Epic ocean swim in aid of hospice

Mariana Morrison (centre) surrounded by supporters after completing her swim.

A Bay of Plenty woman battled high swells, injury and strong currents to be the first woman to complete an open water swim from Motiti Island to Maketu without fins.

Mariana Morrison, 29, of Rotorua, finished the 15km swim in six hours and seven minutes on Saturday.

She did the swim to raise money for Rotorua Hospice, which cared for her sick mother last year.

"Hospice took good care of my mother so I wanted to show how grateful I am of that, and also I wanted to do something in memory of my mum."

Ms Morrison said she encountered many challenges.

"There was a boat fishing a little way in front of me and it wasn't until I had finished the swim that I was told they had caught a shark.

"Being my first open water swim, it was hard not to think about what was lurking underneath me as the water was so dark but once I started swimming I just had to keep going."

With swells in excess of three metres, it was difficult to make progress at times, she said.

"The first half I took a real thrashing. I was being thrown in the air and smashed back down. I couldn't see the boat, my visibility was really low and all I could think was, 'Is the whole swim going to be like this', thankfully it wasn't but the first half posed some real challenges."

Ms Morrison said the feat was difficult because she started an hour and 40 minutes ahead of her arranged time.

"I had arrived early and before I knew it I was being suited up and then was told 'right you're off'. Because I was put in the water straight away, I was swimming against the tide for a good 3 or 4km, which put a lot of strain on my shoulder and resulted in me injuring the joint.

"I think if I had started at the time when the tides were right I would have shaved an hour and a half off my finish time."

Ms Morrison began training in September last year and said she was glad the swim was over.

"It's been a very emotional, overwhelming experience and when I woke up this morning I was in disbelief that I had actually done it.

"There is no way this would have been possible without the support and help from all the people that rallied behind me."

Ms Morrison is continuing to fundraise for Hospice and will make a total tally on March 31.