Sensational Subaquatic Sports
The Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS), also known as the World Underwater Federation, is the international organization for underwater sports and diver training organizations. Founded by French underwater pioneer, Philippe Tailliez,
in Brussels, Belgium on September 28th, 1958, it is the world’s oldest scuba diving organizations. Scuba diving is understandable, but CMAS also regulates some very odd yet very exciting sports, one of which is underwater rugby (UWR).
Most people may wonder how rugby is played underwater. “Won’t the ball float?” they may ask. But no, the ball, most commonly a water polo ball, is filled with seawater to make it slowly sink, as if gravity is slowly acting upon it. The game, also known as
Octopush, is generally played underwater in a pool that is between 3.5 and 5 meters deep. Goals are used, in the form of heavy metal buckets, usually about 40 centimeters in diameter. The goals are placed at the bottom of the pool at either end and players
simply have to score by placing the ball within the bucket.
UWR is simple but exceptionally difficult. The game is very fast and exhausting, with substitutions every few minutes. The saltwater-filled ball can be passed in any direction. This makes three-dimensional positioning very important. Each player on the six
person team is equally important, with a combination of mobility, speed, strength, and low oxygen consumption.
The game originated in the fitness training of diving clubs in Germany. Ludwig von Bersuda, a member of the German Underwater Club, in Cologne, came up with the idea, which was adopted by many other teams as well. The new sport was played in 1963, in the
national games, but not much interest was shown. After teaming up with the German Lifeguard Association, the first UWR match was played in 1964. In 1965, the first tournament was played, after the establishment of standard rules and regulations, and has been
played every year since then.
In 1978, UWR was finally recognized by the CMAS as a sport, and as a result, the first European Championships took place on April 28, 1978, in Malmo, Sweden. The first World Championships took place on May 15, 1980 in Mullheim, Germany. The international
competition of UWR is now the Champions Cup, which is held every year around November, in Berlin.
The game of UWR is played with two teams, one in blue and one in white, of six players each. Since not many people play UWR, there are usually mixed male-female teams. Players usually have several pieces of equipment. First of all, players use snorkels for
breathing. This allows them to breathe without putting their head above water, which makes them more focused on the game. Flippers are also used to help swimmers swim further and faster with less effort. Players also use goggles to help them see under water
and caps to identify their team.
Another underwater sport, which is not too common, is underwater ice hockey, also referred to as sub-aqua ice hockey. The gameplay is quite similar to normal ice hockey, except for the glaring difference that the game is played upside down, underwater, in
frozen ponds or pools. Players wear wetsuits and flippers and use a floating puck that is played with against the ice. Players do not use any breathing apparatuses, and have to surface every 30 seconds for air. The game is quite difficult in the frigid waters,
with extended play and substandard equipment resulting in hypothermia and pneumonia.
The first Underwater Ice Hockey World Cup was played in Weissensee, Austria in February 2007, with Finland emerging victorious, with Austria in second place and Slovakia in third. Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Poland, and Germany also participated
in Cup.
The CMAS organizes ten different sports, some of which have parallel governing bodies. They include apnea, also known as free diving, aquathlon, finswimming, orienteering, spear fishing, sport diving, underwater hockey, underwater photography, underwater
rugby, and underwater target shooting. The CMAS does not organize underwater ice hockey, which is organized privately by countries wishing to compete.
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