Splashing in the waves at St Kilda foreshore is a quintessentially Melbourne activity. For Amanda Lawrie-Jones, however, this weekend was the first time in 11 years she's had access to the beach so many of us take for granted.

She's lived in St Kilda for nearly two decades but since becoming a double amputee 11 years ago, Ms Lawrie-Jones has found it all but impossible to swim in the sea.

Amanda Lawrie-Jones enjoys a dip in a floating wheelchair with the help of St Kilda life saver Simon Lewis. Credit:Chris Hopkins

"I'd come down to watch the waves, but I couldn't go in. It made me really sad. I was such a water baby when I was a kid. Dad and I used to go to the beach all the time."

Port Philip Council launched floating beach wheelchairs and wheelchair-friendly beach matting at St Kilda Lifesaving Club on Saturday and Ms Lawrie-Jones was the first one in the water after the launch.