"The water's bloody freezing but there's a really good community vibe, funnily enough," he told the Bay of Plenty Times.
"This is a huge improvement on Christchurch. The day before we had 226 and still 114 to go for the world record. We'll just have to keep doing it until we get it and make this an annual occasion."
The event attracted the young, old, large, small, and Asian tourists.
Chinese man Shuqun Zhou drove from Hastings to Papamoa specifically to take part. "I think to break the world record is a bit crazy. And [I'd like to be] doing some crazy things before I get old and boring," the 30-year-old said.
Engaged couple Paul Scott, 31, and Kelly Hunt, 23, caught a bus from Hamilton chartered for the event.
"We are getting married in January and this is something a bit different," Ms Hunt said.
Mr Scott said it was a little nerve-racking but "if it's a little scary, you should do it".
Papamoa resident Kevin Prince stumbled across the event while going for a walk along the beach.
After inquiring what was going on, the 59-year-old joined in.
"I thought 'what the hell'. You've got to do it once in your life don't you?"
Mr Prince said he saw the Christchurch attempt on television and said it looked like fun.
"I'm not an exhibitionist or naturist but I'll give it a go."
Members of the Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club and St John Ambulance staff were on hand and screens were erected to help shield the nudity.
Keen photographer Jeanette Nee used the event to help add to her portfolio of work.
Ms Nee, 69, is a member of the Tauranga Photographic Society where members have been asked to focus on photojournalism - capturing something unique that no one else has been able to capture.
"It's a fun event. If there are prudes out there, they don't have to come," she said.
When the dip was first announced in October, Family First NZ national director Bob McCoskrie labelled it as highly offensive and "completely unacceptable".