Moana Pool will be buzzing over the next five days when the Otago and Canterbury championships are held in Dunedin.
The Christchurch earthquakes have destroyed the international pool at QE2 Park and forced a re-think of South Island swimming.
Moana Pool will be back to its former glory when the best competitors in the South Island compete together.
The Southland championships were held in December and their best swimmers and those from the Eastern Districts centre will also be competing.
Waves coach Andy Adair said it would be the forerunner of the proposed South Island long-course championships coaches have wanted for a long time.
"It will produce quality racing and help to lift the standard of swimming in the South Island," he said.
The Otago and Canterbury titles will be decided on times from the morning heats and this will force swimmers to be at their best at both the morning and evening sessions.
There will be combined South Island finals in four grades at night with the best swimmers from the two provinces pitted against each other.
Because of the increased numbers involved, Swimming Otago raised the qualifying standards for swimmers to enter the championships.
Adair said Canterbury swimmers in the age-group 19 to 23 "have been the casualties of the earthquake and not so many older swimmers from Christchurch have entered in the open events".
The distance swims over 800m and 1500m will be contested tonight with the results decided on times.
On four days, the first session to determine the Otago and Canterbury champions will be swum in the morning from 8.45am.
The championships start at 5.45 this evening.
The evening session also starts at 5.45pm tomorrow and Friday but at 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
