Underwater ironing in the Florida Keys - A new SCUBA world record attempt set for next weekend

While many people only iron clothes under protest, on Saturday, May 1, a group of divers in the Florida Keys plan to attempt it under the sea.

Organizers of Key Largo’s Extreme Underwater Ironing event anticipate more than 100 divers are to perform the domestic chore near the Christ of the Deep statue, about five miles offshore in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

The subsea pressing party is an effort to land in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for the activity and break the current record, held by a group of British scuba divers, with 86 participants.

Taking the tedious task to new depths, participating divers must iron pieces of clothing simultaneously within a 10-minute time limit.

In covering the British event, a major news agency called the extreme underwater sport “not a complete waste of time.”

The record attempt is part of the second annual Key Largo Conch Republic Days that runs Friday, April 23, through Sunday, May 2. Interested divers can contact Key Largo’s Silent World Dive Center, Keys Diver or Captain Slate’s Atlantis Dive Center for details.

Boats are to depart before 1 p.m. and cost is $80 per diver including tank and weights. Event organizers advise that divers should provide their own ironing boards and irons. Advance reservations are required.

A post-dive celebration is planned at Sundowners on the Bay, mile marker 103.9 bayside.

For more information, visit www.fkrm.com/underwater-ironing/. For accommodations information in the Keys, see www.fla-keys.com.

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