Fwd: 10 Bizarre Underwater Events (Part TWO)
Hamid Kaashif
Underwater Tennis Match
What, you didn't know sharks could play tennis? It turns out, as this picture proves, that they absolutely love the game, especially when the opposition doubles as lunch. In actual fact, the man taking his serve isn't merely wacky shark bait, but a very brave man testing Dunlop's new Biomimetic tennis range at the London Aquarium. The thinking behind the stunt was that since Dunlop's new Aeroskin racket was inspired by sharkskin, it'd be a great idea to plonk someone in a tank with Jaws' cousin and see how he got on, specifically, to see how much drag the racket produced. We hear he survived to tell the tale, but weren't told what the score was.
Underwater Wedding
April Pignataro and Michael Curry of New York City got married in June 2010. The bride wore a white wetsuit and the groom wore a traditional black wetsuit as they climbed inside a 120,000 gallon shark tank to take their vows at Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead, N.Y. Both are experienced divers and were protected by a cage as sand sharks, nurse sharks, eels and a giant grouper circled around. They wore scuba gear and mikes that broadcast their words to each other, as well as to friends and family. They said their “I dos” over a radio transmitter with an officiant who did not get in the tank.
Underwater Hockey Gaming
A little known sport, underwater hockey is what some divers like to do during the winter months when the outside water is too cold for diving. The sport was invented in Great Britain during the 1950's when some British divers were looking for ways to stay fit during the winter.
The game is played using nothing more than snorkeling equipment - and of course the stick, protective gear and gloves - which adds breathing as an important game factor, meaning players have to manage the oxygen in their body. The game is played at the bottom of the pool using a puck weighing over one kilogram. The sport is tough and tiring though it is not as bad for experienced divers capable of holding their breath for extensive periods of time. The sport is becoming increasingly popular around the world and some countries have formed national teams which take part in world championships.
Underwater Sword Swallowing
On Friday, May 18, 2007, sword swallower Dan Meyer made history by being the first person in America to swallow a solid steel sword while submerged underwater in a tank of live sharks and stingrays at Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, SC. Sponsored by Ripley's Believe It or Not, the underwater event was designed to promote Ripley's Aquarium's "Pirates, Predators of the Sea" exhibit.
To stretch the boundaries of the art, Meyer swallowed a 30-inch long solid steel sword while submerged 15 feet underwater surrounded by more than 80 sharks and stingrays in 85,000 gallons of salt water.
Underwater Dancing
Seventy-four scuba divers dance to set the world record for an underwater dance class at Sydney's Olympic Park Aquatic Centre October 27, 2006. The divers were required to dance simultaneously for ten minutes to set the record, with the event also raising money for charity.