Escape! What it's like to swim the Alcatraz Sharkfest Race

"Ten minutes after I jumped into the Pacific Ocean, I inhaled several cups of sea water and was kicked in the face. It was going pretty well for my first competitive swim. I hadn’t died of hypothermia or lost my legs to a shark attack. So that was a win."
Read more: ww2.kqed.org/news/2015/08/10/five-reasons-to-swim-the-alcatraz-sharkfest-race
Video by: Lindsey Hoshaw and Alan Toth

[@gonzalo060375]

1:28 everyone splashing water and gasping like wounded seals do. Sharks hearing dinner bells all over.

[@flyboy747uk]

I'm surprised the authorities allow this event to go ahead

[@AliAhmed-dh4pl]

Motoroil The shark experts.

[@Mr3344555]

@Motoroil the people you call when you something bad happens to you and you need help or the people you go to if you want to do things without having others come after you. Unless you live in Africa (Even they know what authority is) you should know what authority is.

[@kamzalot3]

Motoroil police

[@majestic7768]

Authorities busy sipping on coffee, eating donuts and getting bored.

[@whitegoodman7465]

@Arid Sohan didn't know that but nick is a big triathlon guy, no wonder he got top tier cardio in the cage

[@46NorthAve]

No mention that she didn't have a wetsuit on?? Kind of a big deal??

[@rhythmoutside]

SF Bay waters aren't warm either.

[@CarlCunningham360]

55F is chilly! No wetsuit? Wow! #Respect #Arizona I’m going to register in September for the race in June 2024.

[@slifer0081]

55f is not bad at all - especially when you are moving.

[@Rafa-rz2nb]

Alotta shark food in the water lol

[@klaus8910]

Those waters aren’t ACTUALLY infested with sharks. It was as just a myth told to prisoners to prevent them from escaping. I love the idea of this, and definitely would wanna do it!

[@JT_Trys]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3fYnoiaeLiahbM

[@joshua6200]

You're right the waters aren't "infested with sharks", but there're sharks in the bay, including Great Whites at times.

[@jimmykarlsson2567]

The are some Great whites there for sure, i have seen some

[@asap5629]

aint no myth and thats a fact

[@zcadn]

people have accidentally caught great whites

[@ambieofilms]

The danger of sharks is real, but they have people in boats patrolling to greatly deter them.

[@veganskillz]

There has never been a documented white shark attack in San Francisco Bay. There are white sharks that periodically enter and exit The Bay but most shark activity is out in the Pacific Ocean.

[@sherryhannah9262]

@@veganskillz that was an urban legend

[@veganskillz]

@@sherryhannah9262 says who?

[@welcometoorefuge]

@@veganskillz I just watched a YT vid that captured a breaching Great White devouring a seal right next to Fisherman's Wharf !

[@veganskillz]

@@welcometoorefuge wow !

[@MK_2023.]

It's crazy to think that Nick Diaz did this 5 times by himself, the Diaz brother might be annoying and over the top at times but they're a force to be reckoned with.

[@ontheroadtruckin4618]

Still the B.M.F in my book!

[@stxclout3247]

💯💯

[@reddawng43x91]

How are they annoying ? Because they tell it like it is?

[@reddawng43x91]

@@ontheroadtruckin4618 mine too

[@MK_2023.]

@@reddawng43x91 that's a 4 year old comment man, relax. I like Nate now though so it's all good.

[@r3y911]

well if they can do it ofcourse those three man made it to escape from alcatraz they are tough guys lol

[@jb9090]

That water’s cold and they can only swim during slack tide. During an ebb tide they’d all be taken out to sea. I wonder if the escapees knew the tide schedule? Plus, they had a raft.

[@dylanmoran9922]

There’s like 50 boats I saw this before

[@DIVEWITHSTEBE]

This looks unreal! I used to love swimming but my obsession with lifting weights kind of killed that. I’ve slimmed down now and honestly might try to make this a bucket list!!!!

[@TrapMint]

I’d probably rub against someone’s leg and freak out and have a heart attack

[@jamesford2160]

😂 for real me too

[@ericthompson3551]

In 2018 great white shark attacked a seal 50 feet from the alcatraz tour docks. Entire attack was caught on camera from a a docked tour boat.I wonder how many swam that year.

[@craigomahoney3722]

How great was he

[@KM-em9me]

Great white munches seal at Embarcadero. People who swim in the Bay are nuts. Murky shark infested waters known for strong tides and swirling currents.

[@againandagainau]

So they drowned in the bay theory is busted. Hundreds of people swim this thing every year?

[@chipsachoy99]

if there wasn't sharks, i would

[@pandagirl8973]

Alex Choy there is

[@desmondcampbell7377]

@@pandagirl8973 no shit he said "if there WASN'T sharks"

[@alwayzpinchycs4236]

Sharks don’t like cold water

[@ProGaming-cw1qy]

Are you kidding me sharks will not get you it will be the tide that does!

[@James-ip5gz]

@@alwayzpinchycs4236 Lol keep telling yourself that

[@Kjboiii]

Sharks couldve had a buffet😂😂

[@avcxaq_8327]

ong

[@Thatoneguy-ro1sj]

@@avcxaq_8327 Bar none, shark attacks are rare, you are more likely to die from a seal...im not joking

[@jamesford2160]

@That one guy Yeah if you don’t put yourself in that situation. Because if that’s true, explain the attack on those marines back in 1912 or 1916 when they were all eaten by sharks because their ship was blown up and they had to sit in the sea and wait for help.

[@supreme_jake8328]

“I’m not that great of a swimmer”

[@maleekpate6770]

Right 🤦🏾‍♂️😂

[@youngjazz4801]

Alcatraz escapee, Frank Morris and two brothers John and clarence definitely made it to Angel Beach. 👍👍👍👍.

[@jeffjohnson3620]

Did it really only take 46 minutes!? (From the countdown clock) If so, its definitely not impossible to escape Alcatraz.

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

Exactly

[@Mark-fr7yv]

But the prisoners had to do it at night and weren't swimmers.

[@LettuceLand]

They picked a day and time with good conditions. Low wind speed, current, and slack tide

[@humanchannel7825]

@@Mark-fr7yv and sharks hunt at night

[@ICXCIsLord]

@@Mark-fr7yv yes they were the brothers were the best swimmers in their family they were reported to be skilled swimmers don't know about Frank Morris but the brothers were skilled swimmers they also swam in ice water in Michigan frozen ice in lake Michigan

[@richardcoreno]

It's an iconic, bucket list event for open-water swimmers.

[@ryohn5468]

I waded in the Pacific Ocean and it's very cold in the Summer too! the currents are very strong and undertows would be something to fear swimming in the bay.

[@thefdv7577]

Juste thinking about these three men ! What escape they made …respect 💪🏻

[@mybluebelly]

I wouldn`t volunteer for something like this, no sir. Not for a $1.000.000, No thankyou.

[@JoeCnNd]

Well if you volunteer then you wouldn't get a $1,000,000.

[@marcshields3677]

I’d do it for a grand

[@hash8944]

I would do it but I’m afraid of sharks and i need to improve my swimming first

[@adampress9788]

Fins are not allowed?

[@Thatoneguy-ro1sj]

Guess why dude XD they will defiantly look like seals with flippers

[@R.C.G-17]

Sharks: a blessing from the lord!

[@shellyatton4102]

If I'm going to swim I am not going to go with SHARKS

[@Kayla-ty9kc]

This is a big reason why I think The Anglin’s (I think that’s how you spell it) and Morris made it after the escape from Alcatraz

[@generalzod7959]

Those swimmers did it during the day. The prisoners did it at night. The sharks are more active at night.

[@atlantasportsfan7196]

@@generalzod7959 there are no sharks it was just a myth

[@galvinstanley3235]

​@@atlantasportsfan7196kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3fYnoiaeLiahbM

[@trevmac8362]

*outstanding* i would love to do this and thanks for the great video..Motivates me to get back to S.F one day

[@liamdugdale]

"ten times more likely to get kicked in the face or ribs" that's because there's loads of people in the water and if a shark did come it would likely pick one person, small chance of it being you

[@anthonymartinez9624]

@jouxpane True. Since 1900. But who are we humans to say that it can never happen

[@nickm8874]

There’s literally no logical reason to swim through shark infested waters like that. One of them gets munched and it’s their own damn fault

[@jamesford2160]

😂😂

[@sarzootashoota351]

You realize they do this all the time for years now and no one's ever been bit right? Calm down with the misinformation and wishing death on people 😂

[@cbskwkdnslwhanznamdm2849]

I don't like going to a place and lowering my standing on the food chain.

[@JM-jz6yy]

Some people are just bigger risk takers

[@cowsaresocute1012]

The only thing I learned from this video is that there is no doubt the three men that escaped from their...made it.

[@AJ-bu4yv]

From what I've heard about the bay area and former alcatraz swimmers, most sharks prefer the salt water and it's a mix of salt and fresh water in the bay. You will most likely only see tiger sharks who are scavengers and won't bother people. Any other shark would stay deep in the salt water.

[@markmontana90]

Tiger that won’t bother you? You sure about that

[@AJ-bu4yv]

@@markmontana90 I watched a recent interview with someone who did the swim this past year. I believe it was through myswimpro's KZbin channel. This is what they stated in the video... they're mostly scavengers.

[@markmontana90]

@@AJ-bu4yv tigers are known to attack humans and one of the more aggressive shark species. I wouldn’t take my chances anyway not sure if you would.

[@cyrussoltani9420]

No tiger sharks, just big sevengills but those guys are chill

[@jakep1979]

Tiger sharks are the 2nd most dangerous shark behind great white!

[@magnusb.20]

I’m supposed to do this event this year if it isn’t cancelled again and I’m really scared. What if I can’t swim fast enough to get out of the current!

[@dylanmoran9922]

There like 50 boats they picked you up if you go to far

[@magnusb.20]

@@dylanmoran9922 that’s reassuring, thanks

[@erikleith4670]

Ima do it this year

[@bellagonzales5704]

My freind swam Alcatrez and he is the youngest one

[@jonathannuamah3296]

How long does it take to swim that far?

[@jamesford2160]

Thanks for showing the prisoners that it’s not impossible to escape

[@galvinstanley3235]

There are a lot of swimmers here,let's see this lady try and cross alone.

[@colinl.6536]

There haven’t been prisoners there for 60 years, lol.

[@danielofinan5071]

There is a video of a great white killing a seal literally yards away from that area all the seals hang out in Fishermans wharf.

[@PAul.paUL.PaUL.]

It's more safe in a big group like this with boats around. But if someone would have tried to escape back in the day he would be alone swimming and the sharks would have noticed him !

[@chillwill5080]

No...

[@MrLee-qz3gy]

great murky water shark haven.

[@maddoxthediehardbillsfan]

Yeah some days you cant see your hand

[@idontknowteachmeplease3154]

shark: humans Smh o well ..... lunchtime

[@dasa7921]

WAIT THAT WATER IS SEA???????? LOOKS LIKE A RIVER OR LAKE WTF! Come to Croatia to see real BLUE sea

[@fantastixfilms5372]

da sa water here In America is never blue man. But I would love to visit Croatia one day.

[@Ryan-jx4vh]

That part of the pacific has a lot of algae and makes the water more murky.

[@Thatoneguy-ro1sj]

Lol someone needs to get out more

[@davybrazell5895]

We all know prisoners had done this way before, no big deal.

[@maddoxthediehardbillsfan]

I swim there, im only a kid (12) so its pretty easy with practice but first time is really hard, also nobody has been killed by a shark on that swim

[@jamesford2160]

Be careful

[@galvinstanley3235]

That's because there is allot of people in the water at once,would you be so confident if you were alone with a black wetsuit on?

[@jaredflores5550]

How do i do this ???

[@RuffRyder2011]

So once your in that water it's pretty piss easy to escape from Alcatraz 😂

[@strungjam9355]

When it was in use the water was covered by sharks 🦈 so yeah it was nearly impossible to escape via water

[@TJ-xt6pc]

Apparently none of them watched that sealnget hammered by a great white on pier 39.

[@chrisbauman2562]

It's not shark infested when you have boats riding around fighting them off and spotters looking for them

[@sherryhannah9262]

I hope y’all will reply to this that was interesting I have cousins in the Bay Area wonder if they ever went to Alcatraz?????????!!!!….(as tourists of course)

[@martymcyourflysdown6872]

I doubt I’d make it out of the jail but do think I would make it to land because I’m a sick monster, A fish outta water. 🐠

[@noworries12]

would be interesting how many GW are lurking under water

[@daviddonohue665]

Yep I got kicked by my swim buddy when I did the 20th annual

[@slifer0081]

I would love to do that

[@WolfvineGaming]

Oh hell! I'm not swimming there! Swimming in shark infested waters while wearing black wet suits, fuck that!

[@dianadom4742]

Congrats On Your Alcatraz Swim❗️What’s The Secret To Keeping Your GoPro Head Strap On❓Surprised It Didn’t Come Off When You Jumped In The Water.

[@skeletonman9838]

Wonder if they lose a few people to sharks every once in a while

[@simplysavyyy]

I could jog that distance in about 15 mins. But swim nope I would die.

[@ecd28]

Kat and nate brings me here.

[@enpjnk3288]

Woah I thought nobody would survive to do this

[@risalockwood1978]

my dad knew someone who died during this

[@dylanmoran9922]

@@risalockwood1978 what happened like how he died

[@maleekpate6770]

@@dylanmoran9922 drowned duhh

[@jakesullivan2944]

That shit doesn’t even look that far from land tbh

[@kaz9781]

There are sharks in those Waters, even great whites, no way I'm swimming in there

[@WantonMyth]

Ok, let's do a head count ...

[@applestrudel2491]

“Alright I got 40 of us” “There were 170 of us” “..............”

[@jamesgibson3242]

A buffet for sharks.

[@davidlovephotog2]

Unfortunately it was never filmed again do to the SFPD allowing non-stop muggings of photographers around the city.

[@Premiumjack_]

I gotta do this one day

[@5280AcoGs]

Fuck that! Fuck that!! -Wiz Khalifa

[@walterbank2728]

Everybody got a wet suit but her....she must be from outer space.

[@bobbyshmurda8447]

Where’s nick? Oh he’s swimming back 💀

[@ChameleonMD123]

It's lunacy. There is nothing to gain putting your life on the line in such a manner.

[@Dept246]

Doesn’t look too far of swim from Pier 39.

[@fosta4243]

Feel free to look up this vid that was the same year…”Exclusive video: the first hunt by a great white shark ever recorded in San Francisco Bay” . I think not. Ma’am your braver than me 😂

[@jasonrandall5148]

Are their atually sharks 🦈 and wot sharks are they

[@roaldroader5074]

Nick Diaz did it 5 times

[@snoozeking7497]

She is in remarkably good shape. So was I, a few decades ago.🤠

[@risalockwood1978]

My dad knew someone who participated in this.

[@Bailey12300]

She was doubting herself too much

[@Benyikoko]

I want to do this someday in my life

[@leadsolo2751]

They recognize the risks and do wht they do - Don't blame the sharks if something bad happens

[@needlemonkey6009]

Watch the video of a great white shark attacking a seal just off the Alcatraz dock in 2015. Then reconsider this.

[@bellagonzales5704]

9 years old Mason whitner

[@noahandino2984]

Bella Gonzales not true

[@F.G.RGazer]

That's very dangerous

[@HarkeG]

Of course they all made it, look at distance, probably even trained for it before in cells

[@dpelpal]

They do it on an incoming tide. I want to see them swim across the bay on an outgoing tide.😏

[@rdordo3078]

Jewelry party

[@jessiehunter4556]

lol looks like a school of fish

[@LeoWhalen1933]

Her little factoid about getting kicked in the face doesn't sound too comforting.

[@fergman300]

It was so amazing....well up until the point where got stuck by a hypodermic needle buried in the sand on the beach...and then stepped in a pile shit that on the sidewalk heading back to my car.....San Francisco...its not what it use be.

[@ellencatalina2219]

Give me "things that never happened for 300, Alex"

[@miitor5331]

Great white liked

[@josephstraw6224]

She should watch the video of the great white attacking a seal about 50 foot of the sea wall their in the bay. Those sharks are there. They probably weren't in the area during the swim..yikes no thanks

[@contempris2383]

They drowned...

[@matthiasheimel2367]

Happy meal for all Sharks 😂😂😂

[@clevelandantwine8985]

Swim in that great white shark infested water nope nope nope,iwont do it

[@user-br6od2qq1f]

Shark!

[@gregoooa]

Sharkfest

[@ashleyblair9009]

FUCK THAT !!!!! Someone is going to get eaten one day !

[@Duschanio1]

great white will wait for you ;D

[@mrdel7776]

No thank u when u have sharks in the water I stay in the bay to watch not get eaten by a shark lol ha ha

[@M_eye_d_s_tinks]

Cape cod Massachusetts has the highest concentration of great white sharks in the world.. They must like fish sticks 🧐🤨🤣

[@icedcoldbrew]

okay but why do i highkey wanna do this?!

[@jimwade7680]

Aglin race...