Abu Dhabi: Ride the wave

Abu Dhabi may be in the desert, but the water is where the action is. Hallie Campbell rounds up ten of the emirate’s top aquatic adventures Abu Dhabi has emerged as a favourite watersports destination, thanks to its crystal-clear mild waters, abundant marine life, more than 400km of coastline and 200 islands. Add to that some of the world’s most exciting water parks, luxurious resorts and stunning marinas and it’s easy to see why business travellers want to get out of the boardroom and on to the beach. Whether your idea of fun is a hedonistic champagne-fuelled yacht cruise, zooming along on a wakeboard or kayaking in search of rare humpbacked dolphins, here are ten ways to enjoy Abu Dhabi on the water. 1. SNORKELLING SAFARI The Persian Gulf has a rainbow assortment of more than 700 species of fish, many of which live among the emirates’ coral reefs. Conditions are ideal for snorkelling thanks to the water temperature (an average 25ºC throughout the year), excellent visibility – up to nine metres – and lack of strong currents. The endangered hawksbill turtle can be found along with popular reef species such as hammour, sailfish, eels, seahorses, starfish and colourful sea anemones. The best way to explore is by boat. Desert Island Watersports offers a variety of snorkelling tours, starting from Dhs 265 (£47) per person, with all equipment and refreshments included. Desert Islands Watersports Centre, Sir Bani Yas Island; divemahara.com 2. DEEP-SEA FISHING  Indulge your inner Hemingway and grab a rod. The waters off Abu Dhabi are famous for such sport fish as barracuda, yellow snapper, grouper and kingfish. Spend an afternoon enjoying the challenge of baiting and catching these denizens of the deep using an eco-friendly sustainable trawling method. Dive Mahara runs three-hour fishing trips off the coast of Sir Bani Yas Island for up to four people. Its ten-metre custom fibreglass boats are designed for UAE sport fishing conditions, and all levels are welcome. From Dhs 2,200 (£393); all equipment included. Desert Islands Watersports Centre, Sir Bani Yas Island; divemahara.com 3. FLOWBOARDING Unlike the placid Persian Gulf, the surf is always up at Yas Waterworld, home of the 2014 World Flowboarding Championships and the world’s largest man-made sheet waves. The three-metre high waves at Bubble’s Barrel rush towards you at up to 45 km/ph, pumping 7,000 litres of water per second for the ultimate adrenaline rush. Wipeouts guaranteed. Boards included. The water park also has a range of exhilarating world record-breaking water slides and wet rides for a day of extreme fun. Water park entry, including rides, Dhs 240 (£43). Yas Waterworld, Yas Island; yaswaterworld.com 4. MANGROVE EXPLORING Stand-up paddle boarding is one of the fastest-growing watersports in Abu Dhabi. You balance on a wide longboard, using a paddle to glide smoothly along the scenic waterways of the mangroves, the biggest in the UAE, seeing protected rare species such as the dugong or sea cow, humpback dolphins, and indigenous waterfowl such as egrets, herons, and diving cormorants – while getting a workout that burns 500 to 1,000 calories an hour. Dhs 120 (£21) per person per hour, including instruction. Hydro Marine Sports, Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Spa by Anantara; hydromarinesports.com 5. EXTREME WAKEBOARDING This is one of the emirate’s most popular watersports thanks to its daredevil stunts, speed and style. It is similar to water-skiing but uses only one board, enabling riders to get more air. A speedboat whizzes you around as you hang on to the towrope while balancing on your board, before learning to jump the wake. All tows are located on the Corniche, with ideal flat-water conditions and the Abu Dhabi skyline as a backdrop. Dhs 300 (£54) for 30-minute lesson; Dhs 250 (£45) for 220-minute tow. Watercooled at Hiltonia Beach Club, Hilton Abu Dhabi; watercooleddubai.com/abu-dhabi 6. FLYBOARDING Flyboarding is the latest craze in wild watersports to hit Abu Dhabi. Part-James Bond cool gadget, part-superhero kit, this amazing device uses water propulsion to launch you out of the sea at around 40km/?ph up to a height of 10 metres using a carbon fibre jet pack, with throttles to control altitude and direction. Once you get the hang of it, you can do stunts such as flips before splashing back down into the sea. Gulf Water Sports also has a second, more powerful Jetlev Flyer with a 15-metre hose that can fly up to 80km/ph. Dhs 300 (£54) for 30 minutes. Ghantoot Watersports, Ghantoot Marina; jetskidubai.com 7. YELLOW BOAT CHARTER If you’ve got a packed schedule and are short on time, this award-winning one-hour private guided boat tour takes in all of Abu Dhabi’s top sights from the sea, such as the opulent Emirates Palace hotel, the futuristic skyscrapers of the Corniche, the traditional Arabian dhows and the bird life on the scenic Al Lulu islands. Cruises are operated by top-of-the-line rigid inflatable rib boats with up to 500hp engines. They seat up to ten people if you want to treat your team to an outing that’s the perfect antidote to the office. Dhs 1,500 (£268). The Yellow Boats, Emirates Palace Marina; theyellowboats.com 8. DHOW DINNER As the sun goes down in a blaze of colour, come aboard your dhow, the classic wooden Arabian boat used for centuries by local traders and pearl fishers. Spend a relaxed evening dining under the stars as you cruise along the Abu Dhabi Creek while indulging in a feast worthy of the 1,001 Nights, featuring a mouthwatering mezze followed by freshly grilled local seafood. Dhs 200 (£36) per person. Abu Dhabi Dhow Cruise, Corniche at Mina Port; dhowcruiseabudhabi.ae 9. NIGHT KAYAKING Noukhada Adventures, one of Abu Dhabi’s leading kayaking companies, has launched night-time safaris. Using special LED lights fixed to the bottom of your kayak you will be able to see fish and other marine life under the water at night, as an expert guide reveals the secrets of this unique ecosystem. Safaris depart from the Eastern Mangrove National Park at 7pm Wednesdays, and Yas Beach at 7pm Thursdays. Prices from Dhs 210 (£37) per person for a 90-minute session. Private tours upon request; various locations. noukhada.ae 10. SCUBA DIVING If you can spare a few days’ layover, why not learn to dive in open water with a scuba diving certificate from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors? Dive Mahara organises PADI courses providing all the materials and instruction needed to get certified, including two introductory pool dives and four open-water dives off the Breakwater and at Saadiyat Island. Each dive session lasts about four hours. Dhs 2,465 (£440). Private and corporate rates are available. Dive Mahara, Al Nahyan; divemahara.com