by Anne StClair

Created on: March 16, 2008   Last Updated: September 30, 2008

Here are some fun facts about scuba diving.

1. Underwater weddings are offered by many companies around the world. The couples and guests can wear traditional wedding attire or wet suits. Vows are written on a dive slate, and the vows are 'said' by pointing at the words on the slate. Companies that offer this wet start to a marriage include http://www.palmcove.net/weddings/.

2. Scuba instructors recommend divers refrain from sex while underwater in scuba gear, mainly due to the fact the equipment (scuba equipment) is cumbersome, that air intake would be increased, and that the participants would be less aware of their surroundings. (http://www.kriyayoga.com/expert_forums/scuba_diving /posts/17.html)

3. A dance class of 74 scuba divers created a world record on October 27, 2006 at Olympic Park Aquatic Centre in Sydney Australia by dancing simultaneously for ten minutes. No one is yet sure why.

4. Australian divers Ron and Valerie Taylor love to swim with Great White sharks, and were the first people to swim with the sharks without a cage and not be eaten. (http://www.deepoceanexpeditions.com/about5_8.html)

5 . Ron Taylor invented a chain mail suit of armour to protect from shark bites and then tried to find out if it worked by letting a shark bite him. It worked, but was too heavy. Perhaps he should have worked out the heavy part first!

6. (Not fun for Michael!) Scuba diver Michael Proudfoot was diving in a wreck in Baja California, Mexico in 1991, when he accidentally smashed his regulator and lost all his air. He survived for two days in a bubble of air trapped in the ship's galley. There was even a tea urn full of fresh water for him to drink (but no tea). He snacked on sea urchins while waiting to be rescued.

7. Paris is not known for its scuba diving locations, but you could go scuba diving under the Eiffel Tower for ten days in June 2007. (http://www.worldamazingrecords.com/2007/06/scuba-di ving-from-eiffel-tower.html)

8. Florida Keys holds an annual underwater music festival in July, attended by around 125 boats and 500 scuba divers or snorkellers. Scuba musicians play instruments such as the manta-lin, drumfish, the sea-pan flute and the trumpet-fish as well as guitars and keyboard, while the diver visitors float around listening, or peruse the underwater art exhibition. In 2006 the festival featured scuba diving Elvis impersonators.
(http://www.lowerkeyschamber.com/under watermusicfest.htm)

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