- In short: Simon Banks is travelling to different sites around Tasmania for 30-second cold water swims all throughout winter
- What's next? The funds raised will be donated towards cancer research
Tasmania's beaches have long been hailed as some of Australia's most beautiful — from the Bay of Fires on the east coast, to Boat Harbour in the north-west.
Finding beaches warm enough to want to swim in is a different story — with sea temperatures in Tasmania often dropping below 10 degrees Celsius in winter — and hardly even getting balmy in summer.
Lakes and dams get even colder.
But, as the cold weather kicks into gear, those temperatures aren't deterring Hobart resident Simon Banks from submerging himself.
In fact, that challenge is the whole appeal.
"I wanted to try and do something through winter in Tassie that gets us out and about," Mr Banks said.
"I've got a work colleague that basically has a 30 second cold shower everyday.
"I thought okay, I can do that as well, and whilst I'm doing it, I can raise some funds and hopefully get some support behind us for a good cause."
Since March, Mr Banks has been travelling to a new body of water each weekend and plunging himself in for at least half a minute.
He records the dip, and posts the videos of his efforts online — all in a bid to get himself out of his comfort zone, and raise awareness and funds for the Cancer Council.
For Mr Banks, the cause is personal — having survived cancer himself, and having lost loved ones to the disease over the years.
It's something he still struggles to talk about.
"It's hard," Mr Banks said. "Everyone's got a story. It doesn't discriminate … how does it choose?
"If you can live in their memory, and do part of what they do, that's what it's about I suppose for me.
"Getting out and about and doing a lot of this stuff is actually a way to go on and live, to make sure that we get the most out of it."
With no prior cold water swimming experience — and a commitment to diving sans-wetsuit — Mr Banks has already ticked off some of the more tame spots — like the Derwent River by his eastern shore residence, and the D'Entrecasteaux channel at Bruny Island.
But, as the waters rapidly cool, the challenge is ramping up — with more extreme locations high on his list.
"I'm trying to cover the state in general. So in the north-west of Tassie; I haven't really done a lot out that way," he said.
"I want to do Dove Lake, up in Cradle Mountain. We went there a couple of years ago and I think it was minus two, minus three. There was ice hanging off bikes — it was just beautiful. Cold, but beautiful.
"I'd envisage that'd be pretty nasty."
Visits to the Central Highlands and Tasmania's west coast are also on the ever-growing list.
"There's just some beautiful spots in Tassie," Mr Banks said. "And I think we're really privileged to live in such a beautiful place.
"I think we take things for granted sometimes. Getting out and about and doing a lot of this stuff is actually a way to go on and live, and make sure that we get the most out of it."
Benefits of cold water swimming
Cold water swimming has become a popular topic in recent years, with many accounts shared about the impacts on health — both physical and mental.
However, the research on the topic is still largely inconclusive, according to Heather Massey.
A senior lecturer at the University of Portsmouth in England, Dr Massey has been researching the risks and benefits of cold water immersion.
She says there are a number of factors that contribute to that feeling of reinvigoration.
"As you go into the water, what happens is you cool the skin," Dr Massey said.
"And under the surface of the skin, you have cold receptors. These cold receptors starts a whole process of physiological changes that occur.
"That includes a big increase in heart rate, a big increase in the rate of breathing so that it becomes uncontrollable and also you get a big shot of stress hormones — adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol starts to surge through you as well.
"We think part of, or one of the theories around the physiological theories, may be related to that sort of euphoria you experience because… you have these stress hormone responses, and you've survived it."
And then another factor, Dr Massey said, was the context in which a lot of this cold swimming was occurring — with many people testing the activity out as part training for a physical challenge, or sharing in the experience with like-minded individuals, which then brings social and emotional benefits.
"So there's lots of different theories, but no concrete evidence about what it actually is," she said.
However, it's important to note that it's not an activity without risks that can quickly outweigh any positives — such as cold water shock, or even hypothermia.
As such, caution and preparation is advised — with Dr Massey also recommending going with a group, who know the hazards of the area and are aware of "what's going to happen to your body so that they can support you".
And, for time spent in the water, less is definitely more.
More warming to the idea
For Lizzie Roarty, starting the morning with a cold dip has become a way of life.
She's been doing daily cold water swims for three winters now, with social group "the Franklin Frosties", as well as running the growing social media group Tassie Cold Water Swimming.
She said there'd been a clear surge in the number of people embracing the rush of an icy dip to start the day.
"We've got 1,600 people now, after two years," Ms Roarty said. "Especially, I think, since COVID there are just groups everywhere."
However, even with the growth in popularity, she said there was no doubt it was still a big conversation starter — with getting over the self consciousness of getting into the water often one of the first hurdles.
"All the dog walkers stop and look at us, and anyone on a boat. And everyone stops and looks and says 'are you mad?'
"And the thing is, to do it does feel a little bit mad — and I think a lot of us need to feel that sometimes. To just feel a little bit brave, and a little bit crazy."
