A stunning sunrise greeted eager swimmers for the opening of the heated St Clair Pool in Dunedin yesterday morning.
Pool supervisor Gaye Brooks said about 40 swimmers made the 25m saltwater pool "nice and full" after it opened at 6am.
The amazing "big orange ball" sunrise welcomed swimmers in the 28degC chlorinated seawater, Mrs Brooks said.
Many regulars had bought season passes for the pool, she said.
Mornington resident Lee Rowe said she had been coming to the pool for 23 seasons and swam a couple of kilometres every day before work.
The pool was a social place where swimmers could come and chat, Ms Rowe said.
The "absolutely fabulous" beachfront swimming baths had vastly improved since the days when unfiltered chlorine made the water murky, she said.
The pool was best experienced when bathers were exposed to the elements, such as when it hailed, she said.
St Clair resident Claire Metcalfe said she had swum 50 lengths before work for the past six seasons.
Her 30-minute swim began in the "pitch black" yesterday morning but daylight broke as she was leaving the pool for Logan Park High School, where she worked, she said.
"It's a peaceful half hour on your own and you're refreshed before going to work."
The earlier opening day was much better than previous opening date of Labour Day, but ideally the pool would be open all year, Mrs Metcalfe said.
The pool will close on March 31 next year.
