It’s a long way from Bondi beach and a fair few degrees colder, but Australia’s Antarctic expeditioners will also be donning their bathers this Australia Day and taking a dip in the icy waters of the Antarctic.
Expeditioners at Australia’s Casey, Davis and Mawson research stations and on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island, will dodge remnant icebergs and sea ice off the stations’ shores as part of their Australia Day activities.
Casey Station Leader, Paul Ross, said the water temperature will between −1 and zero degrees, while the air temperature is expected to hover around zero.
“While this is the warmest time of the year at Casey, it’s still not exactly what you’d call beach weather, with icebergs still bobbing about in Newcomb Bay,” Mr Ross said.
“About 35 expeditioners will swim out from the wharf area and back to dry land pretty quickly I imagine.
“After the icy dip everyone will be able to warm up with a game of cricket and some hot food from the traditional Aussie barbeque.”
There are 209 expeditioners currently living and working at Australia’s four research stations.