In August 2025, Noam Yaron, a Swiss swimmer, is set to undertake a challenging swim from Calvi, Corsica, to Monaco, covering over 100 kilometers in the Mediterranean Sea, specifically within the Pelagos Sanctuary.

This initiative combines extreme athleticism, scientific inquiry, and environmental advocacy.

Yaron's previous attempt in 2024 was cut short due to adverse weather conditions, despite his physical preparedness.

The current expedition aims to integrate advanced meteorological analysis to identify optimal swimming conditions based on five years of marine data.

For this swim, Yaron and his team have employed a technique popular in sailing known as a 'polars', which assists in determining the best course dependent on environmental conditions.

This approach is unprecedented in the realm of open-water swimming, with the goal of utilizing favorable currents in the Gulf of Genoa to ease physical exertion.

Yaron emphasizes that the effort serves as both a personal challenge and a means to raise awareness about marine pollution, which impacts wildlife within the sanctuary, including issues of chemical and plastic contamination, as well as ship collisions.

Yaron’s prior swim across Lake Geneva in 2020, where he set a speed record, highlighted similar environmental concerns, demonstrating that the lake waters were as polluted as those in the Mediterranean.

He has since embarked on several swimming challenges that draw attention to ecological issues, including a record-setting swim across five of Switzerland's largest lakes in 2022, during which his team also conducted environmental DNA sampling.

The proposed route from Calvi to Monaco traverses the Pelagos Sanctuary, the largest marine protected area in the Mediterranean.

Yaron's efforts aim to spotlight the shortcomings in marine protection policies, arguing for stronger definitions and regulations around protected areas.

He notes that while French President Emmanuel Macron has cited that 30% of French waters are protected, he contests that less than 1% genuinely meet international standards and that activities such as trawling remain permitted.

To support this ambitious project, an estimated budget of nearly one million euros is required, with 80% secured through public and private partnerships.

Despite backing from sponsors such as Nivéa, one partner, Decathlon, withdrew due to a marketing restructure.

Currently, Yaron’s team is searching for additional sponsorships to fulfill the required funding.

Monaco's Prince Albert II is closely following the initiative, having met with Yaron on several occasions to discuss the project's goals and its importance in reconnecting communities with marine environments.

The swim is scheduled to occur between August 9 and 20, 2025, pending favorable weather conditions.

In terms of public engagement, Yaron’s social media presence, boasting 6.1 million followers, aims to reach a broader audience to promote marine conservation.

The project also conceptualizes innovative approaches to make marine protected areas economically viable by leveraging genetic resources.

Several start-ups are exploring ways to monetize findings from environmental DNA, which could provide a compelling argument for the preservation of these ecosystems without relying on traditional activities such as fishing or mass tourism.