Get your diving shorts on and get ready to swim into the deep end! An underwater obstacle course is a great way to learn how to dive and hold your breath underwater.
Complete with a variety of challenges and items to grab, this pool game adds a dash of adventure and sportiness to any party or swim gathering.
Accessories or Set Up Needed for the Obstacle Course
Luckily, most of the items needed for an obstacle course could be things that you already have.
Toys such as pool noodles, swim rings, swim goggles, and diving sticks are good items to use. Also, any other items that can sink to the bottom of the pool would be useful.
While any pool can be used for an underwater obstacle course, it is ideal to have a deep end so swimmers can dive and jump into the pool. Owners of above-ground pools or shallow pools can certainly still create their own obstacle courses!
How To Create an Underwater Obstacle Course
The aim of the Underwater Obstacle Course is for participants to swim through a series of obstacles placed underwater, with the fastest time marking the winner.
Before starting, set up the course layout and explain the sequence of obstacles to all participants. Be specific if they need to pick something up or if they aren’t allowed to touch certain items.
If a participant misses an obstacle or makes any type of mistake, add 5 seconds to the final time.
Starting a Round
Once the obstacle course is set up and everyone understands how to navigate it:
- One by one, each participant dives underwater and tries to go through the course.
- They must swim through, around, or under each obstacle, depending on its nature.
- The time taken for each participant to complete the course is recorded. Add any additional time for penalties or missing an obstacle.
- The participant who completes the course in the shortest time wins the game.
Rules to Follow
- All obstacles must be navigated as intended. For example, if an obstacle is to swim through a hoop, participants must swim through it. A penalty will be added if it is not correctly followed or missed
- Interfering with other participants or the course is not allowed.
Strategy
Success relies on a combination of strong swimming skills, speed, and agility. Participants need to pace themselves to ensure they can hold their breath throughout the course.
Smooth transitions between obstacles can also help shave seconds off of the time.
If you are going near the end, watch how other participants are going through the course and take note of any mistakes or successes they have.
Variations
- Adjust the difficulty of the course by adding more obstacles or increasing the distance between them.
- Include special challenges at certain points in the course, such as retrieving an object or performing a specific maneuver.
Safety Precautions when Diving
- This type of game requires advanced swimming techniques and diving skills. Ensure all participants are strong swimmers and are comfortable diving and staying underwater.
- Make sure the pool area is free from any hazards or obstacles that are not part of the course.
- The obstacles used should be safe and not pose any risk of getting trapped
- Adult supervision is required for all participants!
Start Diving!
An underwater obstacle course is a fantastic way to improve swimming skills, boost fitness, and add an exciting competitive edge to pool time.
So, set your course, take a deep breath, and let the underwater adventure begin!
