An altered five kilometre swim went ahead amid fears the main event would have to be canned because of increased safety guidelines, but organiser and Australian swimming royalty Shane Gould said she was most impressed with the this year's participation rate.

``What I was happiest about was just the enthusiasm of participants - even though it was competitive, it was in real good spirit of participation,'' Gould said.

``There were nine novices and the rest were adults or people having a go and stretching their abilities.

``Instead of people doing 1km doing 2km and we had 13 people doing 5km, which is the largest we've had do that.

``We didn't go around Diamond Island this year, we just did five laps of the 5km course because it was a little windy the further you got from shore ... but the swell was small and the weather was great.''

Competitors had almost perfect conditions with a sunny 19 degree day and water temperatures almost on a par at 18 degrees.

Adam Poulton was the first man to finish the five kilometre trek in 1 hour 12 minutes and 53 seconds - two minutes ahead of first female Jayde Richardson.

Gould thanked people from the Scamander and Bicheno surf life saving clubs, Bicheno Stand up Paddlers and Bicheno Police for their support on the day.

Devil of a Swim 2013 Results?

?5km swim 13 competitors

1-Adam Poulton 1:12.53 _ 1st male.

2-Jayde Richardson 1:14.54 _ 1st female.

3-Peter Fitzgerald 1:17.17 _ 2nd male.

4-Steve Muir 1:18.25.

5-Will Jones 1:20.26.

6-Stephen Richards 1:21.08.

7-Nick McCouat 1:23.46.

8-Roger Butorac 1:26.05.

9-Scott Anthony 1:27.36.

10-Harald Gatenby 1:27.48.

11-Sue Dowling 1:39.26 _ 2nd female.

12-Jeremy Chin 1:47.52.

13-Ashley Brook _ Swam 3km.

2km swim 20 competitors, Times adjusted.?

1-Don Marsh 27.15 _ 1st male.

2-Mia Blignaut 27.16 _ 1st female.

3-Michelle Russell 31.22 _ 2nd female.

4-Kim White 34.15 _ 2nd male.

5-Sarah Lyons 35.08.

6-Micha Landon Lane 35.08.

7-Mike Coleman 35.00.

8-Andy Hamilton 35.01.

9-Kate Pedley 35.45.

10-Charlotte Sutton 37.43.

11-Michael Symons 39.17.

12-Paul Gambles 39.43.

13-Alistair Bradley 40.17.

14-Peter Whish-Wilson 41.08.

15-Paul Wallis 41.53.

16-David Wise 42.17.

17-Melanie Hawkes 43.20.

18-Anna Jane Sargent 45.03.

19-Craig Heuston 45.21.

20-Dora Hugo 46.21.

?1km swim - 28 competitors, times adjusted.?

1-Ian Hawkes 19.03 _ 1st male.

2-Sophie Botterill-Jones 19.06 _ 1st female.

3-Kaeo Landon_Lane 20.06 _ 2nd Male.

4-Rhiannon Evans 20.20 _ 2nd female.

5-Tony Allwood 20.24.

6-Kate Butler 20.35.

7-Daniel Male 20.49.

8-Luke Golding 21.47.

9-Rob Evans 21.48.

10-Bradley Ashlin 21.49.

11-Helen Holmes 21.45.

12-Dakota Wise 21.50.

13-Julian Lambert 22.10.

14-Jill Pugh 23.09.

15-Biba Fotheringham 23.21.

16-Natalie Jenkin 24.17.

17-Katherine Neal 24.55.

18-Andrew Thomas 25.10.

19-Polly Rawnsley 25.30.

20-Rhys Evans 25.58.

21-Tom Holmes 26.38.

22-Lucy Landon-Lane 27.09.

23-Nicola Swankie 28.18.

24-Jane Coatman 29.35.

25-Alice Breier 31.47.

26-Kim Fotheringham 31.47.

27-Margo Mitchell 43.15.

28-Jessie Wise withdrew.

?bf200m kids and novices 9 Participants?nf

Amber Sargent.

Alice Sutton.

Rose Laing.

Morgan Evans.

Ely Evans.

Talia Hawkes.

Ben Hawkes.

Anne Stewart.

Evelyn Stewar.