In many countries, it is traditional to welcome the New Year with a dip in the sea, and in Brazil and Angola it is a very old tradition. In Rio de Janeiro, three million Brazilians welcomed 2025 on Copacabana beach, watching 15 tons of fireworks set off into the open sky.

In Angola, New Year’s Eve diving was a tradition in Benguela and the island of Luanda, and I hope it continues to be. But diving in the warm Atlantic waters of Africa or South America is not a problem; it is difficult to maintain the tradition in countries with harsh winters.

Even so, in the Netherlands, around 10,000 people, most of them wearing only shorts and bikinis, invaded Scheveningen beach in The Hague for the first dip of 2025.
In Italy, more specifically in Rome, New Year’s celebrations also involve diving. However, the brave ones have to jump from a 17-meter-high bridge into the Tiber River to fulfill the tradition that dates back to 1946.

In Portugal, since 1943, bathers have gathered on Carcavelos beach, on the outskirts of Lisbon, to take their first sea bath of the year and “cleanse” the “bad things” that happened in the previous year. The tradition is also followed in Vila do Conde and Gafanha da Nazaré, and in Porto Santo, Madeira.
In the USA, these dives are popular on New Year’s Eve or Thanksgiving and usually have a charitable purpose. They call it the polar bear plunge, in honor of one of the animals most resistant to intense cold.

In Boston, the polar bear plunge is a January 1 tradition that dates back to 1904.

At beaches across New England, thousands of swimmers braved the freezing cold Atlantic waters on January 1, 2025, to ring in the new year, with many beachgoers dressed as Santa Claus as always.

In Narragansett, at Scarborough State Beach, Special Olympics Rhode Island held its 49th annual Penguin Plunge.

More than 1,000 participants jumped into the ocean for a 15-minute plunge that had sponsors contributing more than $160,000 to Special Olympics athletes.

“This event has become a beloved tradition that brings families, friends and colleagues together in support of Special Olympics,” said Edwin R. Pacheco, president and CEO of Special Olympics Rhode Island. “It’s heartwarming to see so many make this part of their legacy, and their contributions create lasting opportunities for our athletes to shine.”

The plunges will continue, and Pacheco expects to reach the $180,000 fundraising goal by the end of January, with proceeds from the Penguin Plunge going toward training and competition programs for children and adults competing in Special Olympics Rhode Island.