Families, politicians, and onlookers ventured out to get wet on the first day of 2012 in California. The polar dips, plunges, and splashes greeted adventuresome early-to-midday risers with ocean temperatures mostly in the 50s. Waves were strong and so were lifeguards that looked on from many of the state’s beaches where first day swims took place–from San Francisco to Cayucos to San Pedro (shown in photo) to San Diego.

There are still a few upcoming plunge events this year. We’ll try to find and update them as time permits. Happy New Year.