Our Story
Founded in 2016 by marathon swimmers David Barra and Rondi Davies, along with paddler Alex Arevalo, New York Open Water (NYOW) is dedicated to providing safe and fulfilling open water adventures in and around New York City. From humble beginnings with a few test swims, NYOW has grown to host prestigious marathon swims, including the renowned 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim and the historic 20 Bridges Swim around Manhattan.