Successful First Edition of Oceanman in Puerto Rico
Nearly 200 swimmers—60% of them international—participated in the first edition of the international Oceanman Puerto Rico competition, held in the crystal-clear waters of Sun Bay Beach in Vieques. This event tested the endurance, determination, and technique of long-distance swimmers.
The country with the largest delegation was the United States, with 67 athletes, followed by Colombia, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. Swimmers also came from Ecuador, El Salvador, and even a small delegation from Kazakhstan. Several Puerto Rican teams also joined the challenging competition.
The event was very well received by both local and international athletes, who were seen enjoying the great weather and everything that Vieques has to offer throughout the island.
Discover Puerto Rico estimates a projected economic impact of approximately $750,000 for Vieques, with over 700 room nights booked by athletes and their families. Some participants arrived on Thursday and departed on Sunday, while others stayed from Friday to Monday, averaging three to four nights per stay.
Following the success of Oceanman Puerto Rico, Discover Puerto Rico aims to make this event a permanent fixture and help it grow year after year. The goal is to double the number of participants in the next edition, positioning Oceanman Puerto Rico as one of the island’s most important international sporting events.
Meanwhile, Puerto Rico’s sports tourism calendar remains active and diverse. In August, the NCAA Division I Indiana University men’s basketball team will visit the island for summer training for the first time. In September, the World Domino Championship will bring over 600 players to the Puerto Rico Convention Center, and in December, the Pan American Lacrosse Championship and a major Taekwondo Championship will take place, among other events on the calendar.
Puerto Rico continues to enjoy a strong sports tourism outlook, reaffirming Discover Puerto Rico’s commitment to this segment as a key driver of year-round tourism activity.
With over 30,000 swimmers annually across more than 35 countries and five continents, Oceanman is the largest international open water swimming circuit in the world. The Puerto Rico event marked the franchise’s first competition in the Americas.
The Vieques stop was the first of the Five Island special series, where swimmers who accept the multi-country challenge will also compete in:
- San Andrés, Colombia (July 25–27, 2025)
- Cozumel, Mexico (August 2–3, 2025)
- Cayo Santa María, Cuba (September 7–9, 2025)
- Bayahíbe, Dominican Republic (October 11–12, 2025)