[BluH2o]

I suppose this has to do with not many blacks living near the ocean unless it’s Africa.

Rivers, lakes, and the ocean all have some pretty nasty critters inhabiting the waters in and around the continent of Africa ... excepting the Med to the north. Not much incentive to be frolicking in those waters.

[Valpal1]

If you read the comments at the article, a person from Zimbabwe makes that very point.

It seems this non swimming habit is both cultural and global in nature, judging from the comments.