Watersports Activities
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Phuket Scuba Club
This ecologically sensitive outfitter has a shop here and another on Karon. It can arrange day trips to Racha Yai and Racha Noi Shark Point et al, as well as live aboards to the Similan Islands, and it’s the only shop in the area to offer two beach dives from Hat Karon daily (11am and 3pm). The visibility isn’t as magical as more distant reefs, but there are interesting fish around, plus it’s close, so you’ll be able to slip underwater and be back with the family in no time.
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ski360°
Ski360° is a daredevil cable-ski installation at East Coast Lagoon where, if you can master the launch technique, you’re dragged around the lagoon on a wakeboard by a circular cable system.
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Wild Wild Wet
Price of admission allows access to unlimited rides: go-kart, slide, ride and splash around till you’re wrinkled, sunburnt and sore.
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Wilderness Waterway & 10,000 Islands
The finest way to experience the serenity and beauty of the Everglades - which is somehow desolate yet lush, tropical yet foreboding - is by canoeing or kayaking through the excellent network of waterways that skirt the northwest portion of the park. The 10,000 Islands consist of many (but not really 10,000) tiny islands and a mangrove swamp that hug the southwesternmost border of Florida.
The Wilderness Waterway, a 99-mile path between Everglades City and Flamingo, is the longest canoe trail in the area, but there are shorter trails near Flamingo.
Most islands are fringed by narrow beaches with sugar-white sand, but note that the water is brackish, not clear, and very…
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Zona de Banys
A 300m stroll east from the Edifici Fòrum is the Zona de Banys, with kayaks and bikes available for rent, the option to learn diving, and other activities. This tranquil seawater swimming area was won from the sea by the creation of massive cement-block dykes. At its northern end, like a great rectangular sunflower, an enormous photovoltaic panel turns its face up to the sun to power the area with solar energy. Along with another set of solar panels in the form of porticoes, it generates enough electricity for 1000 households. Just behind it spreads Port Fòrum, Barcelona’s third marina. The area is unified by an undulating esplanade and walkways that are perfect for…
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Hilton Beach
This beach has good facilities and attracts tourists from the nearby hotel. It is Tel Aviv's unofficial gay beach.
When the weather is warm Tel Avivans flock to the city beaches en masse. Here you'll find bronzed bods soaking up the Mediterranean rays, kite surfing and the knocking back and forth of little rubber balls in friendly matches of matkot (Israeli beach tennis).
The beaches are safe and clean, with changing rooms and freshwater showers scattered along its length. Swimmers, however, must heed lifeguard warnings when conditions become rough; a black flag means that swimming is forbidden; red means that swimming is dangerous and you certainly shouldn't swim by…
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Trumpeldor Beach
This beach tends to attract the teenage tearaways and is probably one of the least pleasant.
When the weather is warm Tel Avivans flock to the city beaches en masse. Here you'll find bronzed bods soaking up the Mediterranean rays, kite surfing and the knocking back and forth of little rubber balls in friendly matches of matkot (Israeli beach tennis).
The beaches are safe and clean, with changing rooms and freshwater showers scattered along its length. Swimmers, however, must heed lifeguard warnings when conditions become rough; a black flag means that swimming is forbidden; red means that swimming is dangerous and you certainly shouldn't swim by yourself; white means that…
reviewed
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Ge'la Beach
This beach tends to attract the teenage tearaways and is probably one of the least pleasant.
When the weather is warm Tel Avivans flock to the city beaches en masse. Here you'll find bronzed bods soaking up the Mediterranean rays, kite surfing and the knocking back and forth of little rubber balls in friendly matches of matkot (Israeli beach tennis).
The beaches are safe and clean, with changing rooms and freshwater showers scattered along its length. Swimmers, however, must heed lifeguard warnings when conditions become rough; a black flag means that swimming is forbidden; red means that swimming is dangerous and you certainly shouldn't swim by yourself; white means that…
reviewed
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Yerushalayim Beach
This beach tends to attract the teenage tearaways and is probably one of the least pleasant.
When the weather is warm Tel Avivans flock to the city beaches en masse. Here you'll find bronzed bods soaking up the Mediterranean rays, kite surfing and the knocking back and forth of little rubber balls in friendly matches of matkot (Israeli beach tennis).
The beaches are safe and clean, with changing rooms and freshwater showers scattered along its length. Swimmers, however, must heed lifeguard warnings when conditions become rough; a black flag means that swimming is forbidden; red means that swimming is dangerous and you certainly shouldn't swim by yourself; white means that…
reviewed
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Sheraton Beach
This beach has good facilities and attracts tourists from the nearby hotel.
When the weather is warm Tel Avivans flock to the city beaches en masse. Here you'll find bronzed bods soaking up the Mediterranean rays, kite surfing and the knocking back and forth of little rubber balls in friendly matches of matkot (Israeli beach tennis).
The beaches are safe and clean, with changing rooms and freshwater showers scattered along its length. Swimmers, however, must heed lifeguard warnings when conditions become rough; a black flag means that swimming is forbidden; red means that swimming is dangerous and you certainly shouldn't swim by yourself; white means that the area is safe.
reviewed
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Gordon Beach
A relaxed Tel Aviv beach.
When the weather is warm Tel Avivans flock to the city beaches en masse. Here you'll find bronzed bods soaking up the Mediterranean rays, kite surfing and the knocking back and forth of little rubber balls in friendly matches of matkot (Israeli beach tennis).
The beaches are safe and clean, with changing rooms and freshwater showers scattered along its length. Swimmers, however, must heed lifeguard warnings when conditions become rough; a black flag means that swimming is forbidden; red means that swimming is dangerous and you certainly shouldn't swim by yourself; white means that the area is safe.
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Warm Water Divers
One of the top dive outfitters on the island, Warm Water Divers offers all the courses and day trips (Racha Yai, Racha Noi Shark Point, King Cruiser, Anemone etc), but its live-aboard dive cruises to the Similans are a cut above the rest thanks to the stunning Chinese wooden sailing ship The June Hong Chian Lee (aka Respect Wind Travel Forever). It also leads half-day guided kayaking trips to remote and pristine beaches along the west coast, south of Patong.
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Aqua Sport Center
The Aqua Sport Center is the place to go for all sorts of water sports, including scuba diving (one-tank dive M$900), snorkeling rentals (per day M$150), jet skiing (per half-hour M$650), banana-boat rides (M$450 for up to five passengers), parasailing (M$500), sailboat rentals (per hour M$500) and kayak rentals (per hour M$200 to M$325). Water-sports equipment can also be hired from the beaches of most other large beachfront hotels.
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Plas Menai, The National Watersports Centre
The excellent Plas Menai, The National Watersports Centre, 3 miles out along the A487 towards Bangor, offers a year-round range of water-based courses for all interests and ability levels - from sailing to power-boating, plus multi-activity courses suitable for families and youth groups. Advance reservations are mandatory. The centre also offers on-site accommodation with en-suite B&B (rooms around £30) and a bunkhouse (dorms £20).
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Norlandsbadet & Spektrum Velvære
Here’s a very superior place to relax, tone up and warm yourself if it’s freezing outside. Exhaust yourself in its six swimming pools (you can zoom down an 85m water slide and splosh into one of them) then head upstairs to unwind in its six saunas (the one with therapy music and scents perhaps? Or does eucalyptus vapour tempt?). Soak yourself to the skin in the tropical rainforest shower or shiver in the ice grotto.
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Orlando Watersports Complex
Orlando may be landlocked, but its 300 plus lakes provide the perfect water playgrounds from waterskiing to parasailing. This complex uses aerial cables rather than boats to pull riders around two separate courses depending on skill level (boat pulls are available as well). It specializes in more extreme watersports like slalom waterskiing, trick jumping and wakeskating, and it's not unusual to see pros land a few jumps there.
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Boat Charters
Rawai is the best place to charter a boat to the neighbouring islands. You can lounge on nearby Ko Bon (800/2000B long tail/speedboat), snorkel off Coral island (1200/3000B) or Ko Racha (3000/7000B), and explore Ko Kai (4000/8000B). There are several reliable captains along the waterfront. Unfortunately, they no longer serve Ko Phi Phi. For private Phi Phi charters enquire at Chalong pier.
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Aqua Divers
The lone dive outfitter on the beach, it can take you to Phuket’s dive mainstays in the south, but you’ll probably choose to visit a few of the nearly two-dozen sites within 15 minutes of the beach. Nearby Ko Waeo is surrounded by vibrant coral, and there’s a sunken tin-mining platform, which is also a popular dive. Aqua Divers can also send you on day trips to the Similans.
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Ocean Divers
A veteran dive outfitter, Ocean Divers is Thai owned and operated and has been doing its thing since 1979. It offers live aboards to the Similan Islands, Ko Bon, Ko Tachai and Richelieu Rock, as well as day trips to Ko Racha Yai, Shark Point, King Cruiser Wreck and Ko Phi-Phi. And it has been recognised as a top eco-outfitter for its underwater garbage collection efforts.
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Paradise Diving
One of the best outfitters on the island, with speedboats on both sides of the north coast, nobody gets you from Phuket to Phi-Phi or the Similans faster than Paradise. As a result, day trips include three tanks and two meals. Paradise offers local dives at Ko Waeo and its shallow house reef, and you can charter its speedboat for tours through gorgeous Ao Phang-Nga.
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San Juan Waterfun
San Juan Waterfun can rent you pretty much anything that floats: banana boats, wave runners, kayaks ($20 per hour), small catamarans (with captain; $70 per hour), jet skis, water skis and knee boards. Or get airborne with some parasailing ($65 per person). It’s situated on Playa Isla Verde in front of the El San Juan Hotel.
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Ocean Geo Divers
The only PADI-certified five-star dive centre in the Rawai area offers all the courses you could want (it even offers an e-learning option for book work) and daily dive trips to Racha Yai and Racha Noi, Shark Point, Anemone Reef and Koh Dok Mai. Reserve a day in advance. Rates include a 7.45am pick-up, so you can shove off Chalong pier by 8.30am.
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Urban Trails Kayak Rentals
At Urban Trails Kayak Rentals you can take out a canoe or kayak for solo exploration, or join one of the company’s excellent guided expeditions of the Oleta River or the Everglades. Their website is a good information clearing house on local boating services, fishing conditions, crew postings and marine directories.
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Crazy Water
The aqua park Crazy Water has half-a-dozen water slides, a wave pool, a kiddies’ pool, and a playground area with sand, slides and tunnels. To get to the park from the Pyramids, drive 15km on the Cairo–Alexandria road from its intersection with Pyramids Rd, then turn left towards 6th of October City.
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All 4 Diving
Not just a full-service dive school (staff can teach you to become a dive master if you have the required 55 logged dives) and recreational dive centre, but also one of the best dive superstores in Phuket. It also books live aboards to the Similan Islands and day trips to local reefs (Ko Racha Yai and Sharkpoint, among them).
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