People will go to new depths to get a good poker hand at the fifth annual Great Nanaimo Poker Dive on Sunday (June 5).
The Neck Point Park event, organized by Sink or Swim Scuba, is a chance for divers to win some prizes and hopefully collect a winning poker hand from underwater card boards.
The event also raises money for the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation through its charity raffle.
"They get to win a bunch of prizes just to come out and dive," said Ray Richer, co-owner of Sink or Swim Scuba. "It's a lot of work, but the reward is when we see all these people coming out for the event. That's the biggest thing for us, getting the divers out diving and having fun."
The event usually attracts about 100 divers, who buy into the poker pot with $25 cash.
The divers take one card from five submerged boards attached to buoys off Neck Point Park. Once back on land, these cards are exchanged for real poker cards randomly shuffled onto similar boards on land and the pot is awarded to the three best poker hands.
The event also includes a barbecue and draws for prizes. The charity raffle item – a $2,300 drysuit donated by Whites Manufacturing – is drawn last.
People must register by Saturday (June 4) to participate. Spectators are welcome.
For more information, please go to www.sosscuba.ca or call 250-758-7946.