A Swim for the Coastlines
A Swim for the Coastlines (Un Nado Por Las Costas") is a 22-kilometer solo swim by Marcos Díaz, one of the world's most prolific, visionary and successful marathon swimmers of modern times. Un Nado Por Las Costas was, in part, a celebration of the International Coastal Cleanup Day, and a solo swim from Sosua Beach to the Malecon in Puerto Plata City along the north shore of the Dominican Republic.
The event was nominated for the 2011 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year.
Diaz, a United Nations Development Program Goodwill Ambassador, wanted to create something special as a goodwill ambassador for the future. "We knew of many National Government Organizations here in Dominican Republic organizing coastal cleanups all around the country for the International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 17th. So we spoke to United Nations Development Program – Dominican Republic to create a solo swim that reinforces the message on Millenium Development Goal No.7 (Environmental Sustainability) while creating awareness about keeping our ocean and coastlines clean, especially since I live in a country that depends on tourism. Our plan was to promote and participate in the Coastal Cleanups on the 17th and the swim on the 18th."
Marcos chose the north shore of the Dominican Republic facing the Atlantic Ocean because there had not been a marathon swim there before because of the large ocean swells, strong currents, winds, and the sea fauna.
"With the use of a Shark Shield, we started at noon and decided to go 2K north in order to take advantage of the waves and strong winds that pushed me towards the finish. It was a very fast swim with some big 2-meter ocean swells and 14-15 knots hitting us in the back for most of the swim. The time was 4 hours 5 minutes 35 seconds, certified by the Dominican Swimming Federation. The support from the community was incredible, I couldn't ask for more with hundreds of people packed at the start in the beautiful and calm Sosua Bay. We estimated there were up to 20,000 people along the Malecon in Puerto Plata at the finish. This was a huge number of people to support marathon swimming in our country that is only comparable to a baseball championship game, where baseball is our national sport."
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Marcos Diaz Foundation
Throughout his sports career Marcos has received the warmth and support of his country and in this same way he feels committed to return this affection, contributing bit by bit in favor of the neediest. For this reason, in 2004 he starts the Marcos Díaz Foundation (Fundación Marcos Díaz) and it is from here where he carries out social work in benefit of children and youths of limited economic resources of the Dominican Republic.
