Aquatic

The word aquatic comes from the Latin word aqua, which means water. The adjective also describes
something that takes place in water. If you are on a swimming or diving team, you can say you are into
aquatic sports, which may take place at an aquatic center. If you visit an aquatic garden, you'll see plants
that thrive in water like water lilies and lotus flowers.
If it has to do with water, it's aquatic. If you prefer your volleyball net in a pool, it sounds like you're into
aquatic sports.
Swimming is the movement of the body through water using arms and legs.
Breaststroke
Good strength and cardiovascular workout; works your shoulders, chest and lat muscles
The Breaststroke is one of the few strokes that can be done with your head above or under the water
and is usually the first stroke that we learn as children.
Because it can be done without submerging yourself in water, it makes it easier to breath and gives you
better site lines (saving you from the pain of swimming into a wall).
Also, when doing the breast stroke, your leg and arm movements are relatively synchronous, which
means the rhythm is easier to pick up than that of other more complex strokes.
But, if you are using the breast stroke, don’t expect to win any races because it isn’t very fast.
Backstroke
Good recovery swim post workout; works you back and hamstrings
Fun fact: the backstroke has been used to help people with back problems because it is such as good
workout for the back muscles
The backstroke, as its name suggest, is done on your back. Well it can be difficult to find your balance to
stay afloat, once you do, you won’t have to worry about holding your breath. It’s more efficient than the
backstroke but slower than freestyle.
This stroke also provides poor visibility – unless you are interested in something on the ceiling.
The Butterfly Stroke
Burns fat and boosts metabolism; works your chest, back, core and shoulders
The butterfly stroke is a very impressive swimming stroke that uses a wave like movement and a dolphin
kick. It is also the second fastest stroke, next to the front crawl.
But, while it’s fast, it’s also very tiring and requires a more complicated body movement than the other
strokes.
Freestyle
Has the greatest force; works your chest, lat and back muscles
Freestyle is also known as the front crawl and is the fastest and most efficient swim stroke. That means
you can get much farther on the same amount of energy used for other strokes.
It is the preferred stroke of many swimmers and is used for long distance swimming because of its
efficiency.
Unfortunately, the freestyle stroke is not as easy to pick up as the breaststroke. It requires proper
coordination, of breathing and swimming, to be used effectively. And, you have to know how to hold
your breath because you will be submerged in the water for a large portion of your swim.
When we learned how to do the freestyle stroke in swim class, I remember the teacher would make us
say (in our head of course) “Pepsi, Coke, 7Up”. Each pop would be one stroke and we would have to
turn our heads and breath when we thought “Up”.
What Is Scuba Diving?
Scuba is a term that almost everyone has heard of. It is actually an acronym that stands for Self-
Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.
Scuba diving as a sport is when a person dives underwater to explore the ocean. There are various types
of scuba diving. However, for most people, scuba diving is an activity they do recreationally as tourists
while on vacation or holiday. Recreational scuba diving often is done off dive boats to experience
unbelievable dive sites. Recreational divers put on a scuba tank to breathe underwater to see the beauty
of the ocean and interact with sea creatures.
2. IMPROVES BLOOD CIRCULATION
While being underwater, your body is exposed to a pressure gradient. All your body muscles are working
simultaneously and require oxygen to do so, so your blood vessels open in order to bring that oxygen to
the muscles.
3. HELPS TO RELIEVE STRESS
The breathing techniques we use while diving are similar to the ones we use whilst meditating.
Focusing on watching the underwater life distracts your mind from ‘day to day’ issues, so allowing your
brain to forget about everything else for the duration of the dive.
This helps to enable our body and central nervous system to restore its natural balance.
4. IMPROVES CONCENTRATION CAPACITY
Being stuck in lock down and/or working from home, day in day out, can affect our concentration. One
of the benefits of scuba diving can help us to really focus on our day to day tasks.
When diving, you have to simultaneously keep your balance while swimming and also pay close
attention to your environment. As a result, your brain improves its concentration and awareness.
Synchronized swimming,
also called water ballet, exhibition swimming in which the movements of one or more swimmers are
synchronized with a musical accompaniment. Because of a similarity to dance, it is sometimes called
water ballet, especially in theatrical situations. The sport developed in the United States in the 1930s.
Synchronized swimming is an organized amateur sport in many areas of the world under the general
supervision of the Fédération Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA; International Amateur
Swimming Federation), which publishes a list of stunts (movements or figures) accepted in competition.
The FINA recognized synchronized swimming in 1954. Swimmers in solo, duet, or team (four to eight
persons) competition perform several required stunts together with several of their own choice. At the
Olympics and in world competition, they are scored by two panels of five judges on execution and style,
both of the individual stunts and of their musical routine as a whole.
Synchronized swimming for women was admitted as Olympic competition in 1984. The competition
originally consisted of solo and duet events, but both events were dropped at the 1996 Games in favour
of a single eight-member team event. The duet event returned to the Olympic program in 2000.
Swimmers were judged on both compulsory and optional figures.
Health Benefits of Artistic Swimming
Flexibility
Increased aerobic capacity
Increased stamina
Increased endurance
Increased muscular strength
Works the brain
Increased confidence and teamwork skills
Increased mental wellbeing
Water polo, sport played in a swimming pool by teams of seven with a buoyant ball resembling an
association football (soccer ball). The game was originally called “football-in-the-water,” and indeed it is
more like association football and basketball than polo, the name of the sport coming from an earlier
form of the game in which players rode barrels painted like horses and struck the ball with sticks. The
aim of the game is to score a goal by throwing or dribbling the ball between the goalposts and under the
crossbar of the defenders’ goal. The sport originated in Great Britain in the 1870s. The first rules were
established in Scotland in 1877, when goalposts were suggested. When the first international water-
polo match was held in London in 1890, Scotland won although the team was playing by British rules,
which subsequently formed the basis of international regulations. The game was introduced to the
United States in the 1880s. Great Britain was the first winner at the Olympic Games in Paris in 1900 and
also at the 1908, 1912, and 1920 games. Great Britain’s early world domination was overtaken by
Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, and eastern European countries.
Before World War II, two kinds of water polo were played: the water-soccer type, which used a fully
inflated ball, weighing between 400 and 450 grams (14 and 16 ounces), and emphasized skillful passing;
and the rugged body-contact style of play favoured in the United States, using a semi-inflated ball, with
the premium placed on retaining possession. After 1937, however, only the game with the fully inflated
ball has been officially recognized. Water polo is played in most parts of the world, and international
competition is widespread. Women began competing internationally in 1978.
Increased Endurance- Water polo players can swim upwards of 5 kilometers in a game
Weight Loss- Players can burn up to 700 calories per one hour of play
Improved Cardiovascular Health
Improved Strength
Easy on Joints- The water act as a cushion on joints and muscles, preventing injury and general aches
and pains associated with traditional fitness
Increased Flexibility
Body Toning
So, what exactly is open water swimming?
A fair question! Technically speaking, open water swimming takes place anywhere that isn’t a swimming
pool. This means no man-made sides and bottom, and no lane ropes or black lines to follow.
Open water venues include:
Lakes
Rivers
Lochs
Seas
Reservoirs
Immune System Boost & Other Health Benefits
It has been proven by scientists that by being immersed in cold water three times a week increases your
white blood counts which helps fight infection and boost your immune system by activating antibodies
and increasing metabolic rate. It also helps flush your circulation pushing blood through your arteries,
capillaries and veins as well as flushing any impurities giving you a better feeling of wellbeing. It has even
been proven cold water can reduce stress levels and even depression.
Better sleep
Open water swim training can result in a natural increase in the levels of a certain hormone called
prolactin in the body which may help to improve the quality of your sleep..