Fun Scuba Diving Games You Can Play Underwater

Best Scuba Diving Games

Treasure Hunt/Fish Find

A fun way to play the game in a group is to have a treasure hunt. Have someone hide waterproof items around the dive site and split into teams to try to find them. The first team to have all the required items on their list wins! Just remember to keep track of where everything was placed, we don’t want to leave unnatural items in our oceans and lakes.

Another way to do this is to make a list and find specific types of corals and underwater creatures. This could be the same dive site or reef. The team can use an honor system, or you can take a photo of each creature to provide evidence.

Bingo

A treasure hunt game, but this time using natural objects. For example, a clownfish, a certain statue, or even a scuba diver with braided hair. Create and use laminated bingo cards with each object on the card and mark them as you spot them. Bring an underwater camera to take photos and show them as evidence to avoid cheating.

Underwater Hockey

Underwater hockey isn’t just a fun game, it’s a real challenge. Sure, it’s played with snorkels and masks rather than scuba gear, but this underwater sport is a lot of fun. Underwater hockey (also known as UWH or sometimes even Octopush) originated in England in the 1950s and has since become a global sport with championships held every two years. If you love hockey and scuba diving, this is definitely a sport worth considering.

Spoon Race

Remember the egg and spoon races you used to play at birthday parties when you were a kid? Well, now it’s back as a fun game that you can play underwater too. Of course, you’ll have to make a few modifications to make it work underwater.

We recommend using an upside-down spoon and a ping pong ball or golf ball instead of an egg. Instead of worrying about the ball falling, your goal is to keep it from floating to the surface. You can even the stakes by turning it into a race or part of an obstacle course.

Underwater Rugby

We’re not entirely sure why underwater rugby is called underwater rugby, because it doesn’t look anything like the land-based sport. But we’ll forgive the weird name, because it sounds so much fun. The goal of the game is to throw a ball filled with salt water into a basket. Players are prohibited from blocking the basket (i.e. you can’t sit on it), but anyone with the ball can be “attacked” by members of the opposing team.

Underwater Darts

Think you’re good at darts, how about playing underwater? This isn’t as easy as it sounds, but it’s fun to try.

For an added challenge and to practice your buoyancy skills, do this while hovering in midair. You can up the difficulty even more by playing with your head down and fins up. Just make sure you’re playing in a pool or somewhere where you can’t impale a person or wildlife.

Underwater Card Games

If you just prefer being underwater, or maybe you’re looking for a way to get more comfortable underwater, then grab a pack of waterproof protective cases and dive in for a game of crazy eights, war, or even poker. If you’re feeling particularly creative, you could even organize an underwater poker run. A little tip if you go this route is to mark the cards differently at each stop (different colored dots, for example) to prevent dive buddies from getting sneaky and trying to switch hands before they surface with their last hand.

Underwater Obstacle Course

Many dive sites around the world have buoyancy control rings, snorkels, and other equipment to help divers achieve optimal buoyancy. While this is certainly an important skill to have and practice, you can make it a little more fun by turning it into an obstacle race. If you are experienced divers with good control, add a level of challenge by making some areas narrow enough that the diver has to remove his BCD and tanks and push them in front of him.

Note: If your group is planning an obstacle course game, you should always have a few divers to keep an eye on the “players” as safety is always a top priority.

Underwater Races

Have you ever tried to swim fast underwater without going against the current? If not, now is the time to try it because it is a hell of a lot of fun. Especially if you organize a race and get several of you to participate, or turn it into a relay race. Of course, you should save this snorkeling game for a pool or area with a sandy bottom to avoid the risk of damaging or colliding with corals.

Underwater Frisbee or Torpedo

Take the classic game of frisbee to the park and underwater. It’s best played in a pool (don’t risk hitting coral or sea life), but it can be a lot of fun. Plus, it’s a good way to practice buoyancy. Don’t have a frisbee? Don’t worry, turn it into a game of catch; whoever drops the “ball” or hits the bottom first loses. This game is also a fun and easy learning tool.

There’s also a torpedo-shaped toy with a weight for throwing underwater. You can play a game with it or just toss it around. Note that it will fly differently in the ocean, as salt water is more buoyant and there may be currents.

Geocaching for divers

If you’ve ever dreamed of finding lost treasure or pirate gold, geocaching is the best way to bring out your inner treasure hunter. Sure, you won’t get the actual treasure (the “prize” is usually a colorful box with waterproof paper on which you can write your name and the date you found it), but it’s a lot of fun.

One of the best things about geocaching is that it’s suitable for divers of all levels, allowing beginners to practice their skills and become more comfortable underwater, while also offering a fun game for experienced divers. Plus, geocaching for divers is available all over the world, and you can even do it on dry land.

Underwater Board Games

Chess, checkers, tic-tac-toe, and even dominoes can be played underwater. This is another fun idea for those trying to get used to breathing underwater, as the games make it easy to relax and focus on something else. Just make sure you have weighted pieces, otherwise you’ll be chasing your chess pieces to the surface.

If you’re on a sandy bottom, you can even use the sand as a tic-tac-toe board, or a piece of chalk if it’s in a pool. Some freedivers also play these games and have a timer that they have to finish before it runs out.

Underwater Pumpkin Carving

When Halloween season rolls around, why not test your pumpkin carving skills and see how creepy you can make your jack-o-lantern by carving it underwater?

We haven’t tried it, but those who have say it’s quite challenging, especially since the pumpkins are buoyant and try to escape by floating to the surface. This activity may seem a little strange, but underwater pumpkin carving is quite popular in North America and is done by groups of divers in lakes, quarries and of course, the ocean. Some places even host underwater pumpkin carving competitions.

Make sure to try to clean up the remains when you are done, as the fish are not supposed to eat the food. It is recommended to remove the insides of the pumpkin before entering the water.

Underwater Running/Biking

Whether in a pool or on a sandy bottom, trying to run or even just walk along the bottom is a fun activity. You can do this as part of a relay or individually. Putting on fins on your hands is also quite fun.

Many places have bicycles for photo shoots, although this may not be the most eco-friendly, if they are there, they are there. You can try riding them and time yourself. Please do not put the bike in the water unless all chemicals and plastic have been washed off.

Pass the Weight/Hot Potato

You will get weights of different sizes/weights and take them with you during the dive. They can even be on belt weights. You can do this during the dive or at the end during the safety stop (which I like to do).

The idea is to pass them back and forth trying to maintain neutral buoyancy at a certain depth without moving too much. This helps with your buoyancy skill, task load and air intake. I like to do this at the end of the cube as it is more challenging as you have less saris in your tank and they are lighter.

Bubble Rings

You usually use bubble rings at the safety stop, if you have enough air you can also lie on the bottom and inflate them towards the surface. This way they will expand as they rise towards the surface, it looks great in photos.

Another game you can play is to place objects and shoot bubble rings at them to knock the objects down. This can be fun, but make sure you breathe constantly.