Bravehearts needed to swim with sharks

Feb 14 2008 Report by Alastair McNeill

A GROUP of Lanarkshire thrill seekers are to swim with sharks for charity next month.

Around 30 people will take part in the dive at Deep Sea World in North Queensferry on the weekend of March 8 and 9.

It is being organised by Hamilton-based group Pound Plus Scotland which was set up last August to raise money for charity.

The group is the idea of two Hamilton DJ’s Mark Burns and Aaron Robertson, both from Burnbank, who work at Lanarkshire venues like Motherwell’s Mega Bar and Centre Point in Coatbridge.

The charities chosen for Pound Plus Scotland’s fund-raising efforts this year are the Meningitis Research Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Each participant in the shark dive is expected to raise a minimum of £650, £500 of which will go directly to charities.

The divers will share the tank with exotic species like sand tiger sharks which are usually found in the seas off South Africa and Australia, Moray eels and sting rays.

There will be no more than three divers in the tank at any one time.

Mark and Aaron are delighted at the response to the shark dive and expect it will be an experience to remember.

Aaron explained this week that a shark dive to raise money for charity was chosen as it was “a bit out of the ordinary.”

He said: “I have quite a bit of diving experience, but I’m fairly apprehensive about this dive in particular!”

Mark added: “I wouldn’t say that I’m looking forward to being in a big tank with sharks, but it’s for a good cause.

“I guess I’ll just shut my eyes and get on with it.

“Sand tiger sharks are not the most aggressive kind of shark, but I’m still apprehensive.”

Mark also pointed out that each of the divers will be rigorously briefed before the dive and instructors will not allow a dive to go ahead if they feel that any diver is not properly prepared.

Other fund-raising events planned by Pound Plus Scotland include a Valentine’s Dinner Dance at Low Waters Miners’ Club on Tuesday, February 12.

There will also be Kylie and Madonna tribute nights at Wishaw’s Commercial Hotel on April 3 and Coatbridge’s Centre Point on April 10.

Tickets for these events are available at the venues.