Sliding across the bottom of a 25-meter pool goes a 3-pound brass puck. Two teams of six players equipped with flippers, masks, snorkels, protective gloves and sticks fight for control of the puck attempting to score a goal.

From the surface, it may resemble a rugby scrum, but with contact illegal, this silent underwater sport can be played by anyone. The world's best, though, have the passing skills of a hockey player, the stamina of a runner and the lung capacity of a swimmer.

With the use of stick handling, quick passing, accurate shooting, timely diving and proper spacing, this sport can resemble the creativity of a good passing ice hockey game.

Most Americans have heard of field hockey, ice hockey and street hockey, but how about the sport of underwater hockey? Well believe it or not, there is such a sport and, in its first three months at Penn State, it is growing in popularity.

Under the organization of Shelia Gilmartin of Hawaii, the Penn State Sea Monkies, as they are aptly named, have already participated in national competition.

Gilmartin, who received her masters degree in fine arts from the University of Hawaii, is pursuing her doctorate in art education at Penn State. An underwater hockey player for five years, Gilmartin has been selected for the U.S. women's team which is to compete in May at the World Championships in Wellington, New Zealand.

So far, Gilmartin has recruited over 40 people to play and hopes for more.

"I'm excited about the sport and encourage more people to come out," Gilmartin said.

George Lindley, who started playing in October, said,"I never heard of it and thought we'd only play one or two times. . . . I thought it was a joke, not a real sport."

Underwater hockey originated in England in 1954 to help improve the skills of scuba divers. The sport since then has spread to over twenty countries and is under consideration for the Summer Olympics.

Some of the countries competing regularly in international tournaments are Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, U.S. and Zimbabwe.

While holding their breaths, the players swim parallel to the bottom of the pool pushing and passing the puck until they need air.

Recently the Penn State Sea Monkies traveled to East Carolina University to play in the East Coast Underwater Hockey Championship. At the tournament, the Sea Monkies played in five games, registering one win.

Gilmartin said, "the team got a good learning experience," in their first taste of national competition.

On March 13-15, the Sea Monkies will be participating in their second national competition at the National Championships in Boca Raton, Fla. Competing in the level C or beginner division, the Sea Monkies will be playing against teams from over 20 states.

By winning their division, they would move up to the B division where they would play in a double elimination tournament.

Playing on the national squad for Penn State are forwards Alex Dence, Tim Harlan, George Lindley, Neal Miller and Bob Wilkins along with backers Kevin Becker, Matt Harris, Connie Singley and Shelia Gilmartin.

Although the team doesn't know what to expect at Nationals it does hope to win its division.

"We hope to win the C divison and move to the B division and win one or two games," forward Kevin Becker said.

Forward George Lindley said,"The team has gotten alot better since the East Coast Championship and should do pretty good."

The Penn State Sea Monkies play every Monday and Wednesday night from 10-12 at McCoy Natatorium and invite anyone to come and play.