Today the same waters that attracted the pearl divers of old continue to draw large numbers of residents and tourists both above and beneath their surface. The calm waters of the Arabian Sea are ideal for motorized watersports and scuba diving is also extremely popular in Dubai for the same reason. Many hotels located on the Jumeirah coastline have jet skis for hire and banana boat rides, as well as offering parasailing excursions.
Diving
It is possible to dive all year round in unpolluted waters, abundant with rich marine life. Water depth ranges from 5 to 30 m and spectacular coral reefs and wrecks can be discovered just off the Jumeirah coastline. The Emirates Diving Federation was inaugurated in 1995, as a non-profit organization with the objectives of conserving, protecting and restoring the UAE’s marine resources and to legislate and regulate all diving activities within the UAE. There are numerous PADI accredited clubs and dive centers throughout the city that are members of the EDF.
Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC)
The headquarters of the UAE Marine Sports Federation and UAE Watersports National Authority, DIMC was established in 1988 and is now recognized as the driving force behind the growth of national and international watersport events in the Middle East. DIMC was the first Arab organization to be granted full membership of UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique), the governing body of Motorized Watersports and takes an active role in promoting all UIM titled events and all forms of watersport racing activities.
Home to the World Power Boat Champions – Dubai’s Victory Team, DIMC boasts excellent facilities with a registration office, briefing rooms, race control tower, race operations, safety, rescue and helicopter flight control rooms, and a floor dedicated to live television broadcast and commentary of events. Extensive outdoor facilities include marina berths for powerboats, sailing and private yachts - equipped with electricity and water, craning facilities, a slipway and an on-site helipad. The lawns of DIMC are specifically designed to provide an elevated viewing area for spectators, while extensive terraces and balcony areas around the Race Control Tower provide further viewing areas.
Dubai Water Ski Club
The Dubai Water Ski Club is situated on a calm section of Dubai Creek, away from the commercial operations of the creek and offers facilities for wakeboarding, knee boarding, water skiing and jet skiing.
Fishing
The fishing season is from September through April. Fish commonly caught in Dubai include the king mackerel, barracuda, tuna, trevally, bonito, kingfish, cobia and dorado or jacks. Beach or surf fishing is popular here - even barracuda can be caught from the shore in the season. A number of operators organize deep sea fishing excursions on private boats.
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing is the latest watersport to take Dubai by craze ! Kitesurfers are attached to the kite via a harness, which helps to control the power of the kite. Riders also use a control bar that hooks into the harness to direct the kite. Kites are usually 3 to 20 m in size and can either have two or four 20 to 27 m lines that are attached to the control bar. Dubai’s kitesurfing community has adopted a stretch of beach close to the Burj Al Arab, and in the afternoons, a multitude of gaily-colored kites can be seen soaring high above the Jumeirah coastline. In recognition of the popularity of this sport, the Dubai International Kitesurfing Tournament is a three-day competition held annually in March. Competition is open to international and local kitesurfers, with long distance racing and freestyle tricks categories.
Wild Wadi
Wild Wadi is a water theme park that covers 12 acres and comprises 24 adrenaline pumping, state-of-the-art rides and slides. Designed like an Arabian wadi with characteristics from Arabian folklore, Wild Wadi has many interconnecting rides, as well as the largest wave pool in the Middle East. Breakers Bay produces parallel and crossing 1.5 m high waves in five different configurations. Set amidst the stunning scenery of the Burj Al Arab and The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Wild Wadi is a great day out fun for all ages. As they say, “You just can’t get enough !”
Jumeirah Sceirah - Experience the exhilaration of weightlessness on the Jumeirah Sceirah - the tallest and fastest free-fall slide outside North America ! Rising to 33 m and thrusting riders up to 80 km per hour, it’s a great experience for thrill-seekers !
Master Blaster – Wild Wadi has 8 Master Blaster slides, which you can only describe as uphill water roller coasters ! Riders can sit on either a single or double ring, which are propelled uphill by high-powered water jets. The Master Blaster rides include: White Water Wadi, Jebel Lookout, Wadi Leap, Hos'N Hurler, Falaj Fury, Wadi Twister, Wadi Basher and Flood River Flyer.
Ring Rides – A circuit of 7 Ring Rides are downhill gravity slides, where riders sliding down fast to the bottom of the slide, in either a single or double ring. The Ring Rides include: Tumble Falls, Falcon Fury, Rushing Rapids, Thunder Rapids, Tunnel of Doom, Summit Surge and Rushdown Ravine.
FlowRiders - The Wipeout and Riptide FlowRiders offer the ultimate surfing experience. One of only four such rides in the world, the Wipeout FlowRider is a blast. The Wipeout works by shooting out more than seven tons of water per second in a thin sheet across a molded foam structure, producing a realistic wave effect ideal for body boarding, knee boarding or surfing.
Juha's Journey - A 385 m long relaxing ride around a lazy river with a gentle current – and a rather pleasant break after riding the exciting Jumeirah Sceirah or the many uphill waterslides !
WadiWash- A choreographed sound, light and water show, and one of the main attractions at Wild Wadi, runs every hour on the hour. The "Fossil Rock" regularly fills up with 60,000 liters of water and creates a spectacular ‘Flash Flood’.
Wonderland
Wonderland Fun Park is divided into three sections and features a wide range of exhilarating water attractions extending over 18 hectares. The Main Street offers such unique attractions as the Water Mist show, the Theme Park includes a challenging roller coaster and cart race, while Splashland is a realm of wonderful aqua activities. Wonderland is located near the Garhoud Bridge and close to the Creek Park.
