Abu Dhabi is a watersports haven, so it’d be a crime not to dip your toe into what’s on offer while you’re here. Whether you’re a total newbie or seasoned pro, it’s time to get your feet wet – and our A-Z guide will give you plenty of inspiration.
A is for aqua biking
A combination of water aerobics and spinning, aqua biking is a workout on an underwater stationary bike. Don your swimming gear and you’re all set for a 45-minute trial.
Dhs125 first class, from Dhs155 thereafter. L’Atelier Aquafitness, Al Wasl Road, Safa 1, Dubai, www.latelieraquafitness.com (04 338 8323).
B is for bodyboarding
This is surfing for wimps. You ride waves lying on a 60cm-long board, rather than standing on it. Try it on Rush Rider – a manmade 7x8m wave – at Yas Waterworld. Unlike the ocean, where waves come from behind a surfer, Rush Rider waves gush towards you at 45km/h.
Despite lying down, it’s a full-body workout. Dhs200 for one hour, Dhs235 entry. Yas Island, www.yaswaterworld.com (02 414 2000).
C is for cable skiing
Cable skiing is waterskiing without the boat; instead, you’re dragged around at 38km/h by a rope connected to a raised cable. Al Forsan International Sports Resort has two lakes, one for four beginners at a time and one for seven pros.
Dhs125 one hour. Near Abu Dhabi Golf Club, www.alforsan.com (02 556 8555).
D is for deep-sea fishing
Learn how to bait and catch fish from the depths of the ocean using a sustainable trawling method. Dive Mahara runs three-hour catch-and-release tours off the coast of Sir Bani Yas Island for up to four people.
From Dhs2,200. www.divemahara.com (02 643 7377).
E is for Eskimo rolls
If you want to try surfing but don’t have a board, visit Wadi Adventure in Al Ain. The water park’s pool is 150m long, with waves over three metres, so you can practise all the floaters and Eskimo rolls you want.
Dhs100 for 90 minutes or Dhs150 for a one-hour lesson, plus Dhs50 adults’ entry, Dhs25 kids’ entry. Directions on www.wadiadventure.ae (03 781 8422).
F is for Flowboarding
Terrified of the sea? Well, thanks to Rush Rider at Yas Waterworld, you can learn how to surf without going near it. Flowboarding is a variation of surfing, but instead of water rushing from behind you it’s shooting towards you, over a bouncy rubber surface. To maintain your balance, you bend your back leg and lean your weight on it – the opposite of surfing.
Dhs200 for an hour, Dhs235 entry.
Flyboarding
A similar concept to the JetLev Flyer, a Flyboard lets you shoot in the air like a rocket. You strap your feet into boots attached to a board, which is powered by a hose linked to a Jet Ski. When the Jet Ski engine guns, the board rises three metres in the air – taking you along with it.
Dhs300 for 30 minutes, Dhs500 for one hour. Abu Dhabi Marine Sports, Kite Beach, Yas Island, info@flyboards-uae.com, www.flyboards-uae.com (050 817 3071).
Fly Fishing
Nope, we don’t mean the style of fishing popular with men over 50 – we mean the exhilarating inflatable ride that flies a metre above the waves at Ghantoot Marina. The vessel resembles a T-shaped banana boat, which you cling to for dear life as you’re whisked in the air by a speedboat. Yikes!
Dhs120 per person, suitable for two to four people. Ghantoot Water Sports (050 123 4603).
G is for Ghantoot Marina
Forget that scene in Jaws: The Revenge. When you fall off a banana boat at Ghantoot Marina, nothing will gnash your toes. Dhs70 per person, suitable for two to five people.
Follow Sheikh Rashed Al Maktoum Road (E11) towards Dubai, take exit 399, then the flyover and head for Al Jazira Resort. Ghantoot Water Sports, Ghantoot Marina, www.ghantootmarina.com (02 562 9168), more details above.
H is for Horseriding in the sea
Scenes from Black Beauty will no doubt flash through your mind as you canter through waves on a guided tour with Dhabian Equestrian Club. Every Saturday at 7.45am the club hosts three-and-a-half-hour beach rides for riders able to trot. Start at the stables in Al Rahba, pass through desert then splash in the sea. Experienced riders over 10 years old can also try the Royal Bay Ride with Sir Bani Yas Stables on Sir Bani Yas Island. The two-hour ride runs along a beach, with the chance to spot gazelles and deer. Dhabian Equestrian Club, directions on website.
Dhs350 including breakfast on the beach. Email Tina Al Qubaisi at dhabianequestrianclub@gmail.com. www.dhabianequestrianclub.webs.com (050 134 7141). Sir Bani Yas Stables, Dhs350. Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara, dirs@anantara.com, www.desertislands.anantara.com (02 801 5400).
I is for inflatable
If watersports are too much effort, try whizzing around on an inflatable doughnut instead. The Watercooled gang at Hiltonia has fashioned an inner tube into a raft with handles for you to cling to while you’re yanked around by a speedboat at 32km/h. As the boat weaves in tight circles and figures of eight, you’ll be flung around till you fall out, which is part of the fun. Up to three people can ride at a time, and a ride lasts 10 minutes. Ghantoot Watersports offers the same service for two to four people.
Watercooled, Dhs115 one person, Dhs160 for two, Dhs185 for three. Email bookingsauh@watercooleduae.com. Hilton Abu Dhabi, Corniche, www.watercooleddubai.com (02 639 5997). Ghantoot Watersports, Dhs120 per person, details above.
J is for JetLev Flying
If you’ve ever wondered what it’d be like to hurtle into the air like a rocket, try JetLev Flying with Gulf Water Sports in Ghantoot Marina. The first of its kind in the UAE, the JetLev Flyer is a 16kg carbon fibre backpack attached to a 10m hose, with an engine the size and shape of a Jet Ski at the other end. The engine shoots water into the hose, rocketing whoever’s wearing the jet pack 10m into the air at 40km/h. Fun, no?
Dhs995 30 minutes, Dhs1,400 one hour. www.gulfwatersports.ae (055 297 9311).
Jet Skiing
If you don’t have a Jet Ski, rent one in Ghantoot Marina. The price is per Jet Ski, so share with a pal to bring costs down. Over-16s only.
Dhs300 30 minutes, Dhs500 one hour. Ghantoot Watersports, details above.
K is for Kneeboarding
If wakeboarding appeals but you’re too chicken to try it, try kneeboarding instead. It’s similar, you just do it on your knees so you feel steadier. Give it a go at Al Forsan International Sports Resort.
Dhs125 for one hour, details above.
L is for lessons
If you’ve never learnt to swim, now’s the time. Not only are you missing out, but lessons could save your life. Dive Mahara teaches kids and adults separately. Classes teach you safety skills such as treading water, as well as breaststroke, frontcrawl, backcrawl and butterfly. Learn at Westin Hotel Golf and Spa, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Yas Island and Abu Dhabi Golf Club or your preferred location if you opt for private lessons.
From Dhs680 for eight 30-minute sessions, from Dhs1,500 for 10 30-minute sessions, details above.
Liquid Rain
The Liquid Rain parties at Maï Café are legendary. Combining custom-built rain machines, sound effects, strobe lights and smoke machines with an infinity pool, how could they not be? The first one of the year in March went down a storm. If you missed it, catch the next few on April 25, May 30 and June 20.
Aloft, next to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, www.aloftabudhabi.com (02 654 5000).
Liwa Loop
Fans of adrenaline rushes should try Liwa Loop, the first looping waterslide in the Middle East. Once you’ve climbed inside the capsule, you’ll hear a countdown then the trapdoor beneath you opens. You’ll drop 16.5m – higher than a double decker bus – at 64km/h. Terrifying! The momentum carries you upside down and along the 260ft slide.
Yas Waterworld, details above.
M is for monoskiing
Cable skiing? Pah! Tried that. If you want a bigger challenge then monoskiing – where you balance on a single, narrow board – is for you.
Dhs125 for one hour. Al Forsan International Sports Resort, details above.
N is for Noukhada
When it comes to kayaking, you’re spoilt for choice. If you crave adventure, Noukhada operates tours in the islands off Al Rahba which are hidden from civilisation. The company also runs 90-minute mangrove tours from its launch point, E48, next to Eastern Mangroves by Anantara. If you want to paddle without a guide, start from their dock at Yas Beach on Yas Island where you can kayak under the watch of lifeguards or further out to Ferrari World. Sea Hawk Watersports offers a two-hour guided tour of the mangroves from behind Eastern Mangroves by Anantara, while Watercooled has four kayaks to rent for those wanting to explore the Corniche. Experienced kayakers could loop Lulu Island in four and a half hours with Watercooled, or kayak parallel to Saadiyat Beach with Bake.
Noukhada Al Rahba Friday tour, Dhs220. E48 tour, Dhs150 adults, Dhs110 kids under 10. Yas Beach rental, Dhs100 for one hour, www.noukhada.ae (02 558 1889). Sea Hawk Watersports, Dhs150 adults, Dhs130 kids, www.sea-hawk.ae (02 673 6688). Watercooled, Dhs60 for 30 minutes, Dhs90 for one hour, Dhs180 for two hours, details above. Bake. Dhs100 single kayak per hour, Dhs150 double kayak per hour. sales@bakeuae.com.
O is for open water scuba diving
Dive Mahara runs sea dives off the Breakwater and Saadiyat Island. If you’ve never dived before you need to earn an open water scuba diving certificate from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) first; this costs Dhs2,465 for a theory book and DVD, two days in a pool and four open water dives, each of which last three hours. Already certified? Then two 40-minute dives costs Dhs420 if you don’t have your own gear; if you do it’s Dhs320. More advanced divers can join a wreck dive an hour’s boat ride from the city during which you’ll dive 28m, or explore wrecks off the coast of Sir Bani Yas Island (Dhs520 with equipment, Dhs420 without).
Dive Mahara, details above.
P is for paddleboarding
Stand-up paddleboarding – SUP or paddleboarding for short – is the latest craze in watersports. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll understand why: it’s affordable, you work out your whole body, it can be as gentle or tough as you like and it’s suitable for families. If you’re gutted you missed the paddleboarding festival at Emirates Palace last month, sign up for the free festival at Yas Marina April 17-18 (call 02 657 5470). You can also have group paddleboarding lessons anytime with Noukhada.
Dhs200 per person, details above.
Pearl diving
The Yas Pearl Diving Experience at Yas Waterworld gives guests the chance to plunge five metres to the bottom of an underwater tank in a quest to collect three oysters with pearls inside. Inspired by the Emirati tradition of pearl diving, you have to hold your breath throughout. The one-hour adventure takes place four times a day and is suitable for anyone over eight. You get to keep the pearls you find.
Dhs149, entry extra, details above.
Q is for quest
Kids will love PearlMasters, a quest for lost treasures at Yas Waterworld. The interactive treasure hunt will see them darting about the park in search of clues hidden inside 70 themed quest items such as treasure chests, oversized oysters and sea-creature sculptures. They’ll have to solve ancient puzzles and get to fire water cannons along the way, too. If you’re fast, it’ll take four hours and if you succeed you’ll win a wristband that gets you special treatment in the park.
Dhs10 an hour, details above.
R is for rafting
You don’t have to wait for a flash flood to go white water rafting in the desert – just head to Wadi Adventure in Al Ain. The water park has two 1.1km rapids, varying from grade one – as gentle as a lazy river – to grade four.
Dhs100 for 90 minutes, plus Dhs50 adults’ entry, Dhs25 kids’ entry details above.
S is for snorkelling
Abu Dhabi’s reefs are teeming with fish, and if you’re lucky you’ll also spot turtles and dolphins. Dive Mahara runs snorkelling trips within 30km of the city around Al Dhabiyah, Ras Ghurab and Saadiyat Island.
Dhs230, details above.
Soapy football
Play football at Aqua Fun with up to 16 players on a slippery, soapy, rubber-padded field. The challenge is not to fall. Other activities such as zorbing are also on offer.
Dhs20 per person per 30-minute game, or Dhs125 for a park pass. Corniche, www.aquafun.ae (055 266 8227).
Synchronised swimming
Watch the spirit of the pearl show, a synchronised swimming performance at Yas Waterworld. An international troupe performs six times a day in the park’s purpose-built pearl diving aquarium, which is free for guests to watch.
Details above.
T is for team building
If your office watercooler chat is limited to ‘How are you?’ then you need a team building day at Watercooled. You’re bound to see your colleagues in a different light once you’ve helped each other around a bespoke obstacle course, which might involve racing around floating cones, a paddleboard relay or jumping through tyres on the beach.
Price on application, details above.
Tower of Neptune
If your idea of fun is freefalling down a slide nine storeys high in a second, before floating through a tube surrounded by sharks, hot foot it to Aquaventure Waterpark.
From Dhs250 for adults (Dhs165 with Emirates ID), Dhs205 for kids under 1.2m (Dhs140 with ID). The Palm, Dubai, www.atlantisthepalm.com (04 426 0000).
U is for UAE Dragon Boat Racing
Popular in southern China, dragon boat racing is a 2,000-year-old tradition involving wooden canoes propelled by teams of paddlers. The UAE Dragon Boat Racing organisation runs several practices a week at the Shangri-La, Al Bandar Marina, Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club next to Marina Mall and The Club, a members’ club near Mina Port. Most teams are mixed; some are competitive and some practise for fun before work, during the day, evenings or weekends. The association also takes part in annual races. The next one is scheduled for December at Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club.
Email Jason McKenzie on uaedragonboat@gmail.com (050 763 4008).
V is for Volvo Ocean Race
Learn how to sail now and who knows? It could be you taking part in the 2015 Volvo Ocean Race. Watercooled has three basic boats (the Kuba, Feva and Vision), and two advanced ones (the RS and Hobi 15), to cater for all levels. You can rent a boat without an instructor, but if you need guidance consider a 10-hour Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Start Sailing course – the next ones run April 18-19 and May 2-3.
Dhs145 one-hour rental basic boat, Dhs175 one-hour rental advanced boat, Dhs520 two-hour lesson, Dhs1,500 for RYA course. Watercooled, details above.
W is for wakeboarding
Wakeboarding is a combination of waterskiing, snowboarding and surfing. A wakeboard is smaller than a surfboard, but unlike a surfboard it is attached to your feet. Wind and waves aren’t required, because a speedboat pulls you along – you ride its wake, which is where the name comes from. Watercooled offers 20-minute lessons which include a five-minute coaching session on the beach. At the end of the lesson you’ll be able to stand up – how long for is anyone’s guess. Ghantoot Watersports also offers the sport, Wadi Adventure in Al Ain will from May; Al Forsan International Sports Resort also offers it except a cable pulls you around without a boat.
Watercooled, Dhs230 for 20 minutes, Dhs690 for one hour. Ghantoot Watersports, Dhs550 for one hour. Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Dhs125 for one hour, details above.
Wakeskating
Imagine doing flips on a skateboard, but instead of a pipe beneath you there’s a lake and you’re being propelled across it by a cable. That’s wakeskating. Dhs125 one hour, Al Forsan International Sports Resort, details above.
Waterskiing
As with skiing, waterskiers attach their feet to two skis, only instead of whizzing over snowcapped mountains you skim the sea. It feels different, so even if you’re a semi pro skier don’t think you’ll have an easy ride – but you’ll have fun learning.
Dhs230 20 minutes, Dhs690 one hour. Watercooled, details above.
Wet ’n’ Wild
This kids’ camp is suitable for eight to 16 year olds. It gives them chance to try three different watersports in a single three-hour session. Activities change daily and include sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and paddleboarding, as well as a powerboat trip, beach safari on nearby islands and doughnut ride. 2pm-5pm April 10, 13, 15, 17; 10am-1pm April 14 and 16.
Dhs400 single session, Dhs1,000 three sessions. Watercooled, details above.
Wind-surfing
To be a good windsurfer takes time, effort, strength and balance, but if you’ve never tried it you’ll be surprised how quickly you can stand up and go. Getting on the board is as straightforward as pushing yourself up out of a pool. Once you’re on, stand up, find your balance and heave the rope to pull the sail out of the water. If it’s windy, you’ll be off. But you may need a lesson on how to turn back. Beginners or improvers can take a Royal Yachting Association Start Windsurfing course April 11-12, for Dhs1,500 for 10 hours. Dhs130 for a one-hour rental, Dhs580 for a one-hour lesson.
Watercooled, details above.
X is for Xtreme
It doesn’t get much more extreme than shark diving. For Dhs675 you can mingle with sand tigers, white tip reef and zebra sharks in Dubai Aquarium; they’re fed regularly so they’re not peckish and besides, we were assured, the instructor has a poking pole to prevent them coming too close. That’s okay then.
Dive Mahara, details above.
Y is for Yoga
On a paddleboard, that is. Try all your favourite poses from downward dog to cobra – just don’t blame us when you fall in.
Dhs100. Saturday 10am and 4pm, Watercooled, details above.
Z is for Zapcat
Bet you thought our Z option would be lame. Not so! Take a trip on a Zapcat, a thrilling inflatable speedboat – which you get to co-pilot. The catamaran accelerates to 64km/h in under two seconds, so it’s not one to try straight after a blowdry. The vessel holds two – you and the captain – but if there’s a group of you, up to five of your mates can go on another boat and try to capsize you with their wake.
Dhs250 for 30 minutes (one person), Dhs1,000 for 90 minutes (six people). Watercooled, details above.
