Annual Swim for Alligator Light

Annual Swim for Alligator Light The Swim for Alligator Lighthouse is an annual 8 mile open water swim that takes place in Islamorada, the Florida Keys. It took him five hours and 11 minutes.

Swimmers can race solo, or as part of a relay up to four swimmers. The Swim for Alligator Lighthouse is an annual 8- mile open water swim that takes place in Islamorada, the Florida Keys. At 52 years old, Fighting Manatee Larry Herlth decided to swim to Alligator Reef Lighthouse and back. He was escorted by several boats and paddle boarders. Moments after finishing this swim, Larry asked, "I wonder if anyone would join me in this challenging swim through the beautiful blue Atlantic Ocean of the Florida Keys?"

Clearly, the answer was a resounding yes. Known locally as “Lighthouse Larry” for his detailed, scale metal reproductions of Keys lighthouses, Herlth is passionate about the need to preserve the large beacons originally fabricated in the 1800s to warn ships away from the Florida Keys reef tract. "One of the best open water swims in the world," combined with the fabulous Islamorada and Florida Keys hospitality and charm, make this a swim you won't want to miss! Register today, the race is limited to 500 swimmers.

09/24/2026

The video we wait all year long for... The 2026 Annual Swim for Alligator Light highlight reel! What a week!

Thank you Beyond Yacht Group for a great feature and coming out to support the event!
09/19/2026

Thank you Beyond Yacht Group for a great feature and coming out to support the event!

florida-keysboating-marine-conservation

We are working on our new website and who better to help us tell the story of this special event than our amazing commun...
09/18/2026

We are working on our new website and who better to help us tell the story of this special event than our amazing community of swimmers!

Drop a comment below and tell us what you loved most, what the event meant to you, what keeps you coming back, and what made you sign up in the first place. Please also leave the year you first swam the event.

We'll be taking these comments and wrapping them into our new website, so please also include a picture in the comment that we can use on our site!

Let's show some love to our staff and volunteers!!!! These orange shirts are earned the hard way, from the registration ...
09/15/2026

Let's show some love to our staff and volunteers!!!!

These orange shirts are earned the hard way, from the registration room, to surveys, to merch, to on water support and moving kayaks.... we have THE BEST teams in all the land!!!!

Event Photos are ready! (Link in bio) Big thank you to Cory Knowlton for another great year capturing just how special t...
09/14/2026

Event Photos are ready! (Link in bio)

Big thank you to Cory Knowlton for another great year capturing just how special this event is!

Event Photos are ready! Thank you Fixed Focus Photography for your continued efforts to help us capture just how special...
09/14/2026

Event Photos are ready!

Thank you Fixed Focus Photography for your continued efforts to help us capture just how special this event is!!

Fixed Focus Photography

Today is the day.
09/12/2026

Today is the day.

A big shoutout to our team in the Reg Room for making it happen today! Rest up everyone, big day tomorrow!!!
09/12/2026

A big shoutout to our team in the Reg Room for making it happen today! Rest up everyone, big day tomorrow!!!

09/10/2026

Address

80001 Overseas Hwy
Islamorada, FL
33036

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