The sun was shining, the temperature was around 50 degrees, and hundreds of people in bathing suits lined Onset Beach.

It wasn't a cool day in the early summer. It was New Year's Day. And those people willingly took a dip in the chilly water to support the Onset Fire Department's Box 5 Association during the ninth annual Polar Bear Dive.

"It's the warmest [Polar Bear Dive] we've had," said Dave Mark, who coordinated the event. "Great day!'

It was also the largest crowd that Mark said he could remember. A total of 234 people donated $10 to dive, compared to 207 people last year. Even more people lined the bluff and pier to watch the daring divers.

The event raised $5,597 in total, an increase of nearly $1,100 compared to last year. The money is used to pay for scholarships, holiday food baskets for area families, and other charitable causes.

While the warmer temperature was a draw for some participants (last year was around 40 degrees with snow on the ground, the year before was a bitter 6 degrees), others said they'd participate no matter the weather.

"We've got to do it next year, even if it's snowing, right guys?" Peter Monaghan asked children Kain and Reese Monaghan and Shaun Miksche, ages 7, 6, and 6, respectively.

The youngsters, along with Jen Miksche, were part of what they called the "Team Deviant Kid Crew."

Peter said Reese was "tough as nails."

"I liked all of it!" Reese said of the event. "I would do it every day!"

Kain said his feet were the only parts of his body that got cold.

"Yeah, I'd do it again," Kain said confidently. (He was the first one to reply with an enthusiastic "yes" to dad's question about doing the Polar Bear Dive in the snow.)

Some had team names, others chose to wear silly costumes. There was a gorilla, Waldo (who could be easily "found" running into the water), and even a few Santas.

Gillian Sampson traveled with her nieces and nephew from New Bedford specifically to do the dive. (Mom cheered them on, but she opted out of the swim.)

"It was fun," Sampson said. But she and Joey, 11, Nevaeh, 8, and Scarlet, 5, all agreed: It was cold!

"I'm going to go home and sit in front of the radiator!" Joey said.