User:Lloydwatkin/Scuba santas

Introduction
Scuba Santas[1] is a world record holding charity event held each December in the United Kingdom. Organised by Lloyd Watkin[8] (currently living in Bristol, UK) with help from members of the online scuba diving forum Yorkshire Divers[8]. The event began in 2007 as a small gathering and within 3 years increased in size 20-fold. At present the event has raised over £20,000 for the RNLI in the UK (with funds going specifically to crew training).

The event prides itself in the fun relaxed atmosphere, in additional to raising some much needed funds for a charitable organisation.

World Record Status
The current record claimed by Scuba Santas is 158 divers (obtained on 20th December 2009). The record is recognised by smaller lesser known world record registrars[link required], but at the present time Guinness refuse to create a category for the event likening it to a surface gathering of a similarly attired group.

Scuba Santas have a code by which they claim a record to be achieved[9] which they believe makes their claim of a world record valid.

History
2010: Held on 19th December 2010, at Vobster Quay[3], Frome, Somerset, UK. The 2010 event is set to be bigger than previous years with organisation now starting in July of 2010. For the first time, and due to participant requests, the event has a registration site[2]. Organisers plan hope to gain significant corporate sponsorship for the 2010 in order to raise monies raised for the RNLI[4] to over £15,000.

2009: The 2009 event raised just under £10,000 for the RNLI via offline donations and their justgiving page[5]. The event for the first time took place on a Sunday (20th December 2009) a break from the traditional Saturday event. This partly arose due to confusion in dates and some incorrect early advertising. Scuba santas also launched on twitter[6] raising additional world wide interest in the event. The event was covered by Yorkshire Radio[link required], BBC Radio 4, and was publicised by the RNLI[link required] for the first time.

2008: The 2008 event was attended by some 80 scuba divers. The event gained the first version of its website[1] for this years event as well as some early facebook pages (later superseeded by a more general scuba santas page).

2007: The first Scuba Santas event was held at Vobster Quay in 2007. The event was covered by local BBC News[link required] as well as ITV West country. The event was attended by 8 divers, who arrived to the diving lake steaming due to the low temperatures on the day.