open water
Far from shore
Open water is a body of water without obstacles, boundaries, or ice cover—water you can swim or navigate freely across.
Swimmers distinguish open water from pool swimming: She trained for open water races in lakes and oceans.
In polar contexts, open water is unfrozen sea amid ice fields.
The term often implies exposure to natural conditions—waves, currents, weather—unlike sheltered or controlled environments.
Large pleasure vessel
- catamaranDouble-hulled sailing craft
- trimaranThree-hulled sailing craft
- schoonerMulti-masted sailing craft
- ketchTwo-masted fore-and-aft vessel
sloop · dinghy · regatta · passage · crossing · offshore · cruising · spinnaker
Massive saltwater body
- seaSaltwater body, not ocean
- lakeEnclosed body of freshwater
- gulfPartially enclosed sea
- bayPartially enclosed water
strait · channel · fjord · lagoon · estuary · inlet · sound · cove
Death by water inhalation
- sharkCartilaginous marine predator
- hypothermiaDangerously low body temperature
- riptideDangerous outward current
- undertowSubsurface seaward current
jellyfish · currents · waves · exposure · dehydration · disorientation · rescue · survival
Three-event endurance contest
- distanceSpace between two points
- marathonLong-distance footrace
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- wetsuitInsulating garment for water
sighting · buoy · stroke · freestyle · breaststroke · drafting · hypothermia · chop
Complete separation from others
- vastnessState of being immense
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- remotenessQuality of being faraway
- silenceTotal lack of sound
alone · exposed · vulnerable · insignificance · humility · awe · meditation · reflection
Entering water deliberately
- snorkelingSurface swimming with breathing tube
- scubaPortable underwater breathing gear
- kayakingNavigating slim watercraft seated
- paddleboardingWater sport, board and oar
kitesurfing · windsurfing · freediving · spearfishing · exploration · expedition · wildlife · reefs
yacht
Large pleasure vessel
- catamaranDouble-hulled sailing craft
- trimaranThree-hulled sailing craft
- schoonerMulti-masted sailing craft
ketch · sloop · dinghy · regatta · passage · crossing · offshore · cruising · spinnaker · tacking
ocean
Massive saltwater body
bay · strait · channel · fjord · lagoon · estuary · inlet · sound · cove · reservoir
drowning
Death by water inhalation
- sharkCartilaginous marine predator
- hypothermiaDangerously low body temperature
- riptideDangerous outward current
undertow · jellyfish · currents · waves · exposure · dehydration · disorientation · rescue · survival · distress
triathlon
Three-event endurance contest
wetsuit · sighting · buoy · stroke · freestyle · breaststroke · drafting · hypothermia · chop · waves
isolation
Complete separation from others
- vastnessState of being immense
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- remotenessQuality of being faraway
silence · alone · exposed · vulnerable · insignificance · humility · awe · meditation · reflection · freedom
diving
Entering water deliberately
- snorkelingSurface swimming with breathing tube
- scubaPortable underwater breathing gear
- kayakingNavigating slim watercraft seated
paddleboarding · kitesurfing · windsurfing · freediving · spearfishing · exploration · expedition · wildlife · reefs · underwater
open waterharbor
Safe anchorage for ships
port · protected waters · marina · safe harbor · sheltered waters
open, water, opening, watery, openly, opened, watered, watering, saltwater