‘Pinoy Aquaman’ returns to action, to swim 6.4 kms

AFTER a one-year hiatus, Ingemar Macarine, known as the Pinoy Aquaman, will plunge back into action as he is set to swim 6.4-kilometers from two of the most iconic places in the Bay Area of California — the Golden Gate Bridge and the infamous Alcatraz prison Island.

He is set to accomplish this on Sunday.

The 42-year-old lawyer and environmentalist will team up with Filipino-American cold swimmer Lisa Amorao in this grueling and treacherous swim before Christmas eve in their effort to promote awareness for cleaner seas.

If successful, Macarine will finish his 32nd successful open-water swim, and his second successful swim in that particular area after he conquered it in 2014, where he swam across Alcatraz Island to mainland San Francisco for a total distance of three kilometers.

A lot might notice that the Pinoy Aquaman has not been swimming lately.

According to Macarine, the reason is because he’s been nursing an injury and had to take care of health concerns in the past year. He recently reintroduced himself to this grueling open water swim with a series of short swims here in the country.

Part of his preparation is losing 13 kilograms of his weight.

“I lost 13kg because I was diagnosed with hypertension or high blood that is why I had to lose weight and avoid eating red meat. I am now in a Mediterranean diet,” said Macarine. “I also do brisk walks every day and [spend some time in the] gym. I had to rest from open-water swimming because of my left shoulder injury.”

The swim on Sunday will not be easy for Macarine as he will endure not just the big waves and the distance of the swim but also the freezing water temperature.

“This is going to be a short swim and I have been doing this short open swims before so I think I can do this and finish this,” said Macarine.

Macarine’s last swim was in November of 2017 when he swam in Panglao in Bohol with a total distance of 18 kilometers. He finished that swim in six hours and 40 minutes.