Epic sea swim breaks record

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

A Rotorua swimmer with unwavering determination has completed a treacherous feat no woman has done before.

Mariana Morrison, 29, completed her first open water swim from Motiti Island to Maketu on Saturday, battling high swells, injury and strong currents, all with no fins.

Ms Morrison completed the 15km swim in six hours and seven minutes and was the first woman to do so without the assistance of fins.

She said she did the swim to raise money for Rotorua Hospice, who 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 that during the swim 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 3 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 harder 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 3-4km, 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 for the feat 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 the hospice.