83rd Polar Plunge at St Clair

The large crowd prepare for a sudden cold snap as they enter the sea during the annual St Clair Beach 83rd midwinter polar plunge on Sunday. Photo by Jane Dawber

The large crowd prepare for a sudden cold snap as they enter the sea during the annual St Clair Beach 83rd midwinter polar plunge on Sunday. Photo by Peter McIntosh

'Spiderman' experiences the freezing waters. Photo by Peter McIntosh

St Hilda's Collegiate pupils Eilish Forward (15) and Gussie Buchanan (15) finish their polar plunge yesterday . Photo by Peter McIntosh

Vampires, from left, Jodi Williams (30), Daniel Bell (28), and Tash Brightwell (18) exiting the surf after taking part in a polar plunge yesterday. Photo by Peter McIntosh

Callum White [8] of Dunedin during the annual St Clair Beach 83rd midwinter polar plunge on Sunday. Photo by Peter McIntosh

Steve Bench (21), Laura Gruenburg (21), Ross Petrain (20), Cazna Savell (20), Sandra McDonald (20) from Dunedin, Holly Peacock (20) who won best costume at the 83rd annual polar plunge at St Clair Esplanade. Photo by Jane Dawber

Polar Plunge at St Clair. Photo byJane Dawber

Polar Plunge at St Clair. Photo by Jane Dawber

Dunedin man Liam Thomas (29) poses as Arnold Schwarzenegger, while Ian Powell (21), also of Dunedin, dresses up as the former California governor and movie star's mistress, complete with `love child'. Photo by Jane Dawber

NZ Wood Mouldings workmates, front from left, Daniel Bell (28), Jodi Williams (30), Tash Brightwell (18) and Jessica Brightwell (20). Rear from left, Linda McKie (51), from Mosgiel, and Chris Rielly (34). Photo by

Connor Donaldson (9), Ashley Thorpe (9), Lucas Eymor (9). Middle: Daezy Garcia, Larissa Dyke, Emma Holloway, Stu Heaton, Dave Eymor. Back: Hisa Billwilliams, Joe Papps, Guy Bancroft, James Duncan, Geoff Purdon. Photo by Jane Dawber

Warming up during the annual St Clair Beach 83rd midwinter polar plunge on Sunday. Photo by Peter McIntosh

Fire fighter Simon Smith hoses down participants in the annual polar plunge, with some of the 1500ltr of donated hot water from Cadburys yesterday. Photo by Jane Dawber