Aquatics - Definition and Overview

There are a large number of sports that involve water. The following is a List of water sports, divided by category. These categories are based on the relation of the sports to the water, and there are many more sports to be added. Some of the sports include only one part related to swimming, as for example Triathlon. This system has the disadvantage that that some sports may fit in more than one category. Here they are only listed in one.

In the water

• Swimming
• Triathlon is usually a combination of swimming, cycling and running
• Modern pentathlon includes epee fencing, pistol shooting, swimming, a show jumping course on horseback, and a cross-country run.
• Rescue swimming is swimming with the goal to rescue other swimmers or the practice thereof
• Surf lifesaving is a competitive sport which evolved from the training activities of lifeguards at Australian surf beaches
• Water polo is a team ball sport played in water.
• Synchronized swimming is a hybrid of swimming, gymnastics, and ballet.
• Fin swimming is swimming with fins
• Water aerobics is aerobics in the water
• Water gymnastics is gymnastics in the water
• Snorkeling is the practice of swimming at the surface (typically of the sea) being equipped with a mask and a short tube called a snorkel.
• Diving off springboards or off platforms
• A water slide is a slide with water flowing down it
• Synchronized Diving
• Synchronized Swiimming

Under water

• Diving under water
• Scuba diving is swimming under water using a (self contained) breathing apparatus
• Free-diving is the aim to maximize the depth dived using no breathing apparatus
• Apnea is the practice of not breathing for extended times.
• Underwater rugby is rugby played under water with a ball that has been rendered neutrally buoyant. Breathing is done through a snorkel, and tackling is only allowed if you have the ball or are tackling the one holding it.
• Underwater hockey is hockey played under water with short wooden curved sticks and a heavy puck. Players wear diving masks, snorkels, and fins, and must surface to breathe while team mates continue the game on the pool bottom.
• Underwater photography is photography done under water. Numerous contests locally and worldwide are arranged every year. The digital cameras have revolutionized how many divers participate in UW-photography.

Near the water

• Boating is the use of boats
• Bodyboarding is similar to surfing, but the board is smaller and the person lies down on the board
• Canoeing
• Canoe Polo is polo using a canoe.
• Dragon Boat Racing is a team paddling sport on water
• Fishing is the recreation and sport of catching fish
• Hydroplane racing
• Jet sprint boat racing
• Kayaking
• Kite surfing on flat water using a kite for propulsion
• Motor boating
• Offshore powerboat racing
• Parasailing where a person is towed behind a vehicle (usually a boat) while attached to a parachute
• Rowing propels a boat by means of oars
• Sailing using the wind for propulsion
• Surfing downhill on waves
• Wakeboarding is similar to water skiing, but using only one board attached to the feet
• Wake skating is similar to wakeboarding, but the board is NOT attached to the feet
• Water skiing is using skis to slide over the water while being pulled by a boat or other device
• Windsurfing on flat water using wind for propulsion in combination with sails

See also

• List of sports