Over 800 community members ran into the ocean at Devereux Beach on April 21 in an attempt to break the world record of a community “plunge” with the UC Santa Barbara student-led organization, The Plunge.

The event aimed to promote marine life conservation and sustainability for the Marine Conservation Network. Shiuan Cheng / Daily Nexus

In celebration of Earth Day, the event aimed to promote marine life conservation and sustainability through building community and fundraising for the Marine Conservation Network.

To break the record, the plunge required over 3,500 attendees, which is currently held by the Virginia Beach Polar Plunge back in 2019. The Isla Vista Plunge was a couple of thousand people short of breaking the record. 

While Sunday’s plunge drew a large crowd, the organization hosts smaller plunges every Sunday at Devereux Beach. It was their first time hosting a plunge at this scale and they now want to make it an annual tradition, according to third-year psychological and brain science major and organization member Lior Kishinevsky. 

Though they failed to break the record, Kishinevsky said the purpose of the plunge was to encourage community and environmental change.

 “I wanted to plan an event for our community to unite us, and to do some good for the planet,” Kishinevsky said. 

The Isla Vista Plunge was a couple of thousand people short of breaking the record. Shiuan Cheng / Daily Nexus

Part of the event’s intention was promotion of the Marine Conservation Network (MCN) is an environmental organization dedicated to finding scientific-based solutions to preserving ocean life. Participation in the plunge was free and donations to MCN were encouraged.

Members of the MCN were on-site tabling and educating attendees on trash pollution in the oceans. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 14 million tons of plastic are collected in the ocean each year, and that damage does not include the amount of oil waste. 

“The ocean is our life support. That’s our air, our water, our medicine, our food and if we don’t protect it, it’s not going to be there in the future,” MCN Founder and CEO Kimberly Ray said. 

Before the plunge, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department gave a safety announcement on the dangers of cliff erosion. The warning was further emphasized after the death of Jacob Parker the day prior.

While the Plunge was scheduled for 11 a.m participants did not get into the water until around 12 p.m.  After a pep talk from Kishinevsky, the 800 attendees made their way down the single staircase to the beach and plunged into the ocean in unison.

Participation in the plunge was free and donations to MCN were encouraged. Sherine John / Daily Nexus