Water Sports in Langkawi – Fun under the tropical sun

Thanks to the combination of picturesque landscapes, sprawling beaches, crystal blue waters and pristine waterfalls, Langkawi is a great location for sailing and offers plenty of protected anchorages. Over the past several years, the region has become a well-known sailing destination with major events like the annual Langkawi Regatta, attracting vessels from around the world. The island, at present has four marinas and several bases with first-rate facilities for sailing vessels around the islands. Some of the marinas are parts of resort developments and one could easily find classy Langkawi resorts like The Datai Langkawi, in addition to yacht services.

If you've ever wanted to try jet skiing, Langkawi is the perfect spot to start. The best place for jet skiing is the Pantai Cenang beach, in fact almost all the travel operators and beach counters here offer all kinds of water activities including Jet Ski rides. Before you book one though, do check to make sure the equipment they're using is safe, new and well maintained. In addition, keep a look out for Jet Ski tours that provide a professional guide who can take you to all the places of interest in the area.

With minimum equipment required, snorkelling is a great way to catch a glimpse of the amazing marine life teaming underwater. While you can snorkel around the main island, the best place for under water activities is the reefs around the Pulau Payar Marine Park. If you want a closer look, scuba diving is another fun activity that is best done near Pulau Payar. The deep waters away from the shore are rich in a variety of marine life you won't find near shallow waters. Large fish like barracudas, cod and snappers are just a few you can expect to see. Diving instructors here offer a one on one guide for anyone interested so whether you have previous know-how or not, you can enjoy the experience.

Once you've had your fill of the blue waters, take to the skies for a bird's eye of view of the coconut tree fringed beaches and beautiful islands and experience the excitement of parasailing. Parasailing, like other water sports, is quite popular in Pantai Cenang and it's hard to resist when you see all the colourful parachutes in the sky. Before you sign up for a ride, keeping mind that parasailing off the beach is illegal here due to several injuries occurring. The only legal form of parasailing is off shore so find a licensed operator who has a boat fitted with parasailing equipment; this is the safest and the best way of parasailing in Langkawi. The entire parasailing experience can last anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes, depending on your operators schedule.