BY AUSTIN LYNCH

Does searching for treasure on the bottom of the ocean sound like fun to you?

If so, then you might want to take part in a novel treasure hunt taking place on the weekend of 8th and 9th September next.

Local dive instructor, and businesswoman, Lorraine Browne, of Atlantic Shores Scuba in Enniskillen, is organising a charity Scuba Treasure Hunt day to be held at Malin Beg in Donegal in aid of Erne Search and Rescue Unit.

Lorraine says that this is a fairly new concept and she is pretty sure it's something that hasn't been done in this part of the country before.

Explaining how it works, Lorraine says divers will have to locate items such as weights, markers and golf balls (which have been placed on the sea bed) and these items will have a number on them which, in turn, corresponds with a prize which will go to whoever finds them first.

Malin Beg, where the Treasure Hunt will be held, is a shallow bay (about 15 metres deep) which should suit all divers. "All divers are automatically trained to a depth of 18 metres, so this event will suit divers of all abilities," says Lorraine.

And Lorraine says diving conditions should be good, with water temperatures at this time of year around 16 degrees.

At the moment, the event is a one-day treasure hunt - on the Saturday - but Lorraine explained that if enough people want to get involved, it might stretch into the Sunday.

Lorraine, who is also a diving instructor herself, has been diving for three years but only took over Atlantic Shores Scuba dive shop last November. There is a diving club attached to the shop and there are also two other clubs in the Enniskillen area, which just goes to show how popular diving is in the area.

"We know we have about 50 divers coming along, but we hope we can get a lot more to come along. We think it's going to be very popular."

At Malin Beg, where the treasure hunt is being held, the diving will be off a small pier. There is an Activity Centre nearby as well as plenty of places to stay for those who wish to 'overnight'. The entry fee is £60, and there are some excellent prizes, with all proceeds for the event going to Erne Search and Rescue Unit.

At the moment, Lorraine is hoping that more local businesses will sponsor prizes (quite a few already have) and any local businesses who would like to sponsor / donate a prize (or cash) should get in touch with her. "We are also hoping some of the town's butchers may sponsor some meat for a barbecue", she added.

As well as local people, it is hoped this event will be sponsored by diving clubs from neighbouring counties of Sligo and Donegal and, indeed, from clubs across Ireland, possibly making this the largest gathering of divers, ever, on the West Coast of Ireland.

And, as far as the weather goes, it may not have been the best summer but for this event people are going to get wet anyway, so it doesn't really matter if it rains.

Lorraine would ask all those interested in either taking part in this great charity event, or those who might like to sponsor a prize, to get in touch with her at Atlantic Shore Scuba, Quay Lane, Enniskillen: Telephone 028 66328383; or go to the website for more details - 'www.atlanticshorescuba.co.uk'.