Sports · Hobbies
Water sports
Activities on, in or under water.
Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Wild swimming
Swimming in rivers, lakes and sea — enormously rewarding, and the one hobby here that regularly kills people who get it wrong.
£25–£100 to start · outdoors · demanding
Clément Bucco-Lechat / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Triathlon
Swim, bike and run in one race, with the transitions counting too — an endurance sport where the hardest part is usually the water.
£300–£1,000 to start · outdoors · very demanding
Harry Somers from Miami, Florida, USA / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Wing foiling
Holding a handheld inflatable wing while riding a hydrofoil board — the newest wind sport, and the one with the steepest first fortnight.
Over £1,000 to start · outdoors · demanding
Sea fishing
SportFishing the coast from shore, pier or boat — free to start, open all year, and the branch of angling with the most serious safety story.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
Yacht cruising
HobbySportMaking passages and living aboard a cruising yacht — where the planning, the maintenance and the weather decide far more than the sailing does.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
Packrafting
SportCarrying a boat in your rucksack so a walk can cross or follow water — what the boat is for, how it differs from kayaking, and where the risk actually sits.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Narrowboat restoration
HobbyCraftBringing a canal boat back — the survey that decides everything, the steel, the systems, and the safety regime that says whether the work passed.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
Kayaking
SportPaddling a closed boat — four different sports sharing a paddle, and why sorting out which water you want comes before choosing a boat.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Also in this category
Classified but not yet written up.
88 activities in the catalogue, 8 written up so far.
Aquathlon
SportSwim then run, with no bike — the cheapest way into multisport racing.
£25–£100 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Artistic swimming
SportChoreographed routines in water, judged on execution and difficulty, with adult and masters entry routes.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Beach tennis
SportVolley-only racket sport played over a high net on sand.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Beach volleyball
SportTwo a side on sand, where the surface does most of the damage.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Bell boating
SportPaddling twin-hulled stable craft, used as an accessible introduction to team paddling.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Blokarting
SportSailing a small three-wheeled land yacht on beaches and airfields.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Bodyboarding
SportRiding waves lying on a short foam board, with fins.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Bodysurfing
SportRiding waves on the body with swim fins and at most a handplane, the cheapest surfing there is.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Canoe camping
HobbySportMulti-day journeys by open canoe, carrying camp in the boat rather than on your back.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Canoe polo
SportFive-a-side ball game played in kayaks, with contact.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Canoe sailing
SportHobbySailing an open canoe under rig, a distinct tradition from both canoeing and dinghy sailing.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Canoeing
SportPaddling an open canoe with a single blade, solo or tandem.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Canyoning
SportDescending a river gorge by scrambling, abseiling, sliding and jumping.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cave diving
SportDiving flooded cave systems on guideline, with no direct route to the surface at any point.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Celestial navigation
HobbyFixing position by sextant sight and almanac, still taught as the backup when electronics fail.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsSedentary
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Coastal navigation
HobbyChartwork, tidal heights and streams, and pilotage in sight of land — a certificated skill in its own right.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsSedentary
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Coastal rowing
SportRowing stable open boats on the sea, in crews, often in community clubs.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Coasteering
SportTraversing a rocky coastline by climbing, swimming and jumping into the sea.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Competitive diving
SportSpringboard and platform diving, judged on entry and execution, learned from dry land upwards.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Coracle building
CraftHobbyBuilding and paddling the traditional hide-or-canvas river boat, usually on a weekend course.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Decorative ropework
CraftTraditional knot work — mats, bell ropes, Turk’s heads — a sailor’s craft that survives ashore.
Under £25 to startIndoors or outdoorsSedentary
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Deep water soloing
SportClimbing above deep water without ropes, where the fall is into the sea and the tide is the belay.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dinghy racing
SportRacing small sailing boats around courses, where tactics matter as much as speed.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dinghy sailing
SportSailing small responsive boats where every mistake is immediate.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dragon boat racing
SportTwenty paddlers in one boat, to a drum, over short sprints.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Finswimming
SportRacing in a monofin or bifins, on the surface or below it, at very high speeds.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Freediving
SportDiving deep on a single breath, with formal training in safety and technique.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Gig rowing
SportRacing six-oared wooden pilot gigs off the south-west coast, a revived Cornish tradition.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Gorge walking
SportAscending a river gorge on foot, scrambling and swimming, usually with a guided group.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ice sailing
SportSailing bladed craft across frozen lakes at several times wind speed.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ice swimming
SportSwimming in water near freezing, a governed sport distinct from ordinary cold-water dipping.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Kayak surfing
SportRiding breaking waves in a short surf kayak or waveski, judged in competition on the same waves as surfers.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Keelboat racing
SportClub and one-design racing in ballasted boats, sailed as a crew with defined roles.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Kitesurfing
SportRiding a board pulled by a steerable power kite.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Lifeboat volunteering
HobbyCrewing or shore-supporting a volunteer lifeboat station, on call and trained to a service standard.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Longboard surfing
SportSurfing on boards over nine feet, where trim, noseriding and small waves are the point.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Marathon swimming
SportLong-distance open water racing and channel crossings, ratified by observers rather than timed on a scoreboard.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Masters swimming
SportStructured adult squad swimming with age-group competition, open to anyone over about twenty-five.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Model yachting
HobbySportRadio-controlled sailing on ponds, raced competitively in classes with strict rules.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsSedentary
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Narrowboating
HobbyCanal cruising at walking pace, with locks, licences and a wholly separate culture.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Oar and paddle making
CraftShaping oars and paddles from timber, a satisfying single-object craft.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Offshore yacht racing
SportRacing yachts overnight and across open water, with watch systems, weather routeing and safety qualifications.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Open canoe touring
SportHobbyJourneying by open canoe on rivers and lochs, camping as you go.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Outrigger canoeing
SportPaddling a stabilised ocean canoe, individually or in crews, over long open-water distances.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Para swimming
SportCompetitive swimming within a functional classification system, from club galas upwards.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Punting
HobbyPropelling a flat-bottomed boat with a pole, on a small number of English rivers.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Raft building
HobbySportBuilding a floating craft from barrels, poles and lashings, then finding out whether it works.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Rowing
SportSweep or sculling on flat water, individually or in a crew.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sail making
CraftCutting and sewing sails to a designed shape, with hand finishing at the corners and edges.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sailing
SportUsing wind to move a boat, from a dinghy on a lake to a yacht offshore.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sauna and cold plunge
HobbyAlternating heat and cold immersion, increasingly organised around coastal saunas.
£25–£100 to startIndoors or outdoorsGentle
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Scuba diving
SportHobbyBreathing compressed gas underwater, under a formal training and certification system.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sculling
SportRowing with two oars, solo or in small boats, on rivers and lakes.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sea kayaking
SportKayaking on open coast, where tide and weather planning matter more than paddling.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ship spotting
HobbyLogging and photographing shipping, using coastal vantage points and vessel tracking.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsGentle
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Skimboarding
SportRunning onto a thin board on wet sand and skimming out to meet a wave at the shore break.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Skin-on-frame boatbuilding
CraftBuilding kayaks and canoes as a light lashed frame under a stretched skin, in a few weekends.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Small boat restoration
CraftHobbyRestoring clinker dinghies and small craft, which is joinery, caulking and paint over years.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Snorkelling
HobbySportWatching underwater life from the surface with mask, snorkel and fins.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsGentle
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Spearfishing
SportHobbyHunting fish on breath-hold with a speargun or pole spear, under species and season rules.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Stand-up paddleboarding
SportStanding on a wide board and paddling flat water, or small surf.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Surf lifesaving
SportA competitive sport built from beach rescue skills — swims, board races, runs and rescue drills.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Surf ski paddling
SportPaddling a long sit-on-top ocean racing kayak, in open water and downwind runs.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Surfboard shaping
CraftShaping and glassing boards from foam blanks, in a garage or a shared bay.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Surfing
SportRiding breaking waves standing on a board.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Swimming
SportPool swimming for fitness, technique or competition.
Under £25 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Swimrun
SportAlternating swimming and trail running in the same kit, usually in pairs.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Technical diving
SportDiving beyond recreational limits on mixed gas with planned decompression and redundant equipment.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Tidal pool swimming
SportHobbySwimming in sea pools and tidal lidos, sheltered from open water risk.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsModerate effort
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Underwater hockey
SportA six-a-side sport played on the bottom of a pool with short sticks and a weighted puck.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Underwater photography
HobbyPhotographing below the surface, where light, housing and buoyancy control matter more than the camera.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Underwater rugby
SportA three-dimensional pool sport played on the bottom with a negatively buoyant ball, on breath-hold.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wakeboarding
SportRiding a board towed behind a boat or on a cable park.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Water polo
SportSeven a side in deep water, treading water for the whole game.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Water skiing
SportSkiing on water behind a boat, on one ski or two.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
White water kayaking
SportPaddling rapids, where reading water is the whole skill.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Whitewater rafting
SportDescending rapids in a crewed inflatable raft, paddled to commands from a guide at the stern.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wild water racing
SportRacing long unstable kayaks down whitewater against the clock rather than through gates.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Windsurfing
SportStanding on a board holding a rig, steering by moving the sail.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wreck diving
SportHobbyDiving shipwrecks for their archaeology and marine life, with distinct training for going inside.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet