January 18, 2008

‘OLD SCHOOL’ DIVER KICKS OFF DIVERS’ WEEKEND AT THE AQUARIUM

Vancouver, BC: The Vancouver Aquarium held a preview for Divers' Weekend yesterday as Bob Crawford of the Historical Dive Society donned heavy 1940s scuba gear and dived into the shark habitat.

Now in its 9th year, Divers’ Weekend, happening January 19 and 20, is the Vancouver Aquarium’s annual celebration of diving. It includes special shows, crafts for children, and more than 30 displays throughout the Aquarium by groups such as the RCMP, the Canadian Coast Guard and this year Nintendo will be on-site to demonstrate a new aquatic-themed educational videogame.

As part of the weekend’s festivities, champion freediver Mandy-Rae Cruickshank will freedive in the Strait of Georgia each day at noon. Cruickshank has attained twelve Canadian national records and has held six world records. The Historical Dive Society will step into the shark exhibit dressed in 1940s scuba gear each day at 2 p.m. and there will be a dive gear fashion show each day at 3 p.m.

Divers’ weekend is a lot of fun for divers and non-divers alike. Visitors presenting a valid scuba diving certification card will receive half price admission.

For further information, please contact:

Brenda Jones

Manager, Public Relations

publicrelations@vanaqua.org