Brian Ivers is a police officer in Ft. Collins, Colorado. He's also a local Marine reservist on his third deployment in Iraq since 2002. In an effort to raise money to help his wife, Heather, and their three children (ages 3, 5 and 7), the High Plains Scuba Center decided to hold a fundraiser. Rather than go the typical raffle or car wash route, though, they thought outside the box: they organized an underwater poker tournament. Hoping to raise $500, the Scuba Center raised $1,600 for the family! After 20 years of fundraisers, Center owner Jim Johnson remarked, "It was the most money we've ever raised in any of our events." Evidently, the success was due, in large part, to spectators and friends who added unexpected individual donations to the pot. Citing the general awesome-ness of divers, Johnson claims "Divers are just very giving people and when they see someone who needs help they like to help. It gives an opportunity to get wet and help out a good cause." Well said!

To enter the tournament, certified divers paid a $20 entry fee to play hourly games of poker in the center's diving pool. Cleverly, the Center designed and provided weighted chips and tables to make the games possible. Although I've never participated in an underwater Texas Hold' Em event, Dust Devil Diver sure has -- that's his picture up there! -- and it sounds like fun. Maybe Divester should arrange one. I'm all in!