About 25 scuba diving aficionados dove into the 47-degree water of the American River located at Lake Natoma on Friday in celebration of the New Year. Despite the cold weather, the divers were enthusiastic about the event and were not bothered at all.

Both male and female participants wore drysuits and wetsuits before going through the scuba diving activity.

The event is dubbed the 12th annual “Polar Bear Dive” and it was organized by Andy’s Scuba World in Sacramento, California. The divers cruised up to the Rainbow Bridge. They have a buddy or diving partner assigned before they dropped below the surface.

The participants said that it was a memorable day and was worth the cold temperature. Others say that they will make this a yearly activity.

Olympic diving gold medalist Matthew Mitcham of Australia was finally cleared from the swine flu disease after visiting Mexico City for a major diving event.

Mitcham attended the World Series Diving event in the Mexican capital with his coach Chana Sobrino. They were supposed to stay in the city after the event to train for another diving event which will take place in Florida, United States.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medalist shared that the NSW Institute of Sport had them tested and pulled out of upcoming diving events since the World Health Organization (WHO) set the swine flu level to five. He added that the institute thought that it would be best for them since if the level is increase to six, the countries will have to start closing borders.

Mitcham said that he wore protective face mask throughout the return trip. He also said that he’s been cleared from having swine flu symptoms before he left Mexico.

The Olympic diving icon said that he’ll be spending some quiet time in isolation with his partner just to be sure. He added that he will also see a doctor and will take medications if necessary.

Officers of the United States Navy Community Outreach visited St. Louis, Missouri this week and conducted a demonstration as to how they protect the country’s high seas. They brought with them some of the world’s hi-tech diving gear and other equipment.

The demonstration started on Wednesday, April 22, where visitors get to see astounding demonstrations such as a free fall stunt from a height of six thousand feet.

Lieutenant Commander Garrett Kasper said that the men conducting the stunt are very experienced Navy Seals, dubbed as Leap Frogs.

According to him, their experiences were put to use during a rescue mission that took place in the Indian Ocean recently where their cargo ship was hijacked by a group of Somali pirates.

The Leap Frog members can achieve a speed of up to 180 miles per hour. Jumper Justin Guany said that the best part is to get out in air but the scariest part is the landing – where they have to be conscious or else they could hit a wall.

The Leap Frog Parachute Team is conducting a series of demonstrations in cities around the U.S., also include din their demonstrations are diving gears used for special operations.

Kasper said that these demonstrations are not about recruiting people to join the Navy but to make the public aware where their taxes are going – that is, in protecting the country.

Abel won the silver medal in the three-meter springboard dive last Wednesday. The gold went to the Chinese contestant Han Wang with a 497.15 score. Russian Svetlana Filipova won the bronze she earned 473.20. Abel scored 475.55 in order to win the silver.

Abel, who dives in Speedo swimwear, ranked number thirteen during the same event in the Beijing Olympics.

“I was very satisfied with the result, it was a very strong international field,” supplied Abel. “I gave everything I had.”

Chinese athletes also dominated in other World Junior Diving Championships events. They managed to win the gold and silver medal for the one-meter springboard in the 14-15 age group. Russian Sergey Zhdanov won the bronze.

The World Junior Diving Championships is held in Aachen, Germany. Forty countries from all corners of the globe are participating in the event. The event is estimated to cater to over 200 international athletes. The United States is expected to host the 2010 World Junior Diving Championships.