Bucket List Water Activities That Will Make Life a Lot Less Boring

Life’s short.

Spend your whole life camping/biking/hiking/etc every weekend? Even shorter.

Yet there’s an entire world of outdoor water activity sitting right there waiting. Waves, mountain lakes, dramatic coastlines — and most people completely ignore it.

Until now.

What you’ll actually discover…

• Why Outdoor Water Activities Should Be On Your Bucket List
• An epic list of bucket list-worthy water activities
• And how to get into them without overthinking things.

Why Outdoor Water Activities Should Be On Your Bucket List

Let’s get one thing straight…

When you take part in an outdoor water activity, it’s not just for fun at the time. Research shows that time spent swimming, paddling and playing in the water creates long-term improvements to mental and physical wellbeing.

Yep. Water activities reduce stress, improve mood, and help you build resilience like almost nothing else.

And all this can happen pretty quickly too.

Countless studies agree. Physical exertion, concentration required, being outdoors — they all add up to something that really can change you. Whether you’re after an adrenaline rush, some much-needed headspace, or even something to blog about — you’ll find it via water.

Got your attention yet?

Hit Play and let’s get into the actual list.

The Epic Outdoor Water Activities Your Bucket List Needs

Outdoor water activities come in all shapes and sizes. Some will calm your mind. Others will have you flying off cloud nine. You might even find ones that do both at the same time.

Here are 10 watersports to try that definitely fit the bill…

Coasteering

Ok, let’s start with something most people have probably never heard of.

Coasteering involves swimming, scrambling & cliff jumping along a stretch of natural coastline (all without a boat!). Think outdoor water activity multiplied by ten. Rocky outcrops, crashing waves, sea caves, uninhibited rivers meeting the sea — you name it.

Few outdoor sports place you in ‘the moment’ like being tossed around by the Atlantic Ocean.

Try coasteering adventures in Cornwall, widely accepted to offer some of the best coastlines in the world. High cliffs, breathtaking terrain, and sprawling beaches cover almost every inch of coastline. Chances are you’ll find yourself spellbound.

Additionally, according to a new study from SwimTrek, 75% of outdoor swimmers experienced mental or physical health benefits from taking part in a guided open water swimming experience. And water sports were up over 9% between Summer of 2022 and Summer of 2023. One of the biggest increases across all outdoor activities.

Outdoor water activities just might be good for you.

White Water Rafting

It’s difficult to not sell this one.

Put simply: white water rafting is an outdoor water activity guaranteed to send you airborne. Teams, rafts, and willing waterfalls ready to toss you downstream. Communication is key. So is teamwork. But when you run a rapid successfully, there’s nothing quite like the feeling radiating through the boat.

Available for beginners and experts alike. Rapids are graded so you can find your level and progress from there.

Sea Kayaking

Sea kayaking is the calm counterpart to white water rafting — but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s anything less than incredible.

Paddling out across open water, rounding towering sea stacks, accessing tucked-away beaches you can’t reach any other way. Kayaking on the sea is about as unique of a viewpoint as you can get. And once you’ve tried it, you’ll probably never realise how close it sat behind your ears this whole time.

Equipment hire and half day guided experiences are widely available for beginners.

Open Water Swimming

Yes. We’ve saved swimming for last. For a reason.

Wild swimming has seen an enormous spike in popularity over the past decade for good reason. Salt water (or even fresh), zero lines for claustrophobic lanes to swim between, and being completely exposed to the elements. It demands your attention. And research shows time and time again just how good it is for you mentally and physically. Not to mention, you’ll find a downright addictive endorphin rush after a cold water dip that lasts for hours.

Beaches and inland lakes are your friends. But a decent wetsuit is gamechanging — especially early on.

Surfing

Ah yes, the classic for a reason.

There’s always something to learn about surfing. And that’s kind of the point. Even complete beginners can get up and ride waves with just a few hours of tuition. But take it from there. Surfing can take you as far as you’re willing to progress.

Check out the research too. Surfing and mental health have a wildly positive connection. Little things like the rhythm of the ocean, time spent concentrating on your breath, and abundant time outdoors all contribute.

Stand Up Paddleboarding

In need of a bit of a chill pill?

Stand up paddleboarding is another reason why watersports are exploding in popularity. Relaxed? Check. Beginner-friendly? You bet. Total body workout whilst thinking about as little as possible? You got it.

Flat lakes, sheltered beaches, and calm estuaries are ideal spots. And stand up paddleboarding is one of the easiest watersports to try. Hourly hires are readily available in most coastal areas — no experience required.

Cliff Jumping

Easy. Refreshing. Life-changing.

Ok fine. Not life-changing. But it’ll sure make you feel like it.

Cliff jumping is one of those things that literally doesn’t require much to do — just enough courage to jump. You’ll spend about three seconds in the air before feeling like a million bucks.

Join the millions who can’t seem to stop adding it to their bucket lists.

Scuba Diving

…and diving deserves a mention of its own.

Scuba is the one water activity that allows you to literally explore a new world. Dive half an hour down and you’re in territory most people spend their entire lives vowing to visit. Dive sites, coral reefs, wrecks, caverns, and sea life you don’t know the names of. Complete your PADI Open Water license (a weekend of fun) and you’ll have access to dive locations all over the world.

Everything else doesn’t feel like a problem anymore.

Wrap Up

The whole point of a bucket list is to have a collection of things you actually want to do.

Sure — going to the gym and reading a book are on there for most people. But you know what’s not on there?

Outdoor water activities.

They’re fun, they boost both mental and physical health, and they provide an exhilaration that day to day life often lacks.

Pick one. Take the plunge.