A Bermudian braved the bitter cold to join in on a long-held Canadian tradition plunging into icy waters on New Year’s Day.Dale Hines, joined more than 2,000 other brave souls to test the freezing waters of English Bay, in Vancouver, on Saturday.He admitted he wanted to do it “for the experience” and said the hardest part was standing barefoot in the cold sand waiting for the signal to enter the water.Mr Hines, who currently resides in British Columbia, said he most enjoyed the hot chocolate afterwards.Asked if he would do it again next year, Mr Hines said: “Maybe. It depends on how long it takes for my feet to thaw out.”The swim, known as the Polar Bear Plunge, has taken place since 1920 and typically has between 1,000 and 2,000 registered participants.In its first year there were only ten swimmers and there was a record-breaking 2,128 official entries in 2000.Today the actual number of swimmers is believed to be much higher, as not all register before hand. Typically there can also be up to 10,000 observers.People who register receive a commemorative button after the plunge and are eligible for prizes from an area newspaper.