Water hazards and Bunkers

Rules and relief options are slightly different for a ball in a Water Hazard and in a Bunker. Rule 26 covers relief procedures for a ball in a Water Hazard or lateral water Hazard. Relief procedures for a ball in a bunker is covered under various applicable rules like R 24, R 25 etc. No specicic chapter has been allotted to Bunker situations. Rule 13-4 covers prohibited actions in a Hazard- both bunker and water hazards.
Some of the players wrongly assume the relief procedures are the same for a ball in a bunker or water hazard. Murthy, a seasoned player from Bangalore, playing in the recently concluded Tata Open pro event, found his ball lying in a water hazard. His ball was also close to a fixed metal pipe inside the water Hazard.He requested for a relief for the fixed pipe under R 24-2(Immovable Obstruction). I politely declined the relief and explained to Murthy that such relief is not available in a water hazard. He was under the wrong impression that as in a similar situation in a bunker, he would have got a free relief, though the ball has to be dropped in the bunker and he expected the same for a ball in a water hazard..
In general, no free relief is available under R24-2 or R 25, for a ball in a Water hazard/Lateral water hazard. The only  relief available for a ball in a water hazard is that a movable obstruction can be moved under R 24-1, even if the ball is within the water hazard. This is another aspect which many players are unaware of and much of referee's time is spent on rulings on such issues. If the ball is in the water hazard, the player has to play the ball as it lies or proceed under Rule 26 with applicable penalty.
For a ball in a bunker, if there is interference under R 24-2(immovable obstruction) or under R 25-1(abnormal ground condition), he can get free relief but the ball has to be dropped in the bunker. If he wants to drop outside the bunker, he can do so in line with the ball but with a penalty stroke.
Another fine distinction between options in a bunker and water hazard is that a player cannot invoke R 28(Unplayable ball), if the ball is in a water hazard. he must proceed under R 26. If the ball is unplayable in a bunker, the player , with a penalty stroke, can drop 2 club lenghths or in line with the ball, but the ball must be dropped in the same bunker. He cal also go back to the spot of his previous stroke.