutes through the course)

Tsugaru Channel Video

Video of Adam Walker crossing the Tsugaru Channel from Honshu to Hokkaido

New World Cross Harbour Race

by Colin Hill

FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in China

by Colin Hill

2016 FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Hong Kong

by Colin Hill

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External links

• Cold Half Extreme Marathon Swim Is Next Week
• World's Top 100 Island Swims For 2019
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• Open Water Swimming
• Top Open Water Swims In Mexico
• Top 100 Open Water Swims In Africa
• Most Grueling Challenge On Earth, Defeating Oceans Seven
• Defeating Oceans Seven trailer
• Tackling The Tsugaru
• Tsugaru Channel Swimming Association
• Top 50 Open Water Swims in Asia
• Dynamic Duos From Channel From Taiwan To China
• Open Water Swimming From Taiwan To China
• Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival
• Morrie Chiang, Sun Moon Lake Director
• From 10 To 76 In Sun Moon Lake
• Sun Moon Lake Swim, Open Water Phenomena
• Disabled Are Enabled At Sun Moon Lake
• Student-Athletes Finish India Swimming Marathon
• First Steps With Speedo 3.5.8 Open Water Swim Masters Series
• How Many Marathon Swimmers Are There In The World?
• How Many Channel Swimmers Are There In The World?
• Rough And Risky In Force 6 Conditions In Kenting, Taiwan
• When East And West Meet At The Seashore
• Luci Can Help Across The Tsugaru Channel
• The Wait Is On, The Uncertainty Of The Channel
• Mother Nature Rolls Out Welcome Mat For Brad McVetta
• The Tsugaru Current Runs Strong Unpredictably
• What Does The Tsugaru Channel Look Like?
• Ocean Recovery Alliance Hosts 9th Sheko Challenge
• Marathon Swimming
• Eric Johnson And Sheryl Slater Win Sheko Challenge
• The Beautiful Mountains And Oceans Of Hong Kong
• Doubling Up In Hong Kong
• Rough Water, Angry Open Water
• When Big Is Huge: Sun Moon Lake Swimming Carnival
• Darren Miller Stroking To The Oceans Seven
• Perfect Conclusion: Darren Miller Achieves The Oceans Seven
• Darren Miller On The Difficulties Of The Oceans Seven
• Swim There, Paddle Back After The Clean Half
• Fun Is Only Half Of It
• Swimming And Storytelling To Inspire The Next Generation
• Swimming Past The Wall At The Clean Half
• Indonesian Swimming Federation Honoured By Hall Of Fame
• Meenakshi Pahuga Representing India Around The World
• Free Wi-Fi In Japan For Foreign Swimmers
• Free Wi-Fi In Japan For Foreign Swimmers And Crew
• Cold Half Relay And Sub 3 Squared Options Offered
• Top 25 Places And Events In Openwaterpedia
• Cápákkal úszott Mányoki Attila
• Attila Mányoki Across The Tsugaru Channel
• 2016 New World Cross Harbour Race