About

The Douglas New Year Day Dip began in 2011 with a hand full of dippers (pictured to the right) who rallied in support of a colleague with breast cancer.

In 2012 the event took hold with as many as 70 people joining in, including one skinny dipper!

However, the following year the event really took off with over 100 dippers taking to the water on a particularly crisp sunny New Year’s Day cheered on by spectators stretching along the length of Queen’s Promenade.

In 2014 the weather was less favourable and the dip was moved to opposite the Palace Hotel due to the severity of the waves. Nevertheless, over 100 dippers again braved the rain and gales to participate, warmed up by a bit of Zumba fitness beforehand!

Our hopes for better weather in 2015 were dashed when once again gales hit the island for New Year Day, but the event remained in it’s usual spot opposite the Queen’s Pub and once again we had well over 100 dippers brave enough to take part!

2016’s Dip was bright and somewhat sunny, if not extremely cold, and again over 100 dippers took part with the promenade lined with spectators! The warm up was done by martial arts instructor Scott Caldwell of REAL Fighting dressed in a pink mankini!!!

The 7th Douglas New Year Day Dip in 2017 went with the theme of “Douglas Dip is SO bracing!” – and it certainly is a great way to blow away the cobwebs and start the new year with a very fresh start! In 2018 the 8th Douglas Dip took place, and in 2019 the 9th. In 2020 we held our 10th Douglas Dip on a very cold New Year’s morning, and the last two years we had sunshine for the 11th and 12th Douglas Dip as well as record numbers!

This year is the 13th Breast Cancer Now Volunteering in Isle of Man have organised.

Please share your photo of yourself, or your friends and family on social media using the hashtag #BCNDouglasDip or email them to us at bcnowiom@gmail.com.

The dip is followed, as usual, by complimentary hot drinks and biscuits at the Queen’s Pub so come over and join us post dip.