24-hour dive raises thousands for tsunami victims

Divers have raised more than �3500 for tsunami relief and recovery programmes - by running a decidedly imaginative 24-hour pool 'diveathon'.

Organised by Diving Leisure, of Battersea, London SW11, the event attracted a spirited group of 20 or so divers, who dreamed up all sorts of underwater games to keep boredom at bay.

They played with devices including hula hoops, a Frisbee, a toy torpedo and - the clear star turns - a couple of DPVs (diver propulsion vehicles).

And some utterly lawless games of underwater hockey were played in full scuba gear - well, until someone ripped your mask off.

As a result of their antics, the group's take has already exceeded �3500 for the Disaster Emergency Committee and DiveAid, the British-based relief fund. Set up by instructors caught up in the disaster, DiveAid aims to help Thai diving colleagues and their families.

The diveathon team hopes that, at the close of play, a sum of between �4000 and �5000 will have been collected.

There's still time to donate, by contacting event organiser Sally Pearson at Diving Leisure. Telephone 020 7924 4106, or email Sally at info@divingleisure.co.uk or at sal_angelfish@hotmail.com.

An amusing account of the weekend's activities has been web-posted by one of its participants, Christopher Bean, at www.chrisbean.com.