Through an auto-ethnography of open-water swimming in the oceans of Cape Town, I investigate the symbolic value that the water holds for a niche group of swimmers. Open-water swimming has become a phenomenon across the world, but in Cape Town, it takes on a particular flavour. Through this embodied practice, I interrogate how in search of solitude, individual therapy, and meaning, a small group of swimmers build community. While I reflect on my embodied experiences of being in the water, my presence in the water opens up unique opportunities to engage with others in search of the shared symbolic value placed on water and sports and recreation in water. In doing so, I argue that the practice of open-water swimming becomes an ‘enabling place’, promising escape from everyday life. Open water swimming also becomes a ritualised activity with the water taking on significant symbolic meaning and a unique experience where swimmers experience a sense of ‘awe’ which leads to a shared sense of belonging.