Aquatic Recreational

Activities
What activities do you
usually do when you
are bored?
What activities do you
usually do when you
are bored?

Does it makes you

happy?
 Does it require physical and
interaction with other people?
 Does it require physical and
interaction with other people?

If its yes, then what do you

think is a RECREATIONAL
ACTIVITIES?
 Leisure is time spent for activities
not related to work. It is your free
time, that period when you do not
have to perform obligations such as
household chores, school work, or
office tasks. Hence, time spent for
life maintenance activities such as
sleeping and eating are not
considered leisure.
 Recreational activities
usually refresh one’s mind and
spirit. Examples of recreational
activities are gaming, travelling,
singing, and creating arts and
crafts. Even sports can be
considered leisure if these are
done not for competition but for
fun.
 According to Amy Hurd and Denise Anderson,
authors of The Park and Recreation Professional
Handbook (2011),recreation also needs to have social
value. Thus, they define recreation as an activity that
people engage in during their free time, that people
enjoy, and that people recognize as having socially
redeeming values" The two authors also note that "
while recreation activities can take many forms, they
must contribute to society in a way that society deems
acceptable , In other words, one can choose to engage
in recreational activities that contribute to society in a
positive way. Doing so allows one to use his or her free
time not only for physical fitness but also to satisfy social
needs.
 Aquatic
Recreational
Activities
 1. Swimming is propelling the body
in the water through the combined
movements of legs and arms while
floating. Recreational swimming is
probably the most common water-
based recreational activity as it requires
minimal use of equipment. What you
need is a swimming venue, your body,
some swimming gear, and your
swimming skills.
If swimming is
competition sports, why
is it under recreational
activities?
Recreational swimming is when one
swims to have fun and to enjoy the
water. It is different from competitive
swimming where participants follow
structured guidelines when it comes
to learning there exquisite skills.
Recreational swimming sessions, in
contrast, are less structured when it
comes to learning the swimming
skills.
 2. Kayaking is propelling a small
boat called kayak by paddling a
double-bladed or paddle. It can be
done in almost any body of water,
including seas, lakes, rivers, and even
in large pools. Typically ,a kayak can
accommodate one paddler only, but
there are some that can accommodate
up to three paddlers. When loaded,
the kayak "sits" low in the water.
 People engage in kayaking for
a variety of reasons. Aside from
giving health-related benefits,
kayaking also allows people to
navigate a body of water on
their own, in the process testing
their balance, body coordination,
and endurance while paddling.
 3. Surfing is a surface water sport which
involves a person-called surfer-“riding”
ocean waves using a special board called
surf board. The surfer rides on the forward
face of a moving wave which carries him or
her toward the shore. The most suitable
waves for surfers are usually ocean waves,
although some bodies of water such as
lakes and rivers can sometimes generate
waves that are strong and big enough tor
surfing. Surfers can also use artificial waves
created in artificial wave pools.
 4. Wakeboarding is another type of surface
water sports which involves a person commonly
called wakeboarder-moving over the surface of a
body of water while riding a special board called
wakeboard. The wake boarder, who uses
techniques adopted from surfing and
snowboarding, can be towed either by a
motorboat or a closed-cable system.
Wakeboarding is a rapidly growing sport in the
Philippines and many other countries. It is also
on the shortlist of possible sports to be included
in the2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
 5. Snorkeling is swimming on or through a
body of water wearing a snorkel, which is
composed of a mask and a tube. In snorkeling,
you swim only near the water surface so that the
tube connected to your mouth is above it. This
will allow you to breathe through your mouth
when you float underwater
Snorkeling is a fun activity, especially when
done in natural bodies of water such as lakes and
seas. It allows you to see and observe
underwater spectacles such as colorful corals and
schools offish.
 6. Water Aerobics exercises
done on land are also possible to be
performed in water. Such exercises
are called aquatic or water
aerobics. In water aerobics,
people perform traditional workouts
in a shallow part or a swimming
pool. Some exercises are done in
waist-high water, while some are
done in neck-high water.
 Water aerobics is the best way to enjoy the
water if you are not an able swimmer. Moreover,
engaging in water aerobics is an excellent
alternative to performing land-based aerobic
exercises, as the latter promotes low-impact
movement since the water supports your every
action, taking the pressure off of your muscles,
bones, and joints. Water pressure also helps your
heart in moving blood around your body.
Moreover, participants of water aerobics can
usually exercise far longer without getting
exhausted since water prevents Overheating.
 7. Free diving is essentially a form of
underwater diving wherein the individual
performing it relies on his own ability to
hold his or her breath underwater until
resurfacing. It does not involve the use of
any breathing apparatus. It has variations
and other forms which serve different
purposes such as spear fishing, free diving
photography, underwater football,
underwater rugby, etc. It is considered as
both a sport and a recreational activity.
 7. Recreational scuba diving is basically a
variation of scuba diving for the purpose of
leisure and enjoyment. Compared to the
"technical" type of scuba diving which requires a
greater level of training and experience and a
more complex set of equipment, recreational
scuba diving uses basic equipment only and does
not require specialty training. However, before
one can participate in this kind of recreation, he
or she must be physically, mentally, and
emotionally fit. In contrast to free diving, scuba
diving in general involves the use of a breathing
system, specifically, a scuba(a self-contained
underwater breathing apparatus).
What do you think
are the benefits of
water-recreations?
 Benefits of Water-based Recreations

Like any other physical activity, water-

based recreations can have substantial
health benefits. Swimming, for instance, is
an excellent aerobic physical activity. It
improves one's cardio respiratory endurance
and aerobic energy production. With regular
aerobic physical activities, chronic illnesses
such as cardiovascular diseases can be
prevented.
 Most water-based recreational
activities also require muscle strength
and endurance, such as on white-water
rafting and dragon boat racing. The
body's flexibility is also needed as
smooth movements of arm and back
joints are essential in most water-based
recreations. Recreational activities such
as these are perfect in testing and
regulating one's physical fitness.
 Aquatic recreational activities
also help in toning the body.
Kayaking, for instance, helps
flatten your tummy. Paddling on
both sides also builds up arm
muscles while steering and
guiding the kayak, which
requires the use of one's legs,
strengthens leg muscles.
 Water-based recreations also
relieve stress, there by
improving one's mental and
emotional condition. All these
activities enhance one's self-
confidence and self-worth. Active
recreation also improves social
interactions.
What do you think
are the Hazards of
Water-based
Recreational
Activities
 While water-based recreational
activities bring substantial health
and mental benefits, they also
pose serious hazards and health
risks. The World Health
Organization (WHO) categorized
these hazards into physical,
microbial, and chemical.
Physical Hazards
Physical Hazards
Physical Hazards

Physical hazards include drowning and

injuries. Drowning is one of the
unequivocal danger of water-based
recreational activities. Data from the
WHO in 2014 rates drowning as the third
leading cause of unintentional injury-
related deaths worldwide. The WHO
estimates 372 000 people worldwide die
annually due to drowning.
Microbial Hazards
Microbial Hazards
Untreated sewage pumped into water
bodies such as seas and rivers
contaminate the water, and contaminated
water puts people at risk for infections
that can cause diseases such as
gastroenteritis and upper respiratory
infection. In swimming pools, Viruses and
bacteria that are resistant to commonly
used pool disinfectants also put people at
risk for various infections.
Chemical Hazards
Chemical Hazards
Water contamination because of
chemicals also poses serious threats to
participants of water based recreations.
Chemical contamination in seas and
rivers are caused by industrial discharge.
In pools, chemical contamination is
usually caused by soap residues and
cosmetics. These chemical
contaminations may bring toxicological
effects to Swimmers.
 Aside from these hazards, there
are also water bodies that pose
threats because of the organisms
living in them. Aquatic predators
such as crocodiles and sharks may
attack people. Microscopic bacteria
and viruses and other parasitic
organisms may also cause serious
threats to one’s health.
How will you
prevent hazardous
in water
recreational
activities?
The WHO suggests some solutions
on how to reduce the risk of physical,
microbial, and chemical hazards
posed by water bodies during water-
based recreational activities. These
are the following:
On Drowning and Injuries
•The WHO believes that education is the key to prevent drowning and injuries.
Teaching participants of water-based recreations about the risks will make
them more Cautious such that they will strictly follow safety protocols.

•Informing them about basic life saving and first aid techniques will also help in
case any untoward incident does occur

•Vigilant supervision must also be encouraged. Instructors, leaders, and other

concerned people must constantly keep an eye on participants, especially
beginners and weak swimmers.

•To make the participants comfortable with water, they must be taught how to
swim.

•For organizers, developers, and owners of the swimming places, installing

fences and other safety devices will also prevent drowning and other accidents.
Pool design and warning Signals must also be included.
On Infections and Microbial Risks
•For microbial risks, the WHO encourages effective sewage
discharge procedures to be setup. Implementing an efficient
management and award scheme on beaches will also help.

•Swimming pool management must also apply only the

appropriate levels of chlorine and other disinfectants on
pools. Routine pool maintenance procedures must be carried
out, monitoring the levels of disinfectants as well as the pH
levels in pools. In case of accidental faecal release, the pool
must be emptied, disinfected, and cleaned. Filtering of pool
water must also be done. In relation, pool nitres must be
cleaned regularly.

•In swimming pools, pre-swim showering must be done.

Swimmers must be encouraged to demonstrate good hygienic
behaviour such as on the use of the toilets.
On Chemical Exposure
•In reducing the risk of chemical exposures on participants of
aquatic recreations, the WHO says monitoring and regulating
industrial effluents are the key solutions. To this end, it will be
up to the government to oversee such monitoring and
regulation. Concerned government agencies, for instance,
must promulgate and implement rules and laws in relation to
how industries discharge their waste. Developing damage
limitation action plans in the event of chemical spills must also
be done.

•Pre-swim showering and good hygienic behaviour should be

encouraged by organizers and observed by participants.
House pools should also have good ventilation. Swimming
pools must also be regularly maintained and cleaned.
Thank you and Godbless!!