ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — The 12th annual Swim for Alligator Lighthouse, recognized as one of the eight toughest swim challenges in the world, takes place Saturday, Sept. 13, off the shores of Islamorada in the Florida Keys

Over 400 solo and relay-team swimmers are expected to take on the grueling 8-mile open-ocean course from Islamorada’s Amara Cay Resort out to the 152-year-old Alligator Reef Lighthouse and back. Sanctioned by the World Open Water Swimming Association, the event has become both an endurance milestone and a celebration of community spirit.

“It’s not for the faint of heart,” organizers note. “This is tropical open-water swimming in its purest form.”

Many participants return year after year and bring their own cheering section of family and friends for the epic Atlantic Ocean challenge and the camaraderie that comes with it.

Kayakers escort swimmers during the annual Swim for Alligator Lighthouse in Islamorada. The 8-mile roundtrip open-water swim to the lighthouse off the Florida Keys attracts more than 300 competitors each year, swimming in various divisions. The annual event is staged to create awareness of the need to preserve the 152-year-old beacon. (Bob Care/Florida Keys News Bureau)

Race Format and Requirements

  • Solo competitors must swim alongside a personal support kayaker and show proof of completing a prior 1,650-meter or 1-mile swim in under 45 minutes.
  • Relay teams of two, three, or four alternate between swimming and kayaking.
  • All participants must complete the course in under eight hours.

The field is capped at 490 swimmers, with fees ranging from $230–$260 per participant depending on team size.

Beyond the Swim: Supporting a Historic Icon

The annual event is a fundraiser for the restoration of the Alligator Reef Lighthouse. Named after the USS Alligator, a U.S. Navy schooner that ran aground in 1822, the lighthouse remains a powerful symbol of the Florida Keys’ maritime history. The beacon is often referred to as Islamorada’s Statue of Liberty.

Weekend Schedule

  • Thursday, Sept. 11: Early check-in, 4–7 p.m., at Amara Cay Resort, followed by a casual meet-up social at Florida Keys Brewing Co., 6–9 p.m.
  • Friday, Sept. 12: Additional check-in, 10 a.m.–7 p.m., at Amara Cay.
  • Saturday, Sept. 13: Wave starts begin at 7:45 a.m., with all swimmers exiting the water by 3:30 p.m. An awards ceremony and dinner follow at 7 p.m. at Bud & Mary’s Marina.

Registration and Info