Do you know how to swim? If yes, then this summer have fun and impress yourself as well as everyone else with these crazy cool water sports, which are easy-to-learn even for absolute beginners. You might ask: “Why water sports?” Well, there are several motivating reasons for being on, in and under water and for loving it. Apart from the adrenaline rush while getting toned and tanned, the key benefits of water sports can be summarized as improved mental health, increased bone density, prevention of heart disease and diabetes, providing a natural treatment against arthritis, enhanced metabolism of the body, as well as ensuring that you can stay rejuvenated throughout the day. One thing is for sure: water sports are always fun-filled.

1. TOP 10 CRAZY COOL WATER SPORTS FOR
ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS
Posted by Wendy Stuart, VP Water Sports, Nuovo Nova
Table of Contents
● Crazy Cool Water Sports You Can Learn Easily
○ Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)
○ Flyboarding
○ Scuba Diving
○ Freediving
○ Snorkeling
○ Underwater Photography
○ Underwater Videography
○ Kayaking

2. ○ Kitesurfing
○ Jet Skiing
● Conclusion
(Last Updated On: 3rd June 2022)
Do you know how to swim? If yes, then this summer have fun and impress yourself as
well as everyone else with these crazy cool water sports, which are easy-to-learn even
for absolute beginners.
You might ask: “Why water sports?” Well, there are several motivating reasons for being
on, in and under water and for loving it. Apart from the adrenaline rush while getting
toned and tanned, the key benefits of water sports can be summarized as improved
mental health, increased bone density, prevention of heart disease and diabetes,
providing a natural treatment against arthritis, enhanced metabolism of the body, as well
as ensuring that you can stay rejuvenated throughout the day. One thing is for sure:
water sports are always fun-filled.
CRAZY COOL WATER SPORTS YOU CAN LEARN
EASILY
The thrill of enjoying the deep blue water, cool wind blowing in your hair and the
excitement you get while gliding through the waves or spotting rare marine life forms
can create memories to last.
Some water sports can be dangerous or extreme, while some can be relaxing and
energizing. Whether it’s for leisure or for competition, almost all water sports have a
universal appeal for beginners. If you don’t select something sophisticated like Technical
Diving as your first ever water sport activity, then don’t worry because there is a large
selection of crazy-cool water sports which are beginner-friendly, safe and practiced by
millions all over the world. After a few lessons and exercise runs they will surely
generate the highest level of fun and sense of fulfillment.
Here is a list of my personal Top 10 favorite water sports.

3. Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)
If you have a minimum of sense of balance, which I’m sure you have, then you will learn
and start having fun on a SUP almost immediately just after a few tries and inevitably
plunges into the water.
A paddleboard used to be a large and heavy piece of equipment. Nowadays SUPs with
innovative design are inflatable, hence very light and easy to carry around in a bag.
Some advanced types of SUPs are even equipped with a Kayak Conversion Kit, which
comes handy if you like to go fishing on a kayak, reach the far opposite shore of a lake
or visit a nearby island.
Another alternative use of a Stand Up Paddleboard is to convert it into a Yoga Matt.
Imagine greeting the sunrise floating on the flat surface of the ocean in quiet beach
surroundings and practicing Yoga on your SUP. Use your imagination for other
alternative uses!

4. Flyboarding
At first sight Flyboarding appears like something from a James Bond or Sci-Fi movie. In
fact, it has a lot of similarities to riding with a Segway Personal Transporter.
The key to successful flyboarding is all about correctly positioning yourself on the
flyboard and keeping your body weight at the center of the board. Just watch a short
instructional video. Such simple research should be enough to teach you all you need to
learn to fly high above the water and impress everyone watching you.

5. Scuba Diving
When we talk about Scuba Diving I become biased because I simply love this water
sport. Of course considering the fact of the high-tech fancy equipment and the physics
of the water as well as your body there is some knowledge to be mastered before
moving weightlessly over colorful reefs or exploring some mysterious wrecks.
After you arrive at your travel destination I would highly recommend getting a first
glimpse of what it means to be able to breathe freely under water while making use of
buoyancy to effortlessly and weightlessly hover at a certain depth and watch the marine
life around you. This is possible without any prior experience through participation at a
beginner’s course, like Discover Scuba Diving by PADI. Other diving associations like
CMAS or SSI offer similar introductory dives, as well.

6. Freediving
Freediving is equal parts mental and physical, internal and external, meditative and
thrilling. In very simple terms, it involves the use of relaxation and breathing techniques
to enter a state that allows a diver to spend extended periods underwater on a single
breath of air. Swimming underwater is like flying and Freediving is like subsurface
meditation.
The feeling of being weightless, of having the ability to move whichever way you please
without gravity limiting you, and feeling the water gently pressing down on your skin;
what can be more peaceful than that?
Freediving requires less equipment, and you have the absolute freedom of movement,
whether it is somersaulting through the water, dashing deeper to see an octopus, or
gently ascending to take a breath alongside a turtle. Watch this short video by SSI and
you will know what I mean and if Freediving appeals to you!

7. Snorkeling
Often categorized as a hobby rather than a sport, Snorkeling is about the joy of
watching and appreciating the beauty of the underwater world.
If you are trying Snorkeling for the first time, I recommend going from the beach or using
the ladder of a pier instead of jumping off a boat into deep water which under
circumstances can be daunting. Since Snorkeling opens the gates of the underwater
world to humans, which at advanced stages can lead to Scuba Diving and/or
Freediving, it is an ideal sport for children but, of course, also suitable for curious and
nature loving people of all age groups.
If you combine Snorkeling with some advanced gadgets like compact underwater
cameras (I recommend Nikon Coolpix and GoPro Hero) or an underwater scooter (for
example Yamaha RDS250), then the fun factor will surely increase significant

8. Underwater Photography
I love traveling all over the world and taking pictures of picturesque landscapes as well
as architecture but I have never seen such an incredibly rich variety of colorful subjects
waiting to be captured on camera like it is the case in a coral reef.
As an absolute beginner you can go snorkeling and use a compact waterproof instant
camera (for example Fujifilm FinePix XP140) to start taking quite decent pictures of fish
swimming around you between some rocks or resting under a pier.
Of course, there are more advanced ways of being involved in Underwater
Photography. The top of the pyramid is macro photography. Searching for rare sightings
and finding a tiny shrimp hidden between the branches of a similarly colored gorgonian
or a well camouflaged blenny putting its head out of a hole under a coral are just two
examples of what a fulfilling hobby, sport and adventure Underwater Photography can
be. Required are advanced buoyancy Scuba Diving skills, preferably experience with
the use of a rebreather in order to avoid scaring fish with water bubbles.

9. Underwater Videography
Since the early 70’s videography secured its place at the top of the list for most favored
hobbies. Thanks to advanced, easy-to-use, compact and also increasingly cheaper
camera technology Underwater Videography is now claiming a top spot in this very
same list, as well.
A common challenge with taking video and photos underwater is that there are often
large particles of sediment and plankton in between the camera and the object of
interest. When photographers take photos with a flash, light reflects off these particles
and show up as bright dots in the final shot. This reflection pattern is known as
backscatter. To address this problem, experienced video-/photographers use flashes
that are off to the side of the camera, called strobes, so that when a photograph is
taken, most of the light reflects back at the strobe and not at the camera lens.
The majority of what is explained above in conjunction with Underwater Photography
also applies to Underwater Videography. Before going too deep into the finesse of this
crazy cool water sport, why don’t you just watch this video by goPro below, afterwards
rent or purchase a subsea camera and simply take a plunge? You will love it!

10. Kayaking
When it comes to Kayaking some plunge down waterfalls while others fish relaxed from
their vessels, but kayakers have one thing in common: They all know a thing or two
about leading a healthy lifestyle.
If you are considering to hear the splash of your paddle and feel the gentle rock of the
waves, then you will be glad to learn that to start kayaking is extremely easy. You can
get a few short instructions and afterwards start immediately kayaking. Just pick the
right vessel for you, wear a personal floatation device, and have some kind of
communication and navigation device with you for checking the weather forecast,
finding your way back and if necessary for sending a distress signal.
Nowadays some modern kayaks are equipped with the innovative design feature of
being foldable which is very convenient for transporting it on board an airliner or in your
car to your vacation spot. I own such a light-weight foldable kayak, the Terravent K1 by
Phoenix Ryders. My idea of spending quality time on a kayak is whale watching off the
coast of Southern California while my drone hovers over me and captures breathtaking
moments of me in my kayak surrounded by gentle giants, most of the time Humpback
Whales or Orcas.

11. Kitesurfing
Although Kitesurfing, also known as Kiteboarding, is a water sport, it comes very close
to flying as shown in this short video by Univers Kite. The kite is the most essential
piece of equipment needed for this sport, they come in two types: a Leading Edge
Inflatable (LEI) and a Foil Kite.
Due to the forces of physics a kite does not fly with the wind but through the wind like
the wing of an airplane. Other than the kite there is also a control bar and lines attached
between the bar and the kite. Furthermore there is a harness used to connect your body
to the control bar. And finally there is the board. Boards come either as twin tip,
directional or as a hydrofoil type. Kitesurfing is another crazy cool water sport and you
can learn it easily.
But in order to frequently jump out of the water and “fly” advanced kite surfing lessons
are required. Qualified instructors can be found in most travel and vacation spots
around the globe, such as in these Kitesurfing Camps for Beginners in the USA.

12. Jet Skiing
Do you like cycling or riding a bike? If yes, then there is an equivalent water sport,
namely riding a Jet Ski. Jet Ski is actually a brand name by Kawasaki given to the first
personal watercraft of its kind in 1973 and since then the name established itself to be
generally used for all similar devices.
If you follow a few basic rules you are good to go almost immediately even if it’s your
first try. The first rule is about safety. Always wear a life jacket, and keep the engine
shut-off clip attached to your waist at all times so you can cut the engine if you lose your
balance and fall into the water. Always be aware of your surroundings, and never drink
while operating a Jet Ski. Start off by holding firmly onto the handles, engage the throttle
while keeping your speed low, about 5 to 10 miles per hour. At this speed you can
practice your turns. After you are comfortable, accelerate slowly to gain speed. It’s
normal for the nose of the jet ski to lift slightly from the water. Lift your body above the
seat a little bit to minimize impact as the Jet Ski hits the water again. The last rule is
about avoiding collusion with another vessel. When overtaking another vessel, pass
with care and make sure to stay as far away from it as possible.
That’s it, congratulations, you are now a seasoned Jet Ski rider!

13. CONCLUSION
Water sports can be addictive. The medical explanation suggests that exercise causes
the release of endorphins and dopamine in the nervous system. These chemicals
create a sense of pleasure or reward. Exercise addiction may be, in part, a dependence
on this pleasure response. Well, this might be the underlying reason but I firmly believe
that if you breathe the salty air while gliding over the waves, jump into the blue water
and become part of another world inhabited by fish, invertebrates and corals, you
become amazed and addicted. After you spend some time at the shores of an ocean, or
in fact even a lake or a river, returning back to the dull, gray, often stressful city life is
often combined with a disappointing feeling. Therefore try to enjoy every moment of
your precious vacation time with something meaningful, such as learning a new water
sport or increase your level of expertise in a water sport which you might have started
during previous year’s vacation. In any case, water sports are fun, they are crazy cool
and bring lots of benefits for your body and soul!
Posted by Wendy Stuart, VP Water Sports, Nuovo Nova
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