Diving games are a fantastic way to combine fun, physical activity, and skill development in a safe environment for kids. These fun underwater games can be played in a swimming pool, a lake, or even at the beach, offering kids the opportunity to explore the underwater world while enhancing their swimming abilities. Fun games often encourage teamwork and friendly competition, making them ideal for a playdate, pool party, family gatherings, or summer camps.
When I think of a great game from my childhood, the first one I think of is the old classic game “marco polo.” Everyone knows that one right? We want to share a handful of other fun diving activities as well.
Whether you have a large group of very inexperienced swimmers or whether your kids are decent scuba divers, these games are fun for all!
Here’s a list of fun diving games suitable for kids that can be played in pools or at the beach:
- Treasure Hunt: Toss various weighted items (like dive sticks or rings) into the water and have kids dive down to retrieve them.
- Underwater Relay Races: Set up a relay race where kids must dive to a certain point and back, passing a baton or a floating object to the next teammate.
- Ring Toss: Place diving rings at the bottom of the pool and have kids try to toss smaller rings onto them from the surface.
- Shark and Minnows (or Shark Attack): One child is the shark and tries to tag the rest of the players (the minnows) as they swim from one side of the pool to the other.
- Diving for Pennies: Scatter a number of pennies or small coins at the bottom of the pool and see who can collect the most in a set time.
- Underwater Simon Says: Play a game of Simon Says, but all actions must be done underwater, like swimming in circles or diving down.
- Diving Board Tricks: If a diving board is available, kids can take turns showing off their best dives or jumps, with points awarded for style.
- Balloon Pop: Fill balloons with water and have kids dive to pop them at the bottom of the pool.
- Underwater Freeze Tag: One player is “it” and tries to tag others while they swim underwater. Tagged players must freeze until another player swims by to unfreeze them.
- Diving Obstacle Course: Set up an obstacle course with pool noodles, dive toys, and other items that kids must navigate while diving.
- Diving Duck: Kids take turns diving under the water to retrieve a toy or object while others cheer them on. The goal is to see who can be the first player to receive the most toys.
- Color Dive: Scatter colored objects (like rings or balls) in the pool. Call out a color, and kids must dive to find and retrieve an item of that color.
- Underwater Limbo: Hold a pool noodle or a float at a certain height and have kids dive under it without touching it. Lower it after each round. The last player standing wins.
- Bubble Blowing Contest: Kids dive underwater and try to blow the biggest bubble they can before coming up for air.
- Diving for Letters: Use foam letters and scatter them in the pool. Kids dive to collect letters and try to spell out words on the edge of the pool deck.
- Cannonball Competitions: Have kids dive in and see who makes the biggest splash! For an added challenge, you can even create teams (if you have at least 4 kids).
- Underwater Tic-Tac-Toe: Set up a tic-tac-toe grid on the bottom of the pool using weighted objects. Kids take turns diving down to place their different color markers.
- Diving Freeze Dance: Play music while kids swim or dive around. When the music stops, they must freeze in place underwater until the music starts again.
- Underwater Basketball: Use a floating hoop and a soft ball. Kids can dive to shoot the ball through the hoop from underwater.
- Diving Charades: One child acts out a word or phrase underwater, and the others must guess what it is based on their movements.
These games promote physical activity and water confidence which can help improve swimming and diving skills in a fun and engaging way! What’s better than jumping in a cool pool on a hot summer day? Children of all ages can enjoy these games as long as they can swim in deep water! These are a few of my favorites. What are some of your favorite pool games?