Tuna Tunca crosses Catalina Channel in about 11 hours, moving closer to Ocean's Seven

Autistic ultra marathon swimmer Tuna Tunca has completed the Catalina Channel, the fourth leg of Ocean's Seven, one of the most demanding open water swimming challenges in the world. Recognized as AXA Türkiye's Values Partner, the young athlete once again demonstrated the power of neurodiversity with this crossing.

A licensed swimmer with İzmir Büyükşehir Belediyespor Kulübü, Tunca had previously crossed the English Channel, the Strait of Gibraltar and the North Channel. Should he also complete the Molokai Channel, the Tsugaru Strait and the Cook Strait, he would finish the full Ocean's Seven series and become the second Turkish swimmer to hold that title after Bengisu Avcı.

Battling darkness and rough waves

Tunca began the roughly 35 kilometer route between Santa Catalina Island and Los Angeles from Doctor's Cave at 23:05 local time on the night of September 1, which corresponded to 09:05 Turkish time. Facing high waves and darkness, he was accompanied on the boat by his mother, Gül Nur Tunca, and Emre Deliveli, while his coach Mert Onaran paddled alongside in a kayak.

By 01:30, or 11:30 Turkish time, Tunca had passed a significant portion of the course, and by 04:00, which was 02:00 Turkish time, he had reached the halfway point. From there he continued to contend with kelp strands reaching up to 50 meters in length and waves running higher than seasonal norms. Despite the conditions, he had covered three-fifths of the route by around 06:00, or 16:00 Turkish time.

As daylight broke and the current shifted direction, Tunca picked up his pace heading toward Los Angeles. He entered the final 6 kilometers at 08:00, which was 18:00 Turkish time, and reached the last 500 meters by around 10:00, or 20:00 Turkish time. He covered that final stretch quickly, finishing the crossing at 10:09, or 20:09 Turkish time.

Upon reaching the shore at Smuggler's Cove, Tunca raised the Turkish flag. On the accompanying boat, his mother, coach Mert Onaran and Emre Deliveli celebrated the moment with shouts of joy.

A performance lasting over 11 hours

Tunca completed the Catalina Channel in 11 hours, 3 minutes and 20 seconds, a result that stood out given the conditions he faced. Throughout the swim he dealt with both the natural elements and the technical difficulties of the route, leaving only three legs remaining on his path toward completing Ocean's Seven.

His continued progress in these international open water challenges is being held up as a notable example, both for his personal journey and for raising awareness around neurodiversity.