Kimberly, a diver in Santa Rosa, CA, who was certified in 1979 and became an instructor in 1981. “I started playing in 1980, became the Club Puck team captain, and really enjoyed it for about 10 years. I even traveled to a few tournaments–– in Chicago, Florida, and Australia. We played once a month, width-wise, in an Olympic pool on Treasure Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay and all over the Bay Area. Then I played again from 2019 to 2020.” “It kicks your ass. You’re out of breath for two hours with 30-second dives. The shallow end is like a bunch of piranhas, where I once got a black eye. You’re almost invisible underwater when you’re good at it. Underwater hockey can also be cold, especially at night. But it makes you such a good skin diver.” The Equipment You’ll Need: According to Cen-Cal’s website, “The two teams vie to move the puck into the opponent's goal, which is three yards long and has a trough along the back into which the puck must land to score. Players wear fins, a divided-lenses mask, a snorkel/mouthguard, headgear, a team bathing suit, and thick, silicon gloves to protect their hands. The puck may only be moved by pushing a short black or white hockey stick that each player holds. Each team consists of 10 players, six of whom may be in the pool at any time; there is no goalkeeper. Team categories are Under 19, Open Men’s, Open Women’s, Coed, and Masters.” The Teams: Club Puck, located in Los Gatos, California, is one of the largest in the U.S. Here’s a list of American teams and contacts. Find a club near you. The Championships: The Underwater Hockey Interconti- nental Championships are a series of three competitions for international teams held every four years and are split into three regions – North and South America, Europe and Africa, and Asia and Oceania. Read more at World Underwater Fed- eration. Its 2026 CMAS 7th World Championship is planned for Gebze/Kocaeli, Turkey, on July 16, 2026. The Bottom Line: Underwater hockey is fun, great aerobic exercise, improves your skills, and builds camaraderie. There are now teams in 23 U.S. states, with eight in California. By hosting an underwater hockey team at a local pool or having your employees join a team, it’s also a great way to promote your dive shop to dedicated swimmers, divers, and snorkelers, who’ll buy their hockey gear and branded team uniforms from you. BUSINESS EDU continued
To find out more about underwater hockey, contact Carol Rose, or email gil@zeimer.com.
email Gil
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