DIVERS at Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire Oaks have developed their own version of scuba-tennis in honour of the Wimbledon fortnight.
The intrepid scuba divers took to the water armed with tennis racquets and a supply of specially-weighted balls for the undersea match recently.
With three-metre-long sharks and giant stingrays as spectators the divers struggled to string a rally together.
However the impromptu match entertained visitors and there was no chance of rain stopping play.
Blue Planet Aquarium’s, Paul Reynolds, said: “It was a little bit of fun dreamed up by the dive team to celebrate the country’s fascination with Wimbledon and to help put the disappointment of the World Cup behind us.
“It certainly drew quite a crowd among the visitors and definitely raised a few smiles among staff and visitors alike.
“The sand tiger sharks in particular seemed to also take a keen interest and we were a bit worried at one stage that they may take a liking to the tennis balls – I don’t think there would have been too many people volunteering as ball boys,” he added.
Blue Planet Aquarium’s giant 3.8 million litre Caribbean Reef display is home to more than 10 different species of sharks and rays including nurse sharks, lemon sharks, zebra sharks, giant stingrays and huge, three-metre-long sand tiger sharks.