GALLERY: Emmarentia’s winter treasures

Emmarentia Dam is not only used for canoes and paddle boards, but for diving as well. Every year in winter, the dam plays host to a group of brave divers ready to face cold waters.

Club committee member of Normal Air Underwater Club, Fick Booysen said that around 30 divers from various diving clubs in the area took part in the annual Polar Bear Dive on 25 June. He explained that one has to be a certified diver and has to dive with a buddy.

Luckily for the divers, the sun shone brightly on the day with only a chilly wind coming up now and then. Booysen said that the water was not that cold this year in comparison to other years with a temperature of 13°C. Booysen explained that the aim is for the divers to see what they can find underneath the water. The crazier the better as prizes are rewarded according to what they bring out.

After the half hour dive, the items found lay scattered on the ground. Among the many canoe seats, beer cans, spectacles and glass bottles, three items stood out. A ‘deadman’s chest’ was found, which took third prize. According to Booysen, it was an old blanket with random items left behind by someone. The second prize went to a random old laptop, that left one wondering why someone would throw a laptop into the dam. The weirdest,  yet fascinating item was a very old make-up bag with an entire range of very old and soggy make-up in it.

Booysen concluded that this is such a nice event to get people from different clubs together.

Details: Normal Air Underwater Club, 082 574 9655.

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