Underwater sports facts for kids

Underwater sports are a cool group of competitions that happen mostly underwater! People use special gear like diving masks and fins to compete. These sports can take place in pools, lakes, or even the open ocean. They combine swimming, diving, and teamwork in unique ways.

You might hold your breath, use a snorkel, or even scuba dive during these events. It's all about skill and speed below the surface!

What Are Underwater Sports?

Underwater sports are competitive games played in water. They use different diving styles. These include holding your breath (called freediving), using a snorkel, or using scuba gear. Scuba gear lets you breathe underwater.

These sports happen in many places. Some are in big open water areas like the sea. Others are in calm places like lakes. Many are also played in swimming pools.

Common Gear for Underwater Sports

To play underwater sports, you often need special equipment.

• Diving mask: This helps you see clearly underwater.
• Fins: These are worn on your feet. They help you swim much faster.
• Snorkel: A tube that lets you breathe air from the surface. You can keep your face in the water.
• Scuba gear: This includes a tank of air and a regulator. It lets you breathe underwater for a long time.

Types of Underwater Sports

There are many exciting underwater sports. Each one has its own rules and challenges. Here are some popular ones:

Underwater Hockey

Underwater hockey is also called Octopush. Two teams try to push a heavy puck into the opponent's goal. Players wear masks, snorkels, and fins. They hold small sticks to move the puck. It's a fast-paced game played at the bottom of a pool.

Underwater Rugby

Underwater rugby is a team sport played in a deep pool. Two teams try to score goals. They put a negatively buoyant ball into the opponent's basket. The baskets are at the bottom of the pool. Players wear masks, snorkels, and fins. It's a tough game where players wrestle for the ball.

Finswimming

Finswimming is like regular swimming but much faster! Swimmers use special fins. Sometimes they use a single large fin called a monofin. This helps them glide through the water very quickly. Races happen in pools or open water.

Freediving

Freediving is about holding your breath underwater. Competitors try to go as deep as possible. Or they try to stay underwater for as long as they can. Some freedivers also swim long distances underwater. It takes a lot of training and focus.

Underwater Orienteering

Underwater orienteering is like a treasure hunt underwater. Competitors use a compass and a counter. They navigate a course underwater. The goal is to find special markers. This sport tests your navigation skills.

Other Underwater Sports

There are even more unique underwater sports:

• Aquathlon: This is a type of underwater wrestling.
• Spearfishing: This involves hunting fish underwater using a spear.
• Sport diving: This often involves tasks like finding objects underwater.
• Underwater football: A game similar to football, but played underwater.
• Underwater ice hockey: Hockey played upside down under a sheet of ice!
• Underwater photography: A competition to take the best photos underwater.
• Underwater target shooting: Aiming at targets underwater.
• Underwater video: Creating the best underwater video.

Images for kids

• 

  Freediver using monofin in pool competition in London, 2009.

• 

  Freediver using monofin in depth competition (location & date not known).

• 

  Underwater rugby match (location & date not known).

See also

In Spanish: Deportes subacuáticos para niños