On October 17th, 2019 at 13:45 pm, a team of six swimmers set out to cross the Mediterranean Sea in an Open Water Swim Traverse from Cyprus to Lebanon.
The swim, which covered an average distance of 180 km, was undertaken to raise awareness on the harmful impact of singleuse plastics in the Mediterranean Sea.


Each swimmer swam an average of 30km; equivalent to 3 marathons in 2.2 days! In doing so, they completed the very first open water nonstop relay swim from Cyprus to Lebanon, setting the record at 51 hours and 50 minutes upon returning to the Lebanese shores on October 19th at 17:35 pm. As part of TAQA’s ongoing environmental activism, the OWS – open water swim was organized and produced by TAQA.

TAQA is a Lebanese bakery offering a selection of healthy and plantbased oat cookies and energy bars. TAQA boosted the swim by providing the adequate snacks and nutrients needed, and also produced a shortmovie covering the swim and the environmental cause.

Coming from very different backgrounds and experiences, the swimmers were: Soumaya Merhi (TAQA founder), Jad El Ghosn, Diane Boulos, Mary Anne Ballouz, May Timani, and Martin Mougharbil.
The crew that assisted and supported the team included: Filmmaker: Edwin El Bainou – Medical Assistance: Doctor Eliane Khoury; and Skippers: Adel Assal, Joseph Boulos, and Ziad Salhab
With the sponsorship and collaboration of: Exocet Sailing, Batroun Municipality, Maroun N. Chammas Recognition Award, MTV Lebanon, Batroun Festival, LWIS School, IM Capital, Clemenceau Medical Center, Bolero Batroun