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7 Shocking Secrets Of Underwater Hockey (Octopush) That Explain Its 2025 Global Surge

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Underwater Hockey, affectionately known as Octopush, is one of the most physically demanding and tactically complex sports you’ve likely never heard of, yet it is currently experiencing a significant global resurgence. As of December 2025, the sport is poised for a massive leap in visibility, driven by major international rule updates and its inclusion in high-profile regional events.

This unique, limited-contact sport, played on the bottom of a swimming pool, tests a player's breath-hold endurance, agility, and strategic thinking in a way no other game can. From its humble origins in a British Sub-Aqua Club to its current status governed by the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS), Octopush is a fascinating blend of aquatic skill and intense teamwork.

The Hidden Biography: Alan Blake and the Birth of Octopush

The story of Underwater Hockey is inextricably linked to one man and one specific year: 1954. The sport, originally named Octopush, was invented by a British diver named Alan Blake in Portsmouth, England.

Blake was a founding member of the Southsea Sub-Aqua Club. The primary motivation for creating the game was simple: to keep the club's members active and engaged during the cold winter months when open-water diving was impractical. He needed a way to maintain fitness and underwater skills in the confines of a swimming pool.

The early version of the game involved pushing a lead weight—a relic from diving gear—along the pool floor using small sticks. The name "Octopush" was adopted, a playful nod to the eight-limbed sea creature, though the game itself is played by two teams of six players in the water at any one time, with four substitutes on the deck.

The sport quickly spread through the UK's network of sub-aqua clubs before gaining international traction, eventually being recognized and governed by CMAS, which standardized the rules, equipment, and international competition structure.

7 Secrets That Define the Modern Game of Octopush (UWH)

Underwater Hockey is far more than just "hockey underwater." It is a highly specialized sport governed by strict rules and requiring elite-level physical conditioning. These seven secrets highlight what makes the modern game so unique and challenging.

1. The 2025 Rule Overhaul and the Corner Rule

The sport is constantly evolving, with the governing body, CMAS, regularly updating its regulations. A significant development for the current season is the CMAS Underwater Hockey Rules of Play v13, effective February 2025.

One critical tactical element is the Delay of Game Penalty (often called the Corner Rule). This rule prevents a team from simply pinning the puck in a corner near their goal for an extended period, forcing continuous, active play and maintaining the fast-paced nature of the game. The 2025 updates focus on consolidating volumes of rules and refining technical specifications, such as adding fiberglass as an approved material for sticks.

2. The Specialized Equipment is Minimalist, Yet Essential

Unlike ice hockey, UWH equipment is designed for hydrodynamic efficiency and safety. Players do not wear heavy gear; instead, they rely on five essential items:

  • Stick: A small, curved stick (usually wood or plastic) held in one hand, used to push the puck.
  • Puck: A heavy, lead-filled or vulcanized rubber puck weighing about 1.3 kg (3 lbs) to keep it resting on the pool bottom.
  • Mask and Snorkel: Essential for vision and for breathing when surfacing.
  • Fins: Used for propulsion and rapid movement across the pool floor.
  • Glove: A protective silicone or latex glove worn on the playing hand to prevent chafing and injury from the pool floor or the puck.

Major gear vendors like CanAm UWH Gear, Hydro UWH, Core UWH Gear, and BentFish USA are constantly innovating to improve stick design and glove protection.

3. The '3-Dimensional' Playing Field and Depth Challenge

UWH is played in a pool that is typically 25 meters long and 15 meters wide, with a depth ranging from 2 meters to 3.65 meters. The goals, or gulleys, are three-meter-wide metal trays placed at opposite ends of the pool floor.

The game is inherently three-dimensional. Players must constantly manage their vertical movement—diving down to play the puck and ascending for air—while also coordinating horizontal attacks. This constant cycle between play and breathing is a defining physical challenge.

4. The Secret Language of Puck Handling: Tic-Tac and The Flick

Team strategy revolves around intricate puck handling and passing. Two key techniques are vital for offensive success:

  • The Tic-Tac: A rapid, controlled passing maneuver between two or three players, allowing the puck to move faster than a single player can swim with it.
  • The Flick: A powerful, specialized shot that lifts the puck off the bottom of the pool, sending it soaring toward the goal or over an opponent's stick.

Mastering these skills requires incredible wrist strength, relaxation, and precise timing, all while managing the body’s oxygen demands.

5. The CMAS 2024 Asian Cup and World Championships Proved Global Reach

Despite being a niche sport, UWH boasts a robust international competition calendar. The year 2024 saw the successful staging of the CMAS 6th Underwater Hockey Age Group World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Furthermore, the 2024 CMAS 8th Asian Cup Underwater Hockey tournament was held in Singapore in August, showcasing the sport's strength in the Asia-Pacific region. These events demonstrate the high level of competition and the sport's broad, multi-continental participation, which is only expected to grow.

6. The Crucial Role of Referees (Water & Deck)

A UWH match is officiated by more than one person. Due to the difficulty of seeing all action underwater, the game requires a team of officials.

  • Water Referees: Usually one or two, they wear full diving gear and are submerged to follow the puck and call fouls such as illegal body contact or using the non-playing hand.
  • Deck Referees: These officials patrol the poolside, monitoring for substitutions, time-outs, and ensuring players enter and exit the water correctly.

The complexity of officiating a game where players are constantly holding their breath and fighting for position underlines the need for specialized training and equipment for the officials themselves.

7. Octopush is Set for a Major Visibility Boost in 2025

The biggest indicator of the sport's rising profile is its inclusion in major multi-sport events. Underwater Hockey is scheduled to be a featured sport at the SEA Games 2025 (Southeast Asian Games).

Inclusion in a high-profile regional event like the SEA Games provides unprecedented exposure, funding, and a clear aspirational goal for national teams across the region. Coupled with the upcoming 2025 Intercontinental Championships and the UK's BOA Nautilus 2025 tournament, the sport is set to gain thousands of new fans and players globally. This surge in visibility is a key factor driving the current excitement around Octopush.

How to Start Playing Underwater Hockey

If the blend of athleticism, strategy, and breath-hold challenge appeals to you, finding a local club is the first step. The sport is governed internationally by CMAS and locally by national associations like the British Octopush Association (BOA).

Most clubs welcome newcomers and provide basic equipment for initial sessions. While intense breath-hold endurance is a competitive advantage, basic swimming and snorkeling skills are all that is required to start. The learning curve is steep, but the rewards—in terms of fitness, teamwork, and a truly unique sporting experience—are immense.

From the diving pool of Alan Blake in the 1950s to the competitive arenas of the 2024 and 2025 championships, Underwater Hockey, or Octopush, remains a hidden gem of the sporting world, waiting for its moment in the global spotlight.

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underwater hockey octopush

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