With teeth chattering, purple lips and shrieks of surprise, hundreds of people plunged into the icy-cold waters at Papamoa Domain this morning for the inaugural Papamoa Polar Plunge.

About 500 people took the plunge this morning. Photo: Bent Jansen.

'It was freezing, with big surf...definitely a polar plunge,” says Papamoa Unlimited event manager Kate Percy, who counted about 500 people braving the cold and taking the plunge.

The first Papamoa Polar Plunge offered participants the chance to win $2000 for their chosen non-profit Papamoa group, with the only rule being entrants must fully submerge themselves in the water to be in the draw.

The winner of the $2000 is Papamoa League Club, with the $250 prize for best dressed donated to Papamoa Kindergarten.

Photo: Bent Jansen.

Following the plunge, swimmers were invited back to Papamoa Tavern to warm up with a cup of free soup.

Will the event happen again next year? 'Absolutely,” says Kate.

'This is the first event and was kept for Papamoa non-profit groups. Next year we're going to open it up to include all non-profit groups in Tauranga.

All in all, Kate says it was a fantastic morning.

'I'd like to say a huge thanks to our major contributing parties including Papamoa Village Vet, Papamoa Tavern, More FM and Coast Kids.”

Photo: Bent Jansen.

Photo: Bent Jansen.

Photo: Cameron Avery.

Photo: Cameron Avery.

Photo: Cameron Avery.