Get ready to brave the chilly waters and make a splash at this Seaham Boxing Day Dip!

Seaham Boxing Day Dip is back!

Join us at Seaham Marina on December 26, 2026, at 10:00 AM (GMT) for the return of one of the North East’s iconic festive traditions. Once drawing more than 350 brave swimmers, the Seaham Dip has long been celebrated as a fantastic charity event. After several years away, the exhilarating tradition is returning — revived, refreshed, and professionally organised for 2026.

This year’s event offers 250 participants the chance to brave the wave, take the plunge, dress up for the occasion and raise money for their chosen charities in a safe, well-coordinated, and memorable experience. Booking is essential, and early registration is strongly recommended to guarantee your place.

Your Ticket Includes

Medal & goodie bag

Every participant receives a commemorative medal and goodie bag.

T‑shirts can be purchased separately and collected on the day.

Community atmosphere

Spectators, costumes, festive cheer — keeping the spirit of the original Seaham Dip alive.

Designated swim zone

A clearly marked entry and exit area chosen for safety, visibility, and crowd management. We will not have sole use of the beach.

Emergency first aiders on site

Immediate support for cold‑water responses, slips, trips, and any medical needs.

Full in‑water and shoreline safety cover

Delivered by trained, open‑water professionals with rescue capability, and supported by additional spotters and shoreline safety volunteers.

Professional water assessment

Sea state, tides, currents, wind, and temperature will all be assessed by a qualified Oceanographer before the event, before swimmers enter the water. Conditions will then be continuously monitored throughout the dip.

Fully insured event

This is a formally organised, risk‑assessed event — not an informal “turn up and go in” swim. Your safety is our priority.

Event Schedule

Registration opens: 09:00

Warm‑up begins: 09:45

Dip time: 10:00

Clear the Sea: 1020

Beach top car park cleared of event restriction: 11:00

Members of Seaham Seaside Swimmers will be marshalling the event and offering another layer of support to participants throughout the morning. You can spot them in their brightly coloured T-shirts.

Why Should I book?

The heritage of the Seaham Dip has always been rooted in community, charity, and shared experience — but the sea can be unpredictable. Booking a ticket ensures:

You enter the water only after it has been professionally assessed

You swim with trained safety cover watching you

You’re part of the official dip; this is not an unsupervised beach entry

A percentage of your ticket price will go to support local charities.

Your ticket supports the revival of a much‑loved Seaham tradition — bringing back what people remember, with the professional standards today’s swimmers require.

Weather & Safety Notice

Participants must be mindful that weather plays a major role in sea safety.

We will monitor conditions closely in the run‑up to the event.

If conditions are not safe, the event WILL be cancelled; this may be at very short notice.

Charity Impact

All profit from ticket sales will be split between:

RNLI

Seaham Coastguard

Your plunge helps support the very teams who keep our coastline safe.

So pull on your best fancy dress, and we will see you on the sand.

Description supplied by the event organiser.