It’s an assumption of traditions. The familiar games of baseball, basketball and soccer are expected among betting sites and understood to be the favorites of fans across the world. The competitions that take place within arenas are recognized as worthy of all wagers, and there seems to be no need for alternatives.

The intention of sports betting has never been to accept the conventional, however. Instead it has always been to embrace all forms of athleticism, offering every game the respect it deserves (allowing individuals to choose from the ordinary and the unusual). And land-bound events aren’t the only selections available— instead gamers can seek out the water.

Too often are waves denied, thought to offer nothing beyond beauty, but there is a variety of sports to consider among them. Surfing, boating, polo, modern pentathlons (which span the land and sea, forcing participants to endure a grueling mixture of fencing, horseback riding and a 200 meter pool freestyle), diving, underwater rugby and even standard swimming. There is no end to the possibilities and each can provide a far more compelling experience than their traditional counterparts, if only because the point spreads are more challenging to predict and statistics are changeable. The variables are all laced to water and this makes them unsure.

Some bets do still remain obvious, however. Those looking toward the summer Olympics know to toss their dollars toward legendary Michael Phelps—it’s one of the sports world’s certainties.

There can be no denying that land-locked games are the most obvious choices for wagers. Their numbers are many and their rules are familiar. Those who favor the ocean, however, are not to be forgotten, they must instead simply seek outlets that support their passions. Finding such outlets is an all too simple thing, though, with the introduction of online connections. Bets can be placed throughout the world in a shared celebration of water.