Water sports are among the most thrilling and exciting of Dubai sports. Adventure-smitten tourists who visit Dubai should try to find the time to enjoy some of the water sports like water skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing and deep-sea fishing. Dubai is sunny all year round and the warm waters of the Gulf is inviting to all water sport lovers. A travel to Dubai is incomplete without indulging in the activities of the sea.
Dubai Creek abounds in clubs and associations involved in water sports. They provide boats and equipment necessary for most of the water sports activity available in Dubai sports. All the clubs provide professional guides and instructors to make water sports a safe and enjoyable experience. Tourist on a visit to Dubai can easily locate clubs offering water sports services by contacting local travel agents or hotel concierges.
Water-skiing:
Water-skiing is an exciting activity while on a visit to Dubai. There are several water sports associations all along the Dubai creek that offer skiing facilities to both beginners and advanced skiers. Most of the hotels can arrange for water-skiing trips through local operators. For a sports lover visiting Dubai, there are several competitions besides pleasure trips across the creek, depending on the season.
Dubai Water Sports Association: This club is meant basically for Dubai residents, but people on a visit to Dubai can seek temporary membership. Water-skiing is one of the facilities offered at the club. Scuba diving facility is also provided. Contact: P.O.Box 13413, Dubai. Tel: 9714-3241031. Fax: 9714-3241684.
Jebel Ali Hotel and Golf Resort: Tourists traveling to Dubai can avail of speedboat services for water-skiing. Scuba diving facility is also provided. Contact: P.O.Box: 9255, Dubai. Tel: 9714-8836000. Fax: 9714-8837084.
Dubai Marine Beach Resort and Spa: This club is located on the Jumeirah Beach. Water-skiing facilities offered are for members and their guests. Scuba diving facility is also provided. Contact: P.O.Box: 5182, Dubai. Tel: 9714-3461111. Fax: 9714-3460234.
Metropolitan Resort and Beach Club: Water-skiing facility is offered for members as well as guests. Scuba diving facility is also provided. Contact: P.O.Box: 24454, Dubai. Tel: 9714-3995000. Fax: 9714-3994547.
Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa: This club offers water–skiing and jet skiing facilities. Tourists on a visit to Dubai can also avail of water-skiing lessons. Scuba diving facility is also provided. Contact: P.O.Box: 24970, Dubai. Tel: 9714-3995555. Fax: 9714-3995999.
Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Towers: Water-skiing and jet-skiing facilities are available. Scuba diving facility is also provided. Contact: Tel: 9714-3995533. Fax: 9714-3995577.
Royal Mirage Jumeirah Beach: Tourists who travel to Dubai can learn water-skiing here. Scuba diving facility is also provided. Contact: P.O.Box 37252. Tel: 9714-3999999. Fax: 9714-3999998.
The Jumeirah Beach Hotel: Besides water-skiing, wakeboards and kneeboards are also available here for rent. Scuba diving facility is also provided. Contact: P.O.Box 11416, Dubai. Tel: 9714-3480000. Fax: 9714-2482273.
The Ritz Carlton: Water-skiing and other water sports facilities are available. Contact: P.O.Box: 24454, Dubai. Tel: 9714-3994000. Fax: 9714-3994001.
Scuba Diving:
The warm waters of the Gulf are excellent for scuba diving. During the summer months the water temperature is so warm that there is no need for wetsuits. The waters do not get cold even during the winter and so scuba diving is an all year round activity that people who visit Dubai can indulge in. The Gulf waters are home to lovely tropical fishes, which can be found in and around sunken wreckages all along the UAE coast.
Facilities: Among Dubai sports, scuba diving is well organized with professional divers offering instructions to tourists visiting Dubai. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) provide approved instruction to beginners and advanced divers as well. Most of the scuba diving companies in Dubai take divers to the Gulf as well as East Cost waters.
There are some rules and regulations to be followed while going scuba diving on a visit to Dubai. All divers are expected not to break or touch coral reefs, not to remove anything from the sea, not to touch lobster pots or meddle with fishing nets and not dive to depths more than 30 m. Some of the companies, which offer scuba diving lessons as well as trips, include:
Scuba International (PADI Instructor Development center): They offer a full range of PADI courses starting from beginners to instructor level. Contact: P.O.Box: 30591, Dubai. Tel: 9714-3937557, Fax: 9714-3937883.
Inner Space Diving Centre L.L.C: This club has courses from beginners to instructor level for lovers of scuba diving visiting Dubai. Contact: P.O.Box No. 23520, Dubai. Tel: 9714-3937775. Fax: 9714-3939391.
Scubatec Diving Center (PADI 5 star Instructor Development Center): Besides regular diving courses for beginners, special courses are offered here for instructors as well as master diver trainers in various languages like English, German, Hindi, and Urdu etc. Contact: P.O.Box 33944, Dubai. Tel: 9714-3348988. Fax: 9714-3366461.
Scuba Dubai: Courses offered in all levels. Language of instruction includes English, Russian, German and French. Contact: P.O.Box: 51753, Dubai. Tel: 9714-3314014. Fax: 9714-3328026.
Al Boom Diving: Offers all the courses from beginners to advanced level. Contact: P.O.Box: 30439, Dubai. Tel: 9714-3941267. Fax: 3941276.
Snorkeling:
Snorkeling may not be on the list of things to do for people who visit Dubai, but this is one of the Dubai sports that is gaining popularity. The Gulf of Oman, which lies east of Dubai, boasts of coral reefs and a wide variety of tropical fish, turtles and other sea life. There are small rocky places along the east coast, like Snoopy Island, Martini Island etc, which are popular places for snorkeling. Most clubs and water sport associations, which offer scuba diving facility, also take tourists snorkeling.
Sailing and Windsurfing
The popularity of this water sport is evident when you visit Dubai on any public holiday or weekend. Ideal weather conditions, predictable tides and currents ensure super fun-filled excitement when you head to any of the sailing yacht clubs or most beach hotels dotting the coasts. Both modern yachts and dhows have several racing events which are coveted by the locales and expatriates who enjoy Dubai sports.
Facilities: Traditional dhows can easily be spotted as the residents of Dubai forge forward to take part in races. Windsurfers or sailboats are also available on hire though there are many who bring their own for the ride. Fixed keel, board sailing and dinghies are available at the Clubs for hire for those who travel to Dubai on a vacation. Instructors can be hired for up to 8 hours for lessons.
Various exciting thrills like body boarding and knee boarding, planning maneuvers, jumping and carve gibing where you can turn downwind as you gain speed are all possible when you go windsurfing or sailing. This recreational surface water sport is worth a visit to Dubai as some of the best yacht clubs are based here.
Jebel Ali Hotel & Golf Resort: They have their own Sports Club and run their fleet of boats from their own Marina. While full day trips are possible, a seven seater capacity boat for 4 hours of fishing can be organized from here. (Listed above)
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club: Make sure when you travel to Dubai, you book 48 hours in advance so that you do not get disappointed as this Dubai sport is a major tourist attraction. Contact: Tel: 9714 2956032, Fax: 2956081
Dubai International Marine Club: This Club has its very own private Beach front and is the home base for the “Victory Powerboat Team”. They have a luxurious swimming pool and lure many Incentive and Corporate Groups who travel to Dubai and encourage team building activities.
Contact: P.O. Box 24883, Dubai, U.A.E, Tel: 9714 3994111, Fax: 3995504.
Dubai Marine Yacht Club: For those who travel to Dubai in a group, it is worthwhile to take a 50 meter yacht as this can take up to 12 passengers. The yacht comes complete with skipper and crew. Contact: Nuran Office, G4, District 4, Dubai Marina. Tel: 41362 7883
Whether you travel to Dubai for a business trip or a vacation, capitalize on this excellent Dubai sport to get your share of fun and frolic.
Deep Sea Fishing
From a small marine trading establishment, Dubai has seen rapid growth in its trade and industries over the years. Travel to Dubai today takes you to an altogether new level where what was once a means of livelihood has become a popular pastime with residents and expatriates who wish to go deep sea fishing as one of their Dubai sport pursuits. Chris Deane’s “Ocean Explorer” bagged a second place in the world for catching 332 sailfish during 1998 – 1999.
Facilities: A great way to enjoy this Dubai sport is to pack a hamper, fishing tackle, wear light clothing, lots of suntan and take a half or full day organized trip to the warm fishing waters preferably any time from October to May and try to get either a hammour, kingfish, tuna or barracuda. Sailfish, tuna and sharks also abound in these waters. The fishing trips include cool drinks served on board and return transfer to the hotel. You need to travel for 10 to 30 miles offshore and in only 30 meters of calm waters, you can settle down to many pleasurable hours of fishing.
Jebel Ali Hotel & Golf Resort (listed above)
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club (listed above)
Creek Cruises: Between Quay 2 and 3, fully air-conditioned luxury cruises are available daily for up to 7 people at a time for 4 hours. They come complete with modern equipment. Contact: P.O. Box 25225. Tel: 9714 3939860. Fax: 9714 3937123.
Almost all the top hotels like the Ritz Carlton, Metropolitan Resort and Beach Club, The Jumeirah Beach Hotel etc. offer attractive packages for those who visit Dubai and want to partake in this pleasurable Dubai sport.
Travel to Dubai, the city for all kinds of water sports and indulge your senses as you sail, ski, scuba dive, snorkel, deep sea fish or just revel with the wind running through your hair as you surf the crystal blue waters of the Gulf coast.