Vic: Scubadivers take to noughts and crosses for appeal

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2010
Vic: Scubadivers take to noughts and crosses for appeal

By Edwina Scott

MELBOURNE, April 2 AAP - The fundraising bar has been set a bit higher.

A group of intrepid scuba divers are spending Good Friday in a purpose-built tank playing
noughts and crosses to raise money for the Royal Children's Hospital appeal - and attempt
a world record while they're at it.

Peter Webster, who owns a diving business, managed to convince 36 of his mates to take
up the challenge, after breaking the Guinness World Record for extreme ironing underwater
in 2008.

Two divers enter the tank at Melbourne's Federation Square in one-hour shifts clutching
notebooks and pens.

"We thought, let's try for something else," Mr Webster told AAP.

"People find it quite amusing that we're playing noughts and crosses and they put some
money in the tin."

The scuba divers aim to break the current record of 24 hours for consecutive underwater
games of noughts and crosses, by playing for an epic 36 hour stretch.

Diver Gary Deacon kicked off the the first shift at midnight.

"Kids absolutely love it - staring at people underwater," he said.

"I tend just to lay down the bottom and focus out there."

But he says his noughts and crosses skills have deteriorated.

"I reckon they got worse, I was getting tired," he laughed.

Police officers visit the Melbourne's Federation Square every two hours to validate
the challenge Mr Webster says he is confident of.

Country Fire Authority and Metropolitan Fire Brigade firefighters also pushed the physical
barriers to tip in funds for the appeal.

An inaugural 24-hour relay was held in central Melbourne that saw 80 firefighters run
more than 200km before the final lap ending at the Eastern Hill fire station in East Melbourne
on Friday morning.

AAP ees/cjb

KEYWORD: EASTER SCUBA (PIX AVAILABLE)

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