Swimmers brave ice-cold temperatures in The North Sea in The annual New Year's Day Dip at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.(Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

19 amazing pictures of swimmers braving icy North Sea for New Year's Day dip in Whitley Bay

by · ChronicleLive

Hundreds of brave souls marked the first day of 2026 with a chilly dip in the icy North Sea. Despite air temperatures barely being above freezing, a hardy group of people blew the Christmas cobwebs away by taking part in the Whitley Bay New Year's Day Dip.

Young and old, some donning costumes and raising money for charity, others wearing just their swimming costumes and trunks, met at the Rendezvous Cafe entrance before making the freezing plunge moments later. Despite a water safety alert being in place along the North East coast for rip currents and large waves, the annual event passed safely.

Hundreds more people who didn't brave the icy sea gathered to cheer on those that did. Here is a collection of photos from the event this morning.

Swimmers brave ice-cold temperatures in The North Sea in The annual New Year's Day Dip at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.

Swimmers brave ice-cold temperatures in The North Sea in The annual New Year's Day Dip at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.(Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

Swimmers brave ice-cold temperatures in The North Sea in The annual New Year's Day Dip at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.

Swimmers brave ice-cold temperatures in The North Sea in The annual New Year's Day Dip at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.(Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

Swimmers brave ice-cold temperatures in The North Sea in The annual New Year's Day Dip at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.

Swimmers brave ice-cold temperatures in The North Sea in The annual New Year's Day Dip at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.(Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

Swimmers brave ice-cold temperatures in The North Sea in The annual New Year's Day Dip at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.

Swimmers brave ice-cold temperatures in The North Sea in The annual New Year's Day Dip at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.(Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

Swimmers brave ice-cold temperatures in The North Sea in The annual New Year's Day Dip at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.

Swimmers brave ice-cold temperatures in The North Sea in The annual New Year's Day Dip at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.(Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

Swimmers brave ice-cold temperatures in The North Sea in The annual New Year's Day Dip at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.

Swimmers brave ice-cold temperatures in The North Sea in The annual New Year's Day Dip at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.(Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

Swimmers brave ice-cold temperatures in The North Sea in The annual New Year's Day Dip at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.

Swimmers brave ice-cold temperatures in The North Sea in The annual New Year's Day Dip at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.(Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)