
From the Organizer
“The 8-mile swim to Alligator Lighthouse is a challenge. It’s not for the faint of heart"
How it started
When World Renowned Artist, Lighthouse Larry decided to swim, in his native town of Islamorada, to Alligator Lighthouse and back, alone and self-supported, his friends thought he was crazy. When he then said out loud “every open water swimmer should experience this,” Larry became the anchor to the Swim for Alligator Lighthouse.
The Fighting Manatee Swim Club, the Masters swim club of Islamorada, accepted the challenge to present a world class open water swim event in the Florida Keys to help raise awareness and funds to Save Alligator Lighthouse. The Fighting Manatees presented the Inaugural Swim for Alligator Lighthouse in 2013. It’s here to stay!
Race Overview
The Swim for Alligator Lighthouse is an 8-mile open water swim. Participants swim 4 miles, circle Alligator Lighthouse, and swim 4 miles back. The event is open to solo swimmers, 2 person, 3 person and 4 person teams. Every solo or relay team requires a support kayak. Solo swimmers will need to enlist a kayaker to accompany them the entire race, while relay groups will alternate kayaking with swimming.
Full Event Details can be found at https://www.swimalligatorlight.com/
Distances & Pricing
Race Location
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
Swimming events drop you into something that demands navigation, feel, and focus all at once. It's a sport that rewards the quietly competitive — the ones who do the work in the water before anyone's watching.
Open water races from 1 mile to marathon distance. Just you, the water, and whatever you've got left.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Swim for Alligator Lighthouse
Sep 12, 2026