Welcome
The Tasman Dippers are a casual collection of people who enjoy connecting with the open water. More people are recognising and enjoying the simple pleasures and benefits of swimming, or simply bobbing around (dipping, bathing) in the open water.
The invigoration and well-being felt by being in the sea, lake or river is no secret. In recent years, around the world, people have started to dip or swim long after the heat of summer has passed. For many, the real benefits only start to be felt when the water temperatures drop. We may know or know of people who get into open water all year round. They may even be daily swimmers or dippers, who swear by their routine.
The overall sense of well-being after a dip in cool or cold water is hard to describe to anyone who has never tried it. You can read many, many articles about the benefits. Reading will maybe inspire you to try it, we hope it does.
It cannot do justice to how you will really feel – you just need to do it.
If you would like to dip throughout the year in the Tasman area, then why not come along to one of our designated times. These are not organized swims etc, just a time and place when you will find the company of others to enjoy a dip in the sea. Some may want to swim; others just dip and chat. The length of time we stay in the water won’t be long and as the sea temperatures drop, the time will get shorter.
The dips go ahead regardless of the weather and if the sea state is rough, we stay close to shore. The idea is to get into the water and that is the only aim, so if mother nature creates a severe storm on a meet time, we don’t go in. Respecting open water conditions is the first step to enjoying what it offers. It’s also a matter of personal choice what you want to wear in the water. Wetsuits, swimsuits, booties, hats – whatever you prefer.
Bring a thermos with a hot drink and after quickly drying off and a change into warm clothes, enjoy that après dip feeling before going back into your day. Before you leave, if you see a piece of litter or even a little bit of plastic on the beach, please put it in the bin. We can enjoy this environment for free and leave it a bit better than how we found it.
All dips are free of charge.
When we dip
Every Thursday
8.30am*
…and any other time you want to arrange to meet up with others
* Time may change in winter months. Email for current meet time
Where
Rabbit Island Beach close to Access Number 4 by the small toilet and change building
…and any other place you arrange to go for a dip
Contact Us
You don’t need our permission to turn up for a dip, but if you really need to make contact, here is our email address ( it doesn’t get checked on a daily basis)
If you want to tell others and share your experiences include #tasmandippers on your post.
We are a casual group and we don’t communicate directly through social media platforms such as Facebook.
Talk to each other and feel free to pass on this information or share and arrange your own dips too. If you want to have other regular meet times and places listed on this site, email us the details and we can add them.
Stuff you might like
to read, watch or listen to…
8 Benefits of Cold Water Swimming
You may think that swimming in cold water is one of the last things …
What to Know About Cold Water Therapy
Tips on winter swimming
Annette Lees: the joy of swimming outdoors in NZ
Kiwi conservationist Annette Lees says she’s never had …
'Blue Mind': Why being near the water makes you happy
Why wild swimming in depths of winter is the new natural high
Responsibility Statement
Tasman Dippers (TD) is not able to assume legal responsibility to anyone who comes along to dip at any of it’s designated dipping times or any others. While we are always keen to share our passion for outdoor swimming bathing and dipping, (all referred to as dipping within this statement) all participants must be solely responsible for making their own assessment as to the risks involved in any particular dip.
Tasman Dippers has no control or influence over those who arrange social swims on FB, other social media, using the TD group or other groups, or the locations written about or featured in newsletters, the website or on any platform which we support or contribute to.
The decision to participate in any dip must therefore be taken individually, and dippers must not rely (in whole or in part) on views or information provided by the Tasman Dippers and/or its participants.
If you are in any doubt about the safety of a dip or your ability to participate, you should not take part.
Types of dipping in the outdoors heightens the risk of serious injury or harm. The risks of outdoor dipping include (but are not limited to) hypothermia, drowning, sickness from polluted water, injury from wildlife, other swimmers or debris in the water. The ‘safety’ of locations varies with the weather, the abilities and knowledge of the dipper and over time – rainfall can dramatically change the safety profile of a dip spot.
To the maximum extent permitted by law:
- The Tasman Dippers;
- each individual acting on behalf of the Tasman Dippers; and
- any person involved in organising Tasman Dipper social dip or any other event,
exclude any liability for personal injury, death or other harm or loss to its participants or any other person or organisation as a result of their negligence or other breach of legal duty.
