Octopush was invented in 1954 by a British diver called Alan Bake, a member of the Southsea sub-aqua club. Blake designed the game for divers as a fun way to help them keep fit during the winter when the weather stopped them from taking part in their regular diving trips. The game involved pushing a lead puck called a ‘squid’ around the bottom of a pool, and as it was originally for eight players , the divers called it ‘Octopush’. The goal was a ‘gulley’ and with the squid, the divers scored ‘gulls’.
Since the early days of Octopush, there have been several changes to the game to make it a more independent sports in its own right. The British Octopush Association, founded in 1976, controls the sport nationwide and today’s rules and organisation reflect a professional approach to the game.
