Pinoy Aquaman leads 2.7-kilometer swim in Sibugay Bay

After more than two years of rest, the Philippines' own Aquaman is back in the open seas.

According to a report on GMA News' Unang Hirit, environmental lawyer and long-distance swimmer Ingemar Macarine on Monday led 15 athletes in a charity swim in Sigubay Bay, Zamboanga.

The open water swimmers swam nonstop for 60 minutes to cover a distance of 2.7 kilometers from Buluan Island to Buluan Port in the Zamboanga Sibugay Province.

According to a Facebook post, the athletes were initially supposed to stop at Serendipity Isle. However, strong current prompted them to change the landing site to Buluan Port.

The charity swim was part of the a celebration for the 19th founding anniversary of the Zamboanga Sibugay, according to the report.

Macarine and the other athletes said they aimed to push for marine conservation, sustainable tourism, and support for open swimming as an official sport.

In 2017, Macarine tried to become the first Filipino open swimmer to cross the 33.7 kilometer English Channel. However, his attempt was foiled because of bad weather.

Prior to this, he had swam 8.4 kilometers in the Hudson River in New York.

He has also accomplished an eight-hour swim which covered at least 18.15 kilometers from Argao town in Cebu to Cabilao Island in Loon town, Bohol.  —Joahna Lei Casilao/NB, GMA News