Looking out over the Atlantic Ocean on Friday afternoon from Ocean City’s Ninth Street Beach, mayor’s assistant Mike Dattilo said, “It’s not empty because it’s cold … it’s because we haven’t unlocked it yet.”
Dattilo then gave the go-ahead for a group of city, business and Ocean City Beach Patrol representatives to “unlock the ocean” with a giant wooden key.
The ritual has taken place each year for a century and marks the traditional beginning of summer on Memorial Day Weekend.
The “opening” of the ocean paved the way for a newer tradition: the 12-year-old Business Person’s Plunge.
The first swimmers in the unlocked ocean are fully clothed representatives of Ocean City businesses and community organizations led by Century 21 Alliance Realtor John Walton.
While a 59-degree ocean greeted the plungers, Ocean City enjoyed spectacularly sunny and mild weather on Friday to start the holiday weekend.
The nice weather is expected to stick around for the rest of the weekend.
Read more: Guide to Memorial Day Weekend in Ocean City, NJ
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