Keel Hauling is an individual physical water-based challenge that originated in Survivor: Pearl Islands, and was reused in Survivor: Caramoan.
Rules[]
In Pearl Islands, the castaways are divided into heats. In the first round, contestants race across a pontoon and dive into the water. Using a rope suspended beneath the platform, they pull themselves, underwater, to the other end. Upon climbing back onto the platform they must jump back in the water and do it again. The first two contestants to complete two laps move on to the final heat. In the final heat, the castaway had to do five laps and upon surfacing, they must transfer a medallion from one side of the platform to another, one key at a time. The first person to transfer all their five keys to the other side of the platform wins immunity.
In Caramoan, they do the same thing but move a ring from one end of the pontoon to the other. The first two contestants from each heat to move two rings move onto the final round, where five laps are undertaken. The first castaway to move all five rings wins the challenge.
History[]
United States[]
The challenge debuted in Pearl Islands as the first individual Immunity Challenge after the merge. Burton Roberts, newly returned to the game following the Outcasts twist, won the challenge and immunity, beating Rupert Boneham by a hair.
The challenge did not appear again until Caramoan. Notably, Phillip Sheppard elected not to compete in the challenge, becoming the first contestant to forfeit an Immunity Challenge without an added incentive. Andrea Boehlke, Brenda Lowe, Malcolm Freberg, and Reynold Toepfer made the final heat, with Reynold ultimately winning immunity.
South Africa[]
The challenge appeared as the final eight Immunity Challenge of Immunity Island. Prior to the challenge, Nico Panagio offered the members of Osindile spaghetti bolognese and soft drinks if they sat out of the challenge. Everyone except Chappies Chapman and Nicole Wilmans chose to sit out, to which Nico expressed his disappointment after the challenge. After claiming his last ring, Chappies opted to wait for Nicole to grab her last ring to allow the Osindiles to enjoy more of their spaghetti. As soon as Nicole returned with her final ring, Chappies placed his last ring to win his first individual Immunity Challenge.
Winners[]
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl Islands "What the...? (Part 2)" |
Individual Immunity |  Burton Roberts |
| Caramoan "Zipping Over the Cuckoo's Nest" |
Individual Immunity |  Reynold Toepfer |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immunity Island "Brownie Points Are Everything" |
Individual Immunity |  Chappies Chapman | |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor Québec (2024) Episode 57 |
Team Reward |   Déborah & Erick |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The name of this challenge likely references keelhauling, a form of punishment where sailors would be tied to a rope looped around a ship, thrown overboard, and then dragged under the ship's keel, either from port to starboard or bow to stern.
- This challenge has only been used with ten castaways remaining.
- Only men have won this challenge.
- This is the first individual Immunity Challenge where a castaway willingly chose to sit out without being offered any form of incentive.
References[]