Trish Kelson
Located on an island just off the mainland, the emirate of Abu Dhabi is one of the Middle East's best tourist destinations. It has also gained a reputation for being a hotspot for water sports.
One of the water sports that is spreading through Abu Dhabi like wildfire is flyboarding. Promising an exhilarating experience without the need for any special skill, flyboarding is sure to be enjoyed by all those who love an adrenaline rush. The way flyboarding works is by strapping your feet onto a board with powerful nozzles which are connected to a tube that is attached to a jet-ski engine. As the jet-ski engine powers up, it sends a surge of water which blasts out of the nozzles with such force that the board is lifted off the water, taking you along with! You can reach up to heights of 10m and even do some thrilling back flips!
Abu Dhabi is also very popular amongst fishing enthusiasts, as the waters of the Persian Gulf are rich with many species of marine life. The best season for fishing in the waters of the Persian Gulf is during the months of September through April. One can expect to catch the likes of queenfish, tuna, sailfish, dorados, and kingfish. There are also deep-sea fishing tours on offer, where you can board a trawler and witness how fishing is done out in the deep-sea. All in all, it's safe to say that the fishing experience of Abu Dhabi is pretty rewarding.
The waters surrounding Abu Dhabi are known for their world-renowned dive sites. Splendid coral reefs that have served as breeding grounds and habitats for marine life for centuries, as well as many fascinating wrecks await all those who take the plunge into the deep blue waters of the Persian Gulf. The diving sites of Abu Dhabi are diverse in their skill-level, so that both novice and veteran divers can enjoy the waters around Abu Dhabi. A great resort with a state-of-the-art water sports centre to make use of while sightseeing in Abu Dhabi is the island getaway known as Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villa Resort.
Combining water aerobics and cardiovascular exercise, aqua biking entails a stationary-bike, which is submerged in water. The water acts as a natural resistance, and thus, riding the aqua bike promises to give you one heck of a workout. There are many different types of workouts that you can engage in while on this bike to get in shape and get your daily exercise. So if you are worried that you might gain a few pounds during your vacation or just want to stay in shape, give the aqua bike a spin!
This is more of a challenge than it is a mainstream water sport. Inspired by the long tradition of pearl diving in the Middle East, the pearl diving experience at Yas Waterworld gives you a taste of what it was like to be a pearl diver back in days yonder. Your objective; retrieve three pearls from a 5m deep water tank while holding your breath all the while, just like how it was done back in the olden days. Think you are up for the challenge?
Wakeboarding is another thrilling and adrenaline pumping water sport that is extremely popular in Abu Dhabi. It is much like surfing, the only difference is that you don't need waves, because you will be pulled at speeds over 50mph by a speedboat! The breathtaking speeds combined with the wash that the speedboat creates makes for a truly unforgettable experience.
