OCT 17-18, SAT-SUN: Hazelwood Sauna Swims
Sat - 1km, 3km, 5km, Sun - 10km (Traralalgon SC with Swimming Victoria) - website - email Jane Mitchell or phone 0419107366

NOV 14, SAT: Open Water Swim, Kialla Lakes, near Shepparton
1.5km swim, 3pm - website

DEC 5, SAT: Splash & Dash + Mentone 1000
Splash + Dash 11am, 1km swim 11.30am - website Ph 03 9915 3721 or email.

DEC 5, SAT: Mornington Grand Challenge 1200 Swim
1.2km swim 3pm - Mills Beach The Espanade Mornington (Mornington LSC) - website or email - Organisers say of this swim: "Flat and fast". Min. age 12.

DEC 12, SAT: Swim for Your Life, Brighton
1.2km (10.30am), 4km (9am) - Cousins Travel with Brighton LSC - website.

DEC 26 (SAT, Boxing Day): Point Leo Swim Classic
1.2km + Novice swim, Junior swim and 4km beach run, Pt Leo - website.

DEC 27, SUN: 22nd Rip View Swim Classic, Point Lonsdale
1.4km, 1300 AEDT - straight line swim (Point Lonsdale SLSC) - website - email - ph 03 5258 1257.

JAN 3 , SUN: Port Fairy Moyneyana Ocean Swim
1.2km, 11am - East Beach, Port Fairy (Port Fairy SLSC) - website. Race 1 of the Shipwreck Coast Swim Series. Ages 12-70. 6th year, organisers say expect "moderate even beach break".

JAN 9, SAT: Pier to Pub, Lorne
1.2km, 12.30pm (Lorne SLSC) - perhaps the world's biggest ocean swim in terms of numbers - website. Double event, with bush run on the evening prior to the swim.

JAN 10, SUN: Sorrento Bay Swim
1.8km (Open, 1030 AEDT), 600m (Junior, 1000 AEDT) - Sorrento Front Beach (Sorrento SLSC) - website - email ph Millie Skelley 03 9686 1186.

Organisers say: "Join in one of Victoria's best bay swims and soak up the picturesque coastline of the Mornington Peninsula. The Sorrento Bay Swim offers a great family day out as competitors of all ages can get involved. Staged for the seventh year at the Sorrento Front Beach all swimmers are welcome. It is a great race for the experienced ocean swimmer or the first timer.

"Proceeds raised from the swim go to the Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club for training, rescue equipment and education resources for the Nippers, Cadets and Lifeguards to keep our beaches safe".

JAN 16, SAT: Danger 1000, Torquay
1km (1200 AEDT) + Nipper Blitz Swim (10am), Torquay Front Beach (Jan Juc SLSC) - email - website. Prize money $1,000 for main swim. Min age 12. $500 each for Open Men and Open Women winners. Prizes for each category winners

JAN 17, SUN: Cape Aquathon, Cape Patterson, Race 1 in the Bass Coast Summer Series
600m swim + 3.5km run (Cape Paterson SLSC) - website - email. Min. age 14.

JAN 24, SUN: Port Campbell 12 Apostles Plunge
1.2km, 11am, Port Campbell Bay (Port Campbell SLSC) - website. Race 2 of the Shipwreck Coast Swim Series. Ages 12-70. Organisers say "can be choppy due to waves bouncing off the cliffs. No broken water."

JAN 26, TUES (Australia Day): MMAD Swim, Mt Martha
1.2km, 11am (Mt Martha LSC) - email Jenny Roth or ph 0407 598 934 - website. Event running 14 years. Open section with $300 prize money. Novice (400m) and Nipper (200m) swims now, as well as main swim. Organisers say: "Fantatsic community event with over 700 competitors fo all ages and abilities. Great festive event run by the Mt Martha Life Saving Club".

JAN 26, TUES (Australia Day): Williamstown Swim
2km, 1km, 12 noon, Williamstown Beach, Gloucester Reserve (Williamstown LSC) - website - email. Melbourne bay swim. Includes Nipper swims 250m + 500m. 1st Male/Female each get $200 (2km swim), $150 (1km swim).

JAN 26, TUES (Australia Day): Inverloch Channel Classic
1.2km, 7.30am, Anderson Inlet, Inverloch (Gippsland, eastern Victoria) - Inverloch SLSC) - website - email George Misson ph 03 56742816 - Registration opern 0630-0715 - Estuary swim, min. age 14. Trophies and giveaway prizes and gifts.

JAN 26, TUES: Great Australia Day Swim, Brighton
1.2 km, 11am - Middle Brighton Pier, finishing inside the Middle Brighton Baths (Rotary Club of Brighton with Big Dog Events) - website. Min. age 12. Tropies and certificates for all divisions. Prizes for Men's and Women's Open Divisions to be advised on website. $8,000 in random entry prizes.

JAN 30, SAT: The Bloody Big Swim
11.2 km Frankston - Mornington - website. A bloody big ask.

JAN 30, SAT: Queenscliff Blue Water Challenge
1.2km, Queenscliff (Boroughcoutas AUSSI) - website - email. Includes elite category. Organisers say: "Conditions generally calm but can get choppy on an easterly. Some tidal movement can be experienced. Funds raised from this swim go towards a junior sponsorship program. We offer assistance to juniors who require assistance getting to state/national swim competitions. Generally have between 550-600 entrants. A good fun day!" Queenscliff is one of the most beautiful locations you will find on the Australian coast. The course of this swim offers a unique perspective at the heads of Port Philip Bay.

JAN 30, SAT: San Remo Channel Challenge, Phillip Island, Race 2 in the Bass Coast Summer Series
500m swim + 2km run, San Remo Foreshore, opposite Phillip Island (Woolamai Beach SLSC) - website.

JAN 31, SUN: Phillip Island Swim Classic
1.2km, Cowes Jetty - website.

FEB 6, SAT: Dromana Bay Pier Swim
600m, 1.2km, 10.30am (Dromana Bay LSC) - website - email. 7th year for this swim. Organisers say: "Bay conditions - flat water unless a northerly is blowing." Min. age 12. Seven years for this swim. Entries close Jan 30.

FEB 6, SAT: Port to Park, South Melbourne
1.1km, South Melbourne Beach (South Melbourne LSC) - website - email or ph Alison Porter 0428 394 304. 4th year for this swim. Min. age 12. Organisers say: "As it is run in the morning, we expect fairly flat conditions".

FEB 13, SAT: Point2Point Swim, Hampton
1.2 km, 11am, Green Point Brighton to Hampton Life Saving Club (Hampton LSC with Sandringham Rotary) - website - email. Event running five years. Straight line swim. Min. age 12. Organisers say two alternate courses available if conditions dictate.

FEB 13, SAT: Cowes Classic, Phillip Island, Race 3 in the Bass Coast Summer Series
500m swim - 4km run, 1pm, Cowes Yacht Club, Phillip Island (Woolamai Beach SLSC) - website.

FEB 20, SAT: Cerberus Swim Classic, Half Moon Bay
1.2km, Half Moon Bay (Half Moon Bay SLSC) - website.

FEB tba, SUN: Sri Chinmoy Geelong Beach Swim
1.5km, 750m, 9am, Eastern Beach (Sri Chinmoy Races) - website - email. 1st time for this swim. Registration closes Thursday, Feb 19.

FEB 27, SAT: Moorpanyal Park 1000, Geelong North Shore
1km, Moorpanyal Park Beach - (North Shore Residents Group Inc) - website - email - Free entry to this swim, which is said to be a special day out. Min. age 12. Organisers say: "Entry is free, prize pack to winners all age groups, plus a host of spot prizes. Free sausage sizzle and cuppa..." How do they do it? This is THE friendly swim, put on free of charge each year by the people and businesses of North Shore. Followed around 11am by Geelong's famous Pako Festa. Well worth a visit."

FEB 27, SAT: Great Ocean Swim, Apollo Bay
1.2km, 10:50am (Apollo Bay SLSC) - website - email. Running for 18 years, down there by the Great Ocean Road. Organisers say: "Calm seas unless a northerly wind is blowing".

FEB 27, SAT: 22nd Pier to Perignon, Sorrento-Portsea
4km (Portsea SLSC) - website - email. One of the classics.

FEB TBA, SAT: Club to Club, Edithvale - Aspendale
1.5 km (Edithvale LSC + Aspendale LSC) - website.

FEB 28, SUN: Big Bay Swim, Sandridge-Williamstown
3.2km, 9am, Across the river mouth (Rotary Club of Point Gellibrand) - ph Richard McKay (03) 9314 2611 or email Richard McKay or email Mario Vella - website. 20 years for this epic. Min. age 18. Proceeds to Challenge Cancer , Open Family, Brainwave and other Rotary projects.

FEB 28, SUN: Cohuna Bridge to Bridge
8km, 1.5km, Gunbower Creek, Cohuna, NW Victoria - email or ph - website. 15 years for this swim, which goes with the flow down the Gunbower Creek towards the Murray. No age restrictions. Longer swim can be done as a relay. $250 cash for 1st Male/Female.

MAR 6, SAT: Wreck 2 Reef Open Water Swim Classic, Indented Head
1.5km, 500n, 10:30am, Indented Head, Bellarine Peninsula (Indented Head Yacht Club), just inside Port Philip Bay - website - email. Organisers say: "Flat Water, minimal tide". 1st time for this swim.

MAR 14, SUN: Bonbeach LSC Open Water Swim
1.2km, 9am, Bonbeach, in Port Philip Bay (Bonbeach LSC) - website - email. Registration closes Mar 13. Min. age 12. 5th year for this swim.

MAY TBA, SUN: South Head Roughwater
10km, North Bondi - Watsons Bay