What started as one man’s journey to recover from hip surgery has become a thriving ocean swimming community in Balmoral known as the Salty Crocs.

Founded by Hayden Rorke, the group emerged during the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020, when local pools shut down and swimmers had to seek alternatives. The calm waters of Balmoral Beach became their new training ground, and the Salty Crocs were born.

“The swimming part of it started because I had a hip replacement,” said Mr. Rorke.

“The doctor asked if I was a swimmer, and I said no. His response was, ‘Well, you’re going to be. Go teach yourself how to swim.’”

Mr. Rorke took the challenge head-on, first struggling through laps in a pool at Pymble before a friend encouraged him to try ocean swimming at Balmoral Beach. The initial swims were short, just 260 metres along the shoreline, but quickly grew in distance and frequency.

“At first, we’d do two laps, then four, then six, then we would jump out and grab a coffee and have a chat,” said Mr Rorke.

“Eventually, we settled on eight laps, and that became our routine for a few months before we decided to jump distance again.

“We enjoyed it so much that we invited more people to join, and before we knew it, we had a whole community.”

A thriving ocean swimming community

The name “Salty Crocs” is a name with a twist; it wasn’t about the fierce water reptiles but rather a lighthearted nod to the group’s demographic.

“We were all a bit older, with different injuries and ailments, so we called ourselves the Salty Crocs,” said Mr. Rorke.

“It was a bit of a play on words, but it worked both ways.”

What began with just three swimmers, Mr. Rorke, his friend Bob, and Bob’s wife, quickly grew in numbers and continues to do so every week.

“Today, the Salty Crocs has over 500 members on our Facebook page and more than 100 on our WhatsApp chat group.

“We now have members who love to travel to Australia and the world for different ocean swim events.

“And we even have some of our swimmers who like to do ocean swimming holidays overseas.

“We’ve had people send letters saying, ‘Thank you for starting the Salty Crocs. My husband or wife comes home refreshed and happy after a swim.’

“It’s not just about the swimming, the Salty Crocs is about the connection to nature and the friendships formed over coffee afterwards.

“There are people in our group who treat it as their family, which is very nice.

“When I started this group, I had no idea it would get to where it has gotten, but it’s a great group of people who look out for each other. The swimming and social interaction have been amazing.”

The Balmoral Swim for Cancer

The Salty Crocs have become a familiar sight at ocean swimming events, but the Balmoral Swim for Cancer holds a special place in their hearts. Not only is it their home beach, but the event is run by the Balmoral Beach Club, where a few of the Crocs are members.

“The Balmoral Swim is a fantastic event,” said Mr. Rorke.

“Not only is it a great course, but it also raises funds for the Children’s Cancer Institute, which is a great cause to support.

“So, we always have a big group of the Salty Crocs do the event and have done for the past few years.”

For Mr. Rorke, the event has an even deeper meaning and one close to his heart.

“I actually have a special interest in the Balmoral Swim because a friend of mine, Richard Tombs, who is a quadriplegic, swims in it,” said Mr Rorke.

“He did it last year and is doing it again this year. We take his wheelchair down to the shore, pick him up, and put him in the water.

He’s an ex-rugby union player, and it’s incredible to see him out there taking on the challenge again.”

As for those taking on the Balmoral Swim this year, Mr. Rorke has some simple advice: “Go out, do your best, and have fun.”

Expanding their reach

The Salty Crocs don’t just swim for themselves at their morning swim group; they also actively seek out charity swims and events to support around Australia.

“We really try to swim in and support charity swims where we can,” said Mr. Rorke.

“There’s a few of us heading to Tasmania in April to do the Bicheno Swim with our host, the famous Olympian Shane Gould.

“We’re also going to Byron for the Byron Bay Swim, and some of our members will be down at Werri Beach in Gerringong for the Captain Christie Swim.

“We have group members traveling all over for ocean swim events, it’s something we love to do.”

A supportive community for all swimmers

One of the group’s core principles is inclusivity. Whether you’re an experienced swimmer or a beginner dipping your toes into the ocean for the first time, the Salty Crocs provide a supportive environment for all.

“We have swimmers of all levels,” said Mr. Rorke.

“One of our members started with just a 260m swim to ‘the pipe.’ She was in her mid-70s at the time. One day, she asked if I could take her around to Chinamans Beach, a swim of over 3km.

“I agreed, and a few of us swam shoulder-to-shoulder with her, and when we finished the swim, she was in tears. She said it was life-changing.

“Those are the types of swims that make you look back in awe of what the Salty Crocs has become.

The group’s emphasis on encouragement and camaraderie is what keeps members coming back.

“We always welcome new swimmers; anyone and everyone can come,” said Mr Rorke.

“We also celebrate everyone’s birthdays when they come around, in our unique Salty Crocs tradition, which is swimming out to our ‘home buoy, ‘ which is 360 metres off the beach.

“Once there, we sing happy birthday, wish them happy birthday, have a chat and on with our swim we go.

“We then continue the celebrations as we head for our post-swim coffee, where we like to add a celebratory sip of Fireball, cinnamon-tasting whiskey, to our coffee.”

Embracing ocean swimming year-round

For the Salty Crocs, ocean swimming is more than just a summer activity, it has become a way of life they enjoy year-round.

“We have all really grown to love ocean swimming, and now we think, ‘Wow, where has this been all our lives?’” said Mr. Rorke.

“And the day we discovered wetsuits was a big day. We thought we would have to stop during winter, but no, we bought these things called wetsuits, and they are great.

“They make you go a bit faster, give you more buoyancy, and make you feel a bit safer.

“So that was a real confidence boost when we got those. It was really a game-changer. We started to go out and do a bit more compared to when we didn’t have them.”

To join the Salty Crocs at the Balmoral Swim for Cancer check out the listing.