Joanna James
The idyllic Maldivian archipelago is not just famed for its diverse marine life, powdery-white sandy shores and azure waters. It is also home to a multitude of thrilling water activities providing an adrenaline rush like no other. Discover the top 7 adrenaline-pumping water sports in the Maldives.
One of the top thrilling activities in the Maldives, parasailing requires some courage and grit. It entails being towed by a boat carrying a life-size parasail wing. Where will you be? Strapped onto a harness on this wing, ready to sail away once the boat picks up speed. Once airborne, leave your worries behind and soak in the breathtaking vistas of the ocean and Maldivian islands beneath you.
This action-packed sport is the new kid on the block. It is bold, daring, risky and utterly gratifying and ideal for the extreme thrill-seeker. Flyboarding literally entails flying off a mini surfboard. Given its potential risks, it is best attempted by more experienced adventurers. Your instructor will make you stand on a board featuring a pair of boots fitted with jet nozzles underneath. This board is attached to a watercraft or jet ski via a lengthy hose. Once water pressure is applied through the hose, you will be propelled into the air like a spring, guaranteeing a split-second flight in the air.
Are you a skateboarding enthusiast? Then wakeboarding is your cup of tea. It is essentially everything involved in skateboarding but on water. Wakeboarding entails clasping onto a rope attached to a speedboat, which pulls you along. Your feet will be fitted to a board that serves as a spring allowing you to walk, glide or perform adrenaline-pumping aerial tricks.
Picture flying a kite but on the surface of the water. How is it possible? Your feet are fitted with a surfboard-like base, and you will be holding onto a giant parachute-like kite. The wind propels the power kite forward while the force of the waves propels your board from underneath. This causes you to glide on the water or, at times, sail a few inches above it due to the kite pulling you upward. Many luxury Maldives resorts, the likes of Heritance Aarah Maldives, offer in-house kite surfing experiences. Properties such as these provide a premium all-inclusive experience by offering diverse dining, accommodation, and leisure options and having in-house professional instructors for various water sports, including kite surfing. These professionals will guide you on the basics of kite surfing and ensure you have both a rewarding and safe experience.
This popular water sport, also known as sailboarding, is a mix of sailing and surfing. You are guaranteed to have the best of both worlds. It involves surfing on a surfboard fitted with a life-size transparent sail/wing. You are in control of your board and sail.
While fun tubing may not sound like much of an adrenaline-pumping activity, rest assured it is. It entails being seated inside an inflatable tube, which is then pulled by a boat. The thrill of the ride is to ask the driver to speed up. As you do, be prepared for an aquatic rollercoaster ride like no other. Feel the adrenaline flow through your veins as the waves jerk, bump and bounce you around.
Jet skiing is undoubtedly a popular water sport worldwide. It is also the go-to water sport in the Maldives. Considered the faster, more thrilling variation of water skiing, jet skiing guarantees yet another adrenaline rush. The thrill is in the speed, which allows you to bounce roughly over the waves. The turns can be equally satisfying as the spray of seawater washes all over you.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
