It was Melbourne's coldest morning in four years, but for the St Kilda Icebergs, it's not the dip in near-freezing conditions that is the struggle — it's getting out of bed.
Actor and Icebergs swimmer Natasha Herbert said she got into the habit about two years ago, during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
"I was just doing it on my own and it was purely because all the theatres were closed — I had no work, I was anxious about that," she told ABC Radio Melbourne.
"I found to go in the cold water everyday, it wiped all anxiety for me.
Ms Herbert said despite her job keeping her onstage until close to midnight the reward was worth the early start.
"I used to be someone who’d go out for a drink after — now I’m like, 'I’ve got to get home quickly, set the alarm and be up early,'" she said.
"Getting out of bed is the hardest bit.
"It's harder than getting in the water, actually."
No wetsuits on Wednesday
The swimmers have taken on the challenge of forgoing wetsuits on Wednesdays.
"We're all addicted to feeling the cold," Ms Herbert said.
But when pushing themselves to swim longer distances they tended to take the warmer option.
"Hypothermia is a real thing," Ms Herbert said.
Ms Herbert said 40 minutes was enough for her.
"We got to a pole and I was like 'Oh wow, I've got to swim 20 minutes back,'" she said.
'Meerkats' in the sunrise
In the 12-degree water, the group stood still for the sunrise.
"We swim out to a pole — each pole has a name," Ms Herbert said.
"The first the pole is Sammy and everyone turns like meerkats towards the sunrise … immersed in water.
Ms Herbert said she felt she walked through the rest of her day with a sense of lightness.
"The feeling you have for the rest of the day is incredible," she said.
"It's a kind of euphoria."
Ms Herbert has found a few tricks to help her warm up once she is back on dry land.
"A two-litre bottle of hot water and Alan brings a bucket," she said.
