The Winter Swimming Clubs of Sydney

• Company
  Reuters News Agency
• Photographer
  David Gray
• Technical Info
  Canon 6d
• Photo Date
  May 2016

Sydney, a city of sand, surf and bronzed lifesavers is less known for its fraternity of winter swimmers, who brave the colder temperatures to dive, nearly naked, into the ocean rock pools scattered around the iconic coastline.Clubs like the Clovelly Eskimo's, Coogee Penguin's, Maroubra Seals and Coogee Huskies hug the eastern shoreline every Sunday morning with the common catch phrase 'fun and friendship'.Over 5,000 swimmers compete weekly, observing the 'no wet suits' rule. The water temperatures in Sydney drop to about 15 Celsius (59 Fahrenheit) in August, meaning it's warmer in, than out.

Since joining Reuters in 1995, I have covered news and sporting events in Asia and the South Pacific region including militia violence in East Timor, the resignation of Indonesian President Suharto, military coups in Fiji and violent unrest in the Solomon Islands. Covered 9 Olympic Games, a total of 12 World Cup tournaments for soccer, cricket and rugby, plus numerous world athletics and swimming championships. In 2003 I was appointed Chief Photographer Australia, until 2007 when I moved to Beijing, China as a Specialist Photographer. I moved back to Australia in 2013.