Underwater hockey is a fun, fast, three-dimensional game played on the bottom of a pool. Two teams move a puck along the floor and score by putting it in the opponent’s goal with a short stick.
Gear: fins, mask, snorkel, protective glove, water-polo cap. You drop to the bottom of the pool on short breath holds, then surface to recover.
Your first practice
You do not need to be a swimmer. Many people (including myself) did not come from any formal swim background.
Typical session: gear fit, surface warm-up with the snorkel, short dives down and back, first puck contact, then a small drill or beginner game.
Day one: feel safe, repeat short drops, sit briefly on the bottom and surface calmly, move the puck with a stick.
Out of breath? Surface early. Short drops beat heroic ones.
What to bring
Clubs usually loan sticks, masks, snorkels, gloves, and caps at first. Bring what you can:
- Your own mask (if you own one)
- Swimsuit
- Sunscreen (if an outdoor pool)
- Towel
Common beginner mistakes
- Frantic breathing before a dive. Slow inhale, calm exhale.
- Staying down too long. Surface early; stack short drops.
- Chasing a puck wildly. Approach under control; stop it with the stick.
- Staring at the puck. Touch, then look up.
- Leaking mask or bad snorkel fit. Fix gear first.
- Hands on the puck. Stick only.
- Two Hands on the Stick. Sticks are one handed, two hands is a foul