Thousands Strip For Annual Skinny Dip For Charity In Sydney

Being naked is great. The way God intended it. Au naturel.

Being naked is adaptable, too. In the comfort of your own home, on holiday on a nude beach, in the sea, whatever you like.

Given that it's so great to let it all hang out, it's good to combine it with charity.

1,000 swimmers did that recently in Sydney, as they stripped off for the fifth annual Sydney Skinny ocean swim at Cobbler's Beach.

There's a number of reasons for the event, like "reconnecting with your sense of adventure" and "striking a blow against destructive body pressure and practice greater self acceptance", but the most important is fundraising for various charities.

Credit: The Sydney Skinny

The organisers of the event work with both Foundation for Parks and Wildlife and Cure Brain Cancer Foundation. Anyone over the age of 18 is allowed to take part, but has to pay $45 including a booking fee. People can come along for support, though they aren't allowed to watch the swim. Instead they can head to the festival area for free, which has various different stalls, food and activities for them to enjoy.

The event isn't about being naked, but rather about being comfortable in your own skin. 300 or 900 metre courses are offered, but it's in no way a competition, just a way to enjoy yourself.

World Champion surfer Layne Beachley is an ambassador for the event and told 9Honey: "Every single body is welcome. I encourage everyone to jump in the water and feel, not only the freedom of being nude, but also the healing qualities of immersing yourself in nature."

Credit: PA

"Once you're on the beach you really don't realise people are nude, which makes it so liberating," Melissa Grimes, who has previously taken part, said. "I was really nervous and I didn't tell anyone until the day, but everyone in my team was so supportive and made it really fun."

In five years the event has raised a reported $20,000 for both the charities it works with.

If you want to enter for next year, you can find out more information here.

Mark McGowan

Mark is a journalist at LADbible, who joined in 2015 after a year as a freelance writer. In the past he blogged for independent football fan channel Redmen TV, after graduating from Staffordshire University with degrees in journalism and English literature. He has worked on campaigns such as UOKM8? and IIOC.