Dolphins, stingers and salt tongue': an epic ocean swim around New Zealand's east coast

"Ridler has learned to hear dolphins more than 15 minutes before they reach him, showcasing a deep connection with marine life that can only be achieved through extensive time spent in their habitat."

"You can really sense their intelligence when you're in the water with them; there is a lot of value and connection that we can draw from the ocean."

"Ridler's unprecedented feat of the longest-ever unassisted staged swim is driven by his desire to raise awareness about the threats facing the ocean."

"He began his roughly 1,350km Swim4TheOcean campaign at the northern tip of New Zealand's North Island on 5 January, aiming to swim the length of the east coast."

Jono Ridler, an ultra-distance swimmer, is 1,254km into his world record attempt for the longest unassisted staged swim. He has developed the ability to hear dolphins approaching from over 15 minutes away, showcasing a deep connection with marine life. Ridler's Swim4TheOcean campaign aims to raise awareness about ocean threats, as he swims the length of New Zealand's east coast. He swims two six-hour stints daily, supported by assist boats for food and tracking, and has spent 428 hours in the water.

Read at www.theguardian.com