Aquaman Open Water Philippines - Britania Group of Islands

Beneath you, the seabed shifts from deep, dark sapphire to a blinding, shallow turquoise as you pull through the heart of the Britania Islets. Twenty-four distinct islands emerge from the water like fragments of a submerged mountain range, their white sandbars creating a sharp contrast against the deep channel markers. The rhythmic sound of your stroke is the only thing breaking the silence here in Lianga Bay, a massive basin that funnels the vast, open pressure of the Philippine Sea into this protected archipelago. As you sight, the horizon stretches far eastward, a reminder of the tectonic activity that defines this region; the same sea floor that birthed these islands was the epicenter of a major 7.6 magnitude subduction earthquake as recently as late 2023.

Race Day Logistics

The Aquaman Open Water Philippines event brings swimmers to the coastal town of San Agustin, a municipality with a relatively young administrative history, having been officially designated under Republic Act No. 4903 in 1967. This annual gathering invites athletes to test their endurance against the unique currents that circulate between the islets. Logistics are carefully managed to ensure safety within the bay, which demands attention as the tides influence the visibility of the sandbars and the flow around the narrow passages between the islands. Registration is open for the upcoming edition on April 24, 2026, offering participants a rare chance to navigate a route where the geography changes by the hour as the tide retreats or advances across the sandbars.