List of water sports

Many sports are played in water. The following is a list of water sports, divided by category. This list is not complete. Some of the sports include only one part to swimming, as for example Triathlon.

In the water (13)

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

Underwater water (6)

• Diving
• Scuba diving - Swimming under water using a (self contained) breathing apparatus
• Free-diving - The aim to maximize the depth dived using no breathing apparatus
• Apnea - The practice of not breathing for extended times.
• Underwater rugby - Rugby played under water with a ball that has been rendered neutrally buoyant. Surfacing to breathe is only allowed without the ball.
• Underwater hockey - 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.

Near the water (20)

• Boating - The use of boats
• Bodyboarding - Similar to surfing, but the board is smaller and the person lies down on the board
• Canoeing
• Canoe Polo - Polo using a canoe
• Dragon Boat Racing - A team paddling sport on water
• Fishing - 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 - 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 - The sport or pastime of riding a wave towards the shore while standing or lying on a surfboard.
• Wakeboarding - Similar to water skiing, but using only one board attached to the feet
• Wake skating - Similar to wakeboarding, but the board is NOT attached to the feet
• Water skiing - Using skis to slide over the water while being pulled by a boat or other device
• Wind surfing - On flat water using wind for propulsion in combination with sails

Overall, there are a total of 39 water sports.