Best Water-Based Activities in Dubai
Going simply by preconceived notions of the city, Dubai may not be the first place you think of when it comes to water-based activities? However, that is simply not true as Dubai does have some very beautiful beaches to check out.
From swimming in the clear waters, to diving and taking in the underwater sights, and even indulging in some fun watersports, here are some of the best water-based activities to check out in Dubai.
Swimming
Dubai may be known for its towering skyscrapers, hot weather, and arid sand dunes but did you know that it is growing into a premier seaside destination as well?
With multiple beaches offering excellent views of its architectural marvels, the city is slowly growing to rival the neighbouring Abu Dhabi in terms of fun activities on the water.
Many beaches in Dubai have a blue flag award, meaning they are pretty safe for swimming. Here are some of the more popular ones to check out for your next swim:
The Beach
The Beach is a waterfront complex at the Jumeirah Beach Residences or JBR. It’s a popular attraction for people looking to do all sorts of activities at the same time.
The place already features an array of fun activities from watersports, to swimming, and to children’s play areas. They even have shopping areas and seaside restaurants to dine at in case you feel tired and hungry after a long hour of play.
It’s not a bad place to end the day’s events with a good swim in the water. There’s already changing rooms and shower facilities to make things a lot more convenient.
Kite Beach
Based on its name alone, you can expect Kite Beach to be buzzing with energy and activity. The place opens up many opportunities for sports like wakeboarding, paddleboarding, and of course, kitesurfing.
There’s also a 14 km long jogging track perfect for those looking to get fit while also getting a glimpse of the spectacular Burj Al Arab in the background.
Food trucks serving delicious snacks are stationed nearby in case you get hungry after a very long day of fun.
Al Mamzar Beach Park
The pristine white sand beach attracts a lot of people looking to swim under the ambiance of a tropical island that reminds one of the Caribbean. The Al Mamzar Beach Park has five beach fronts surrounded by palm trees breaking the urban monotony.
Residents swim in the blue water while others prefer to have a picnic by the trees. Barbeque stations make it easy to access a delicious meal after a swim.
The beach is also open exclusively to women on Mondays and Wednesdays, giving the ladies a great place to just unwind and have a swim with their friends.
Just remember to always follow the city’s beach rules, especially regarding clothing and modesty (men aren’t allowed on women-only areas or days).
Oh, and in case you’re worried about not being able to swim well, then don’t sweat. You can easily find some good swimming programs to get started here in Dubai.
Watersports
Of course, thrill-seekers looking for something more involved to sink their teeth into can always try the multitude of watersports available in Dubai’s beaches. You can visit places like the Kite Beach to get your adrenaline fix.
So if you’re ready to go beyond basic swimming and relaxing on the beach, why not give some of these activities a try?
Parasailing and Parasailing
Fancy a good view of Dubai’s waterfront and cityscape while soaring through the air like a falcon? Paragliding and parasailing may just be the right activities for you.
Sky Safari Emirates for example, provides a comprehensive paragliding experience complete with a taster, pilot training, and other customised inclusions as requested by the client.
You can soar through the Al Faya Desert, taking in the wonderful sights and you can even get a GoPro video of the experience as memorabilia.
Alternatively, parasailing will have your parachute towed by a boat via a harness, allowing you to soar close to the water at around 200 metres. It’s a fun ride meant to help you enjoy the views of the beautiful water.
Sea Bird Water Equipment Rental is a good provider for this kind of activity, with packages meant for solo flyers or group excursions and activities.
Flyboarding
You don’t need an arc reactor to experience flying on rocket boosters like Iron Man. Flyboarding allows you to fly freely above water without jumping off high buildings or hanging off a parachute tied to a boat.
If you can keep your balance, you simply get on a water-propelled flyboard that will shoot you up to nine metres high in the air.
Think of it as like skateboarding but on the water rather than wheels and concrete. If you’re good, then you might just be able to pull off some really intense flips and somersaults.
Check out a service like Nemo WaterSports over at Jumeirah and rent some equipment to get started.
Go on a Personal Boat Tour
Combine leisurely sightseeing with some high-speed thrills via OdySEA, billed as Dubai’s only self-driving boat tour. You can operate a personal HERO boat with your family and see the sights and sounds from a new angle at your own pace.
Alternatively, you can choose to simply sit back and let someone else drive the boat. In that case, you can always go on The Yellow Boats which combines the top speed of the HERO with a more laid-back experience.
Diving
Of course, you can always take your swimming to the next level and get up close and personal with life underwater. With the appropriate gear, you can go down deep and experience what it’s like underneath the waves in Dubai’s diving spots.
Fortunately for divers, the Arabian gulf has rather warm and clear waters pretty much the whole year. It is easy to just jump in at any time.
Jumeirah Beach
As a traditional dive on the open water, the Jumeirah Beach is a good place to start due to its nearby shallow areas and interesting sights to behold in the depths.
Aside from getting up close and personal with the marine life, it is also a good chance to explore some shipwrecks, making for quite a memorable trip and an impressive sight to see.
There are a number of diving businesses operating in the area like Nemo Diving, Royal Diving Centre, and Deep Blue Sea Diving so take your pick anytime.
Dubai World Islands
With construction halted around the artificial islands, the World Islands make for a good adventure for scuba divers.
Small colonies of plants and animals currently dot the surrounding areas, and the islands themselves are still maintained by the Dubai government in anticipation of its eventual development.
Deep Dive Dubai
Perhaps you just aren’t feeling like driving and sailing a long distance just to dive in deep open water. In that case, you may want to try diving in some of Dubai’s man-made pools.
If you want additional thrill however, you may want to try Deep Dive Dubai. It is considered to be the deepest pool in the world, with a depth of around 60 metres and holding over 14 million litres of water.
It is tailored to diving and snorkelling lovers, with the deep diving experience open to only those with actual certifications. However, younger divers past the age of ten are still allowed up to at least 12 metres down.
Underneath, you can feast your eyes on a simulated underwater city, complete with cave-like networks for added immersion. You can even have fun peering into the windows to see the people exploring indoors.
With a little creative thinking, you can easily get the most out of every location within Dubai. Even its waters offer unique experiences and sights that will surely make your trip memorable.
So put on your best swimming gear and come on down to see the things its waters have to offer.