Showing posts with label Beach Sports - Water Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beach Sports - Water Sports. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

5 Amazing Places to Surf - Surfers World Travel Guide

1. Fuerteventura, Spain
Fuerteventura is one of the many islands in Canary Islands, Spain, and is one of the world's most popular surfing destinations, and for good reason too. With its blue waters, exhilirating waves and many excellent reef-and-point breaks, surfers all over the world rank this place highly when it comes to surfing experience. The downside is that you may find it too crowded, but no matter, as there are many other islands in Canary Islands that also provide good surfing opportunities. The best time to head to Fuerteventura to surf would be between October to March.

2. Uluwatu, Indonesia

Uluwatu is the southernmost village on Bali, Indonesia, and it provides plenty of opportunities for water sports of all kinds, including surfing. It has a fast, left-hand reef break which is manageable for surfers of all competencies. The best time to go surfing is around mid February to August. An added plus is that Bali has many other things to occupy you with, such as shopping and its numerous heritage tours, so you have plenty of other things to do when you want a break from surfing.
3. Surfers' Paradise, Australia

Surfers' Paradise is located on Australia's Gold Coast, and has been frequently likened to Hawaii for its excellent surfing opportunities. With its great beach, tidal rivers and basins, it is easy to see why people all over the world head here to enjoy water sports. The best time for surfers to come here is between October and March, as this is when the temperature is higher. One good thing about Surfers' Paradise is that there's plenty of places for you to go to when your tummy begins to rumble - from seafood to kebabs to sandwiches, Surfers' Paradise has it all.
4. Sunset Beach, USA
Sunset Beach is an island located in North Carolina, USA, and provides top-rate surfing opportunities for experienced and highly skilled surfers. Its huge and powerful waves mean this is no place for beginners! Experienced surfers can enjoy trying out classic tubing waves which occur frequently here. The professional surfing competition, the Pipe Masters, is held here annually. The best time to surf at Sunset Beach is between November and March.
5. Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
Jeffrey's Bay is a South African town, situated near Port Elizabeth. It is well known for the excellent and various opportunities for surfing, with beaches such as Super Tubes, Boneyards, Kitchen Windows, Magna Tubes, Point and Albatross being some of the more popular surfing destinations. The professional surfing competition, the Billabong Pro, is held here annually. The best time for surfers to head to Jeffreys Bay would be between May and September.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Orson_Johnson

Friday, September 9, 2011

Enjoy Snorkeling or Scuba of The Grand Bahamas Island Coast

If you have never been snorkeling then why not give it a try in one of the world's most beautiful beaches on The Grand Bahamas Island.  If you don't have the equipment or don't want to travel with it not to worry; many of the resorts will let you use equipment or take a snorkeling excursion and these companies have rental equipment.  All you need to do is pack a swim suit and water shoes and you can enjoy some of the best snorkeling in the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean.
If you do choose to bring your own equipment that is ok too, just be sure to leave any dive knives behind as they are not welcome in your luggage. If you have you own equipment and you are willing to pack it with you then you are in luck because the Grand Bahamas beaches are some of the best to just wade in from the shore and enjoy the beauty of the ocean world. Even the large resorts like Our Lucaya or the Viva Wyndham have fantastic beach fronts where you can walk from your room directly into the ocean and snorkel.  Of course not having to rent equipment saves you cash.

Snorkling, Grand Bahamas IslandMost resort, if you have purchases an all-inclusive vacation package, will offer their guest snorkeling equipment that can be used on their beaches or for day trips.  You may want to go off the resort compound to explore other beaches such as the Gold Rock Beach in the Lucayan National Park which is just a short drive from most resorts. At Gold Rock Beach you can spend the entire day exploring this well kept gem of a beach.  Gold Rock is off the beaten path with pristine water to see for miles.

If however you are looking to go a bit further off the coast and see some the deep water reefs and perhaps more exotic fish then sign up for a snorkeling excursion; the resorts can recommend the best trip for you and can arrange for pick up and drop off too. Generally these private tours take a boat load of guests out to reef or coral area where you will be dropped into the ocean with guides to tour you around the underwater sites.  Most trips last about 2 hours and cost approximately $25 per person; you can negotiate price particularly if you have a large party.  This price includes the rental equipment and sometimes snacks and beverages
Of course if you want to take under water exploration to the next level then maybe scuba diving is an adventure to consider.  Just like snorkeling you can bring your own equipment or rent; and if you are not certified to dive, don't worry because you can take a class from UNEXSO to get you certified and take your first dive in the perfectly blue waters off The Grand Bahamas Island.


Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Diving

From Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.
Diving is one of the most popular Olympic sports with spectators. Competitors possess many of the same characteristics as gymnasts and dancers, including strength, flexibility, kinaesthetic judgment and air awareness.
China came to prominence several decades ago when the sport was revolutionized by national coach Liang Boxi and after intense study of the dominant Louganis. China has lost few world titles since. The success of Greg Louganis has led to American strength in diving internationally. Other noted countries in the sport include Italy, Australia and Canada.

Snorkeling

From Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia
Snorkeling (British spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn. Use of this equipment allows the snorkeler to observe underwater attractions for extended periods of time with relatively little effort.
Snorkeling is a popular recreational activity, particularly at tropical resort and scuba diving locations. The primary appeal is the opportunity to observe underwater life in a natural setting without the complicated equipment and training required for scuba diving and it appeals to all ages because of how little effort there is, and without the exhaled bubbles of scuba-diving equipment.
Snorkeling is also employed by scuba divers when on the surface, and search and rescue teams may snorkel as part of a water-based search. It is also a means to an end in popular sports such as underwater hockey, underwater ice hockey, underwater rugby and spearfishing.

Surfing

From Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia
Surfing is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitable for surfing are found primarily in the ocean, but are also sometimes found in lakes and rivers, and also in manmade wave pools.
Many variations of the sport exist and the definitions of what constitutes a suitable wave, what is a surfboard, and even what is a surfer, have been expanding and multiplying over the years. Bodysurfing involves riding the wave without a board, and is considered by some to be the purest form of surfing. Other variations that have existed for centuries include paipo boarding, stand up paddle surfing, and the use of boats or canoes to ride waves. More modern craft that are used include inflatable mats (surfmatting), bodyboards, and foils. As documented in various surfing documentaries (including "Fair Bits") other objects have occasionally been used instead of surfboards, including water skiis, wakeboards, desks, guitars, and doors. When more than one person uses the same craft to ride a wave together, it is known as "tandem" surfing. People have also helped enable dogs, cats, pigs, rats, and mice to surf using boards. Remote-controlled and non-controllable toys such as the Micro Surfer and Mini Surfer can also ride waves.
Two major subdivisions within stand-up surfing are longboarding and shortboarding, reflecting differences in board design, including surfboard length, riding style, and the kind of wave that is ridden.
In tow-in surfing (most often, but not exclusively, associated with big wave surfing), a motorized water vehicle, such as a personal watercraft, tows the surfer into the wave front, helping the surfer match a large wave's higher speed, which is generally a speed that a self-propelled surfer cannot match.
Surfing-related sports such as stand up paddle surfing, paddleboarding and sea kayaking do not require waves, and other derivative sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing rely primarily on wind for power, yet all of these platforms may also be used to ride waves.
Recently with the use of V-drive boats, wake surfing, in which one surfs on the wake of a boat, has emerged.

Parasailing

From Wikipedia - The Free encyclopedia 
Parasailing, also known as parascending, is a recreational activity where a person is towed behind a vehicle (usually a boat) while attached to a specially designed parachute, known as a parasail. The boat then drives off, carrying the parascender into the air. If the boat is powerful enough, two or three people can parasail behind it at the same time. The parascender has little or no control over the parachute.
There are six parts of a parasail. The harness attaches the pilot to the parasail, which is connected to the boat, or land vehicle, by the tow rope. The activity is primarily a fun ride, not to be confused with the sport of paragliding. There are commercial parasailing operations all over the world.
Land based parasailing has also been formed into competition sport in Europe. In land based competition parasailing, the parasail is towed to maximum height behind a 4 wheel drive vehicle and then releases the tow line and flies down to a target area in an accuracy competition. The sport was developed in the early 80's and has been very popular ever since. The first international competitions were held in the mid 80's and continue to run today.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

10 Surf Spots to Surf When in Bali Indonesia

Have you been searching for surf spots to surf when in Bali Indonesia? Have you been asking around in various forums, hunting down the locals and so on? If so, you have come to the right place. We know how difficult it is to find the perfect surfing spot, especially when you don't know the area very well. There is a lot of work when it comes to finding some great Bali beaches to catch a wave. Luckily, we have put together a guide for you. Now you can pick 2-3 places to visit during your family vacation in Bali.
1. Break Bingin
Located in the South of Bali, this catches some of the S.E trade winds, which creates beautiful and higher waves than most beaches. It can become quite crowded during the typical seasons so if you need a take off area, you'll need to go when there are not as many people. The waves are often shirt but it's a great ride and worth the trip.
2. Padang Padang
Walk along the sealed road, working your way up the stairs and then slowly moving onto the sandy white beach. This is definitely a beach you won't forget with it's lovely views. It has a frontal reef and is very easy to paddle out. You will be able to experience waves that are anywhere from 5 to even 8 feet here during the dry season which is in the months of May through October. This beach can also become extremely crowded since this is one of the top 5 spots for surfers and those just looking to get a great tan. If you wave to catch a wave, the best time to do this is during the morning when there are better chances and not as many people.
3. Uluwatu
Uluwatu can be located in Southern Bali. It used to be very hard to get to, considering you had to walk there but now you can drive your way into the warungs. The land is divided into different categories like the Racetrack, temples, Peak and the Outside corner. Most surfers believe that you can batch the best waves here being that they are fast waves and can reach up to 10 feet.
4. Nyang-Nyang
Known for it's luscious waves, this is a wonderful place for surfers. In fact, most surfers visit this beach on a daily basis.
5. Kuta Beach
Kuta is one destination you will never forget. The area is sometimes crowded and has many traveler visiting. Watch the sunrise here and you'll be impressed!
6. Dreamland
This is a very popular reef with many people. However, lately it has become way too crowded if you are looking for ab open ocean or shore.
7. Canggu
Some people name this beach "Echo beach". This is just north of Kuta and has some very large breaks. Usually you can go for the breaks in the morning time,
Here are the three other beaches you may want to visit as well:
8. Nusa Lembongan
9. Tumban Serangan
10. Keramas

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_M_Jones