Intercontinental Swimming Crossing The Bosporus Strait Is Uniquely Considered, But Experts Remember The Risk For Swimming

Illustration of the Bosphorus Strait. (Wikimedia Commons/Ibrahim Husain Meraj)

JAKARTA - The Bosporus Strait, Turkey's busiest waterway recently held a 34th edition intercontinental swimming competition, where professional swimmers swam from Asia to Europe. The race was successfully completed without incident thanks to strict control, experts warn the strait has many risks for professional swimmers, let alone amateurs if it ignores the rules.

Strong flows coupled with cramps can be dangerous for swimmers, while large cargo ships tracing waterways throughout the day remain another risk.

Istanbul's beaches along the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea offer many things for swimmers during the scorching summer months, but some prefer to swim across the Bosporus, although congested sea traffic and currents can sweeping swimmers in just a few moments.

Experts say it is very dangerous to swim in areas that do not have a safe way to enter the waterway.

Emre Seven, a swimming instructor best known as the first Turkish to swim across the Gibraltar Strait, said swimming across the Bosporus was a unique activity but sometimes ended badly for some, referring to drowning.

"Sea activity in Bosporus is very high, from the vortex of water to the traffic of ships and the flow that passes. This is actually a big river that divides the city. Swimming here is certainly dangerous and if you plan to do it, you have to be careful," he told Anadolu as reported by Daily Sabah September 30.

According to Seven, the most dangerous challenge for swimmers anywhere is cramps.

"People usually jump into the water without heating up first, so the sudden strength of the leg muscles can cause seizures. Cold water coming from the Black Sea to Bosporus also triggers sudden changes in sea water temperature and in turn triggers cramps. Once you have cramps, you have to wait and massage the cramps and try swimming without cramps in the leg," he explained.

Seven warned that Bosporus was not suitable for beginners.

"You have to plan forward where you're going to swim. If you can't swim against the current and reach the mainland, you can't waste energy and wait for help while trying to stay floating," he explained.

He said the crossing between the two sides of the Bosporus was very dangerous. "It's full of regular ship routes, from ferries to cargo ships," he said.

Seven recommend people to swim along the coast in the Black Sea or Marmara beach instead.

Meanwhile, Irfan Hattatoğlu, another swimming instructor, said people should not swim with full stomachs.

"People especially should avoid swimming in areas with heavy currents and shouldn't swim if they are inexperienced. There's too much risk if you swim in full stomachs, on the boat's path and against the current," he said. Hattatoğlu warns swimmers to find a place with stairs if they want to swim and recommend going with at least a few people so they can help if someone needs to be saved.