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Underwater Hockey in New Zealand
The first mention of Underwater Hockey in NZ dates to 1963, when some divers in Nelson tried it out. However, it did not become an established sport in New Zealand until the mid-1970s. Underwater Hockey was introduced into NZ from South Africa. It was established in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington. The game followed the South…
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Underwater Hockey in South Africa
Underwater Hockey began in South Africa during the summer of 1961/62 following an article in the October 1961 issue of the American Skin Diver magazine. The article showed scuba divers playing hockey in a pool using ice hockey sticks. The exact origin of South African Underwater Hockey remains a controversial subject, but we believe that…
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The Evolution of Underwater Hockey
by Alan Blake I started diving in 1949 from scratch. There was NO equipment whatsoever on the market and no books on amateur diving or any divers I had seen or heard about. So, why go underwater? Crazy as it may seem, I found a 1930’s book in the Public Library by Dr William Beebe-…
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Octopush An English Invention
(Article by Alan Blake, Southsea No 9 Branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club) At the close of summer 1954 with evening diving curtailed, the prospect of six months confined to a swimming pool was daunting. As Branch Secretary at the time it seemed essential that a competitive game was needed to soak up the winter…