Surfing and kayaking have emerged as two of the most popular and accessible water activities, according to a recent study by DIPNDIVE. Despite the high costs associated with these hobbies, they continue to attract millions of enthusiasts worldwide. The study examined a variety of sea-related hobbies, focusing on factors such as annual costs, social media presence, and participant numbers.
Ranking of Popular Water Activities
DIPNDIVE’s study analyzed nine popular water hobbies, accounting for expenses like gear, maintenance, rentals, and services for those who engage in the activities at least twice a week. Surfing ranked third on the list, tied with kayaking for the highest annual cost at $3,500. Despite this, surfing scored an impressive 41.0, just behind ocean swimming, which scored 41.2. Fishing, however, was the clear favorite, with a score of 78.6, topping the list as the most popular water activity.
Social Media’s Influence on Popularity
One of the key factors driving surfing’s popularity is its robust presence on social media. With 21.8 million Instagram posts related to surfing, it ranks second only to fishing, which boasts 49.2 million posts. Kayaking followed with 5.9 million posts, further solidifying its place among popular water hobbies. The vibrant online communities surrounding these activities play a significant role in maintaining their appeal, particularly as social media enables enthusiasts to connect and share their experiences with a wider audience.
Despite its strong social media presence, surfing has a relatively low number of participants, with just 2.8 million people actively taking part. This places it third from the bottom in terms of participation, ahead of only skimboarding (1.7 million) and sea glass hunting (500,000).
Surfing’s Olympic Exposure
The recent inclusion of surfing in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris helped boost its visibility on the global stage. Although the competition took place 10,000 miles away in Tahiti, surfing remained one of the major draws of the Games, demonstrating the sport’s growing popularity and appeal.
Kayaking: Costly But Popular
Kayaking, while also among the more expensive water hobbies, came in sixth place on the list with a score of 34.1. Its relatively high cost has not deterred participants, as 13 million people actively engage in kayaking, making it the third most popular activity on the list in terms of participants. Like surfing, kayaking’s strong presence on Instagram contributes to its overall popularity, creating a thriving online community for enthusiasts to share their adventures.
The Balance Between Cost and Popularity
The study highlights the balance between affordability and popularity in water sports. While activities like surfing and kayaking come with higher costs, their widespread appeal and the sense of community they foster make them stand out. DIPNDIVE spokesperson remarked on this dynamic, saying, “It’s interesting to observe the intersection of affordability and popularity in sea-related hobbies, revealing how certain activities resonate strongly with large communities despite varying costs. Our connection to the sea is as much about community and self-expression as it is about the activities themselves.”
Final Rankings
Based on the research, the most popular and affordable sea activities are ranked as follows: fishing, ocean swimming, surfing, snorkeling, beachcombing, kayaking, tide pooling, skimboarding, and sea glass hunting.
The findings underscore the enduring appeal of water-based hobbies, with social media and community-building playing significant roles in keeping these activities accessible and exciting for participants worldwide.