A water sport is a form of recreation where water (other than drinking water) is an essential aspect of the activity. These water sports should not be confused with watersports, as in urolagnia.

For a list of such sports, divided according the participants' position at, below, or above the surface of the water, see list of water sports.

Information in the following areas applies to several distinct water sports in each case:

• Water safety
• Boat building
• Boat handling
• Small gasoline engines
• Navigation at sea
• Inland-waters navigation
• Physical-fitness training
• Swimming technique
• Swimming strokes
• Sports coaching
• Team-sports leadership
• Rescue swimming

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