64-year-old makes fifth bid across Florida Straits American swimmer Diana Nyad is over half way across the Florida Straits in her bid to become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. Sixty-four-year-old Nyad is making her fifth attempt at the 167-kilometre crossing. This time she is wearing a silicone mask to protect her from the poisonous jellyfish that forced her to end one of two attempted crossings last year. Follow this link for more information on Diana Nyad's website More about: Cuba, Swimming, USA