The annual custom of skinny-dipping at a public beach in the middle of Hobart's winter has seen just under 2,000 people take the plunge this year.

A record crowd of more than 1,915 swimmers braved the chilly waters off Long Beach in Sandy Bay, throwing off their clothes and jumping in just as the sun came up.

More than 2,000 people registered for the annual skinny-dip. ( ABC News: Megan MacDonald )

While you have to be 18 to take part, this morning's oldest swimmer was 91-year-old Joy Walters from St Helens on Tasmania's east coast.

At 91, Joy Walter from St Helens, Tasmania, was the oldest participant in this year's nude swim. ( ABC News: Megan MacDonald )

Ms Walters was keen for the dip.

"It was lovely, cold, but lovely," she said.

Some hardy souls took the longest option, swimming 15 metres out to a pontoon, while others took the quick "in-and-out" option.

Dark Mofo executive director Kate Gould said the event had grown from 230 participants in 2013 to nearly 2,000 today.

"We had to put a hold on registrations because we can't fit any more on the beach," she said.

Many swimmers were keen to warm up around the fire-pots after their little dips. ( ABC News: Megan MacDonald )

Ms Gould said around 60 per cent of those who took the plunge came from outside Tasmania and that there were plenty of interesting stories among those on the beach.

"We've had some great spectacles as always. We had our oldest participant who was 91, we had someone in a wheelchair, someone got married," she said.

"I did hear someone proposed. It's the best way to remember for the rest of your life that great story of when you first got proposed to."

Taking in the view after 2019 Dark Mofo winter solstice nude swim. ( ABC News: Megan MacDonald )

The nude swim marks the winter solstice as well as the end of the three-week Dark Mofo winter festival.

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Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Matthew Thomas told ABC local radio the water temperature this morning was relatively warm.

"Given the temperature in Hobart is only 5.5 degrees, still 12 to 14 degrees is fairly chilly water.

The festival wraps up on Sunday night with a parade and burning of the giant ogoh-ogoh sculpture, this year an endangered swift parrot, which contains notes collected from festival-goers about their fears.

The Balinese tradition is a community purification ceremony with a bang.

Patrons are being warned that the parrot's wood tree sculpture containing 150,000 firecracker leaves will be very loud and it is recommended everyone covers their ears.