Gray skies, colder-than-normal water and strong rip currents couldn’t deter a few thousand people from starting off the new year by jumping in the ocean as part of the annual Penguin Plunge in Del Mar.
Lifeguards said the event, which has steadily grown in popularity since it was launched 39 years ago, may have drawn its most participants ever on Wednesday.
And that’s despite a water temperature of 57 degrees, an air temperature of 58 degrees and no sun at all to warm swimmers up after they rushed into the water and then back out.
“My legs are numb — it was colder than I thought,” said Lily Olivarria of Imperial Beach after quickly zipping out of the frigid water to towel off. “But it was fun. It felt good — it felt refreshing.”
Greg Wood of San Marcos did the plunge in style this year, wearing a Christmas tree crown and oversized gold N-Y-E glasses that people wear to New Year’s Eve parties.
“I’m not a thrill-seeker in life, but I’m a thrill-seeker during these 24 hours around the new year,” Wood said of his decision to start 2025 in what may seem like a crazy and uncomfortable way.
“This is a perfect transition,” he said. “The ocean has a cleansing power to help you leave the bad behind and embrace the new. It’s a good year to leave behind, and it’s a good new year to look forward to.”
This year’s plunge included a healthy mix of first-timers, people who come nearly every year and people who came back after a long absence.
Carlsbad resident Bob Hessinger hadn’t participated in the plunge in about 20 years before returning this year.
“We’ve got some family in from Seattle and we thought it would be a fun experience for everybody,” he said.
Rancho Peñasquitos resident Greg Meloney was a first-timer who was unaware the event existed before hearing about it on TV news Tuesday night.
Meloney said he had to do some lobbying to get his family of four to buy in.
“I just wanted to try it once,” said Meloney, who expressed confidence he could survive the 57-degree water just before the event began at 11 a.m. sharp. “We won’t be in for long.”
John Hughes of Carmel Valley participates in the plunge every year and is an avid, year-round body surfer. Hughes wears a wet suit when body surfing, but he said that’s a major no-no during the plunge, where swimmers need to brave the gloriously cold water with no protection.
Del Mar resident Nancy Kollisch, who has participated in the plunge roughly 20 times, said she wasn’t surprised at the large turnout on such a dreary and cold day.
“I think people just want to do it and be healthy and look forward to the new year,” she said.
Sarina Hegli of Carmel Valley said she’s glad to see the plunge growing in size.
“It was ice cold in the water, but it was great and I’d be glad to do it every year,” she said while eating a doughnut that participants get as a post-plunge reward.
Sponsored by Del Mar lifeguards and the Poseidon Restaurant, the plunge awards all participants a commemorative certificate, coffee, juice and a doughnut.
“It’s a commitment to the new year,” said longtime lifeguard Claire LeBeau. “You come out, you jump in the water, you get that revitalization feeling.”
But it’s also highly social, she said.
“It’s a tradition for a lot of families,” she said. “For others, it’s like a reunion gathering where they get to see friends.”
Many families and other groups took selfies before or after their swims. The beach is also full of clothing that you never see during the summer: scarves, beanie hats and large coats.
While the event began 39 years ago in 1986, this was the 37th plunge because it was canceled during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
