Underwater Hockey

Yes, Virginia, there is a sport called Underwater Hockey. According to the official Australian site Underwater Hockey Victoria: "The British Navy invented underwater hockey in the 1950?’s to keep their divers fit and to improve their ability to move and work efficiently under water. The game came to Australia shortly after and has evolved into a fast dynamic sport played in more than 20 counties."

The site goes on to explain more about the game: "Underwater hockey is played in a 25 m x15 m pool that is between 1.8 – 3 m deep. The game consists of 15 minute halves and a three minute half time... Each side has 12 players, 10 of who can play in any one game. During the game 6 players are in the pool with 4 interchange players on the side who can sub at any time. The players wear large fins, a diving mask and snorkel and a thick glove made from latex to protect the hand from the pool bottom and the puck. The bats are made of wood and are about 25 cm long, they usually have one straight edge for flicking the puck and the back edge is usually curved for hooking the puck. The top players can flick the puck well over 3 m and it comes off the bottom enough to go over another player."

Clearly a sport not without its hazards. But just as clearly, a sport which one could take seriously - enough to become quite skilled at.

All of which leads one to wonder: Underwater Soccer? Underwater Polo? Underwater Croquet? With Underwater Hockey as a precedent, are there not a veritable Underwater Olympics?