underwater what???

My last blog got me thinking about what if there was an underwater post office...well guess what there is... it is the worlds ONLY underwater post office!

can you think of a more unique job than being an Underwater Post Officer? For five ‘Xtreme Posties’ this job is a reality. Vanuatu Post’s Underwater Post Office, found just off Hideaway Island near Port Vila, was opened for business on 23 May 2003. The Post Office is only 50 metres offshore and at only three metres below the surface is very accessible to young and old alike, and hundreds have participated in posting one of the special waterproof postcards that are available. These cards are collected regularly by one of Vanuatu Post’s four trained scuba divers and “cancelled” underwater with an embossing cachet. Mail that requires a normal Underwater Post Office date stamp is cancelled in the Main Post Office. Vanuatu Post promised all visitors they would accept mail underwater and deliver anywhere in the world.

The Underwater Postmen of Vanuatu handle thousands of specially-made waterproof postcards which can be written on land or even underwater. The postcards are collected every day with the post office staffed in the busy season where the Xtreme postmen work on a shift basis. The mail they receive is given a special embossed frank underwater before being sent on its way through the postal channels. Standard mail (non waterproof) that is requested to carry the underwater cancellation is catered for at the main Post Office.

1. What makes the postcard waterproof?
The postcards are a synthetic product called Syntek and the weight is 340gsm. So a plastic like product. The Syntec material is basically made of a mixture of clay (calcium carbonate) and polypropylene resin. It is non-toxic and has the look, feel and printability of paper, plus the durability of plastic. They are tough, waterproof, tear-resistant, impervious to grease, oils, chemicals and the elements. They can also withstand high temperatures and humidity.
2. How does the underwater embossing work?
The embossing is done by a small hand held machine that makes raised areas in the shape of the cancellation.
3. The underwater post office is open for how many hours each day? How many people work there?
The Post Office is open for about one hour on most days, and longer if there is much interest. Usually one staff member in the Post Office but we always have some else in the water nearby for safety reasons. When the Post Office is not staffed there is a drop box that customers can swim down to and post the cards. We trained four of our staff to get their open water dive certificate, and sometimes the dive masters at Hideaway Island operate the Post office of our behalf.

All info found at
http://www.vanuatupost.vu/