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A beautiful island full of serene and exotic beaches, the land of surf and sun – this is Mauritius. Welcome to this beach escape destination which is also known for its wide range of water sports and adventure sports. No doubt it is a small island paradise but it has a lot to offer to keen travelers.

Apart from its gorgeous beaches it offers so much variety in adventure sports and water sports. If you are a lover of those adrenaline rushes then this article will feed you with every detail about adventure and water sports in Mauritius. Big mountains, deep gorges and fabulous ravines offer many adventure sports in Mauritius like trekking, mountain biking, hiking and sea-kayaking.

Trekking in Mauritius:

To explore the deep hidden beauty of this island, you need to go on trekking. It will surely be a delight to every nature lover. The most famous place for trekking is the Black River Gorges National Park. It offers you one of the best trekking opportunities, spread over an area of more than 6,754 hectares. This is the most suitable way to come across various endemic birds like the pink pigeon and the Mauritius Echo Parakeet.

Macchabée-Black River track is another challenging track. It leads from Petrin, through the Macchabée forest and down to the end of the riverside track at the kiosk below Plateau Remousse. Some other treks include Black River Peak track, Cascade Cinq Cents Pieds track.

Mountain biking:

Another way to enjoy your stay in Mauritius is mountain biking in Mauritius. Few famous lush green rides include: Chamarel Ride which is an easy ride of 1 hour, around the area of Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths. It is surrounded by sugarcane and pine apple fields. Other scenic routes include Chamarel Down Hill, a ride on the South coast. Here you will see big strong waves washing the beaches.

Diving:

This beautiful island is surrounded by exotic spots for scuba diving. There is a continuous stretch of coral reefs around the island which makes diving a memorable experience. Currently there are 23 diving centres in Mauritius, registered with the Mauritius Scuba Diving Association (MSDA). Mascareignes Plongées or Neptune Diving Centre are most advanced centers and are easily accessible. The Northern part of Mauritius has numerous short and long range dives. In your dives you get to know much about marine fauna like fish species, lobsters, turtles and crabs. Different forms of corals like large fan corals, flat corals and soft corals add to exquisite experience. Popular dive sites include Blue Bay, Le Sirius Wreck, Purple Cave, Colorado and Roches Zozo.

Short range dives:

Some of the world famous and extremely beautiful short range dives include dive at Old Rocks(10-21m), Grand Baie and Pereybere Aquarium (8-14m), Merville Patches (12-15m), Coral Garden (17-19m), Black Forest (40m), Whale Rock (30-40m) and Anchor (12-20m).You can find green coral bushes up to 1 meter high and samples of rare black coral. You can also go for night dives at many dives spots.

Windsurfing:

Windsurfing is very popular with adventure tourists. Mauritius provides almost perfect conditions of water to get the adrenaline rush in surfing. The Bay of Tamarin is top spot in entire Mauritius where waves reach up to 6 feet. Other famous surfing spots include the Le Morne and One-Eye’s and Baie du Cap.

Sailing:

Water sports in Mauritius also include sailing. The conditions in Mauritius are suitable for sailing. Exploring the island on a sailing cruise has become famous worldwide. Grand Baie is the main centre for yachting. Various beach resorts arrange for sailing excursions for the tourists.

Parasailing:

You take off from a pontoon anchored in the middle of the sea then a speedboat pulls you until you have gathered enough speed and altitude. This is ultimate way to enjoy your holiday. In this sport you get to see a bird’s eye view of your surroundings.

Sea Kayaking:

It is another option in adventure sports to enjoy the beauty of this pearl of Indian Ocean. The best way for this sport is kayaking from St Antoine towards Ile d’Ambre, an islet off the North East coast of Mauritius. At the west coast you can visit Tamarin, here you have the opportunity to see spinner dolphins. Warwick bay is another destination for kayaking.

Water sports have always been among man’s favorite and most challenging sports. Whether it is on the water, in the water or under the water, water sports have always fascinated the adventurer and sports lover. What is it that distinguishes these types of sports from other sports? What are their advantages? In addition, what are the different kinds of water sports? Read on as we tell you more…

Advantages of Water Sports:

Why are they so special? “The sheer fun of being in water,” says 28-year-old Natalie, a water sports lover. According to her, some of the major benefits include:

*They set the stage for excellent fitness exercises that stretch your muscles and build strength in unique ways.
*Unlike other sports, you aren’t sweating as you do them, so even though you’re working hard, your body temp stays cool.
*Since they are so different from other sports, competing in the water, an element we were not built for is a fantastic challenge.
*Especially for those sports, which require holding one’s breath, the athlete must develop larger lungs, capable of holding more air, thus staying beneath the surface for a longer period of time. The natural benefit of larger lungs and the ability to breath in more air is a healthier body. Like water, the more oxygen we can get into our bodies, the more efficiently our bodies work.

There are a large number of sports that involve water. They can be classified into these categories: In the water, under the water, and on the water.

In the Water:

The most popular is, of course, swimming. The human race mastered this skill long ago. Swimming forms an interesting component of several other major sports or activities that include:

*The Triathlon: This is a combination of swimming, cycling, and running.
*Modern Pentathlon: It includes epee fencing, pistol shooting, swimming, show-horse jumping, and cross country running.
*Rescue Swimming: Swimming with a mission to rescue other swimmers. As a water sport, it helps develop a variety of key attributes. Strength, Leadership, and staying calm in high-pressure situations are necessary abilities, which are also great life skills to possess.
*Snorkeling is a very popular water activity. It is the practice of swimming on the surface of the water equipped with a mask and short tube known as a snorkel.

There are several group sports that are played in water. These include:

*Water Basketball: A team, ball, basket, water. It’s very similar to basketball in water.
*Water Polo: A physical team sport that requires strength for hard throwing, endurance, and extremely fast reflexes for defense.
*Synchronized Swimming: A hybrid of swimming, gymnastics, and ballet. Endurance, Awareness, and Flexibility are the hallmarks of this sport.
*Surf Lifesaving is a competitive sport that evolved from the training activities of lifeguards at surf beaches.

Underwater Sports:

These include various forms of diving. Among the most popular underwater sports are:

*Scuba Diving is an adventure unto itself. Each person is required to take professional lessons to learn it after which the person becomes a Certified Diver. With mask, wet suit (body suit) fins for the feet, and a Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA)- you’re ready to enter a world you never knew existed beneath the surface.
*Free Diving: The aim of the diver is to dive in and swim down to the maximum depth without a breathing apparatus. Necessary tools are great lungs, and the ability to equalize the water pressure, which builds on the ears as one travels deeper.

Underwater group sports include:

*Underwater Rugby that is played with a ball that is naturally buoyant. Here breathing is done through a snorkel and tackling is only allowed if you have the ball or are tackling the one holding it.
*Underwater Hockey is played under water with short wooden curved sticks and a heavy puck. In this game, players wear diving masks, snorkels, and fins and must surface to breathe while teammates continue the game on the pool bottom.

Water sports that take place ON the surface are a special breed. They’re usually extremely fast-past, requiring the participant to be fully aware at all times, and can be some of the more dangerous sports.

Surface Sports Include:

*Boating: Races are held every year in different parts of the world. Like car racing, the boats are sometimes made from extremely light, fragile material and the danger level rises with the speeds.
*Canoe polo: Playing polo using a canoe
*Body boarding: This sport is similar to surfing. However, the board is smaller and the person lies on the board.
*Surface Skimming: These types of sports include traditional surfing, water skiing, kneeboarding, and wake boarding. They require great footwork, and excellent balance.

There are excellent water sports associations that offer training, organized expeditions, and adventure sports in thrilling destinations all over the world. The Internet, as always, has the most up-to-date information on how you can get involved. Keep checking regularly, and in the meantime pick your favorite sport and dive in!

Summary:

There are a large number of sports that involve water. They can be classified into these categories: In the water, under the water, and on the water.

Water sports: they’re fun to watch, exciting to participate in, and they’ve been enjoyed for ages! We’ve been trying to dominate water since the time we stood up as humanoids. We try to take air beneath the surface, we build crafts to skim across the surface, and we use the power of its resistance to build strength in our bodies.

Water sets the stage for some of the most unique, and yet some of the most common events in the world. Covering 75% of our Earth’s surface, and making up over 90% of our bodies, it doesn’t make you wonder why water has played such a huge role in our personal and professional lives. Let’s dive in!

Swimming:

Swimming is the most popular of the water sports because it is easily accessible and inexpensive. In several of the earliest stories of classical literature, it’s portrayed as a symbol of heroism and religion. The first known documentation of the various swimming methods is Nicolas Wynman’s Dialogue Concerning the Art of Swimming, originally published in 1538. (Historians are still trying to figure out who he was having that dialogue with.)

With the development of swimming pools as we know them today, it became easier and safer for average people all over the world to learn to swim and master it. Swimming was made an Olympic event for the first time in 1896. The most publicized swimming events are the insanely ambitious attempts at swimming across the English Channel. It is a feat that requires strength, endurance – for both the distance and the notoriously frigid waters – and a lot of determination and courage.

The first man ever to swim across the English Channel was Matthew Webb of England who did so in 1875. In 1926, Gertrude Ederle from the United States became the first woman to cross the channel. From speed, to endurance, to form – the different styles of swimming are continuously evolving.

Snorkeling:

Snorkeling is a very thrilling water sport that involves viewing exotic fish and aquamarine life. It’s like jumping into a painting where the views can range from extreme tranquility to paralyzing fright. Humans are definitely land mammals, and snorkeling is how we can enter a world that was not made for us. Long ago, snorkels were made out of hollow reeds.

After swimming, snorkeling is the next oldest water sport. There is a reference to it made by Pliny the Elder in first century Rome. Leonardo Da Vinci, the world-renowned painter and lesser-known inventor, created a more modern snorkel at the command of the Venetian senat. Da Vinci’s snorkel was a tube attached to leather helmets used by divers. Most agreed that his invention was indeed better than a reed. Modern day snorkels are J shaped tubes, usually made of rubber, that open at one end and attach to a mouthpiece at the other end. The average length of the tube is 2 ft (61cm).

Surfing:

Surfing is reported to have first appeared NOT in Hawaii as many people mistakenly believe. Archaeology indicates that Peruvians (people from Peru) were “hanging ten” as early as 200B.C.E. Their boats were made from reeds, and even today, the local fisherman can be seen riding their “little reed horses.”

Surfing really gained popularity in America, mostly in California, in the 1920s. By the 1960s, it was a highly popular sport among young people. When surfing first emerged as a water sport, the best surfers were long, handcrafted wooden boards. They were heavy and cumbersome to maneuver on the water.

Modern surfboards are made of lighter synthetic materials, and they’re shaped in different aerodynamic fashions that allow more maneuverability and movement on the waves than was originally possible. International Surfing Championships are held all over the world including Australia, California, and of course – Hawaii.

Water Polo:

A water sport that originated in England in the 1870s is water polo. It began as a form of rugby played in the rivers and lakes. The name comes from the English pronunciation of the Balti word for ball, pulu. Americans started playing it in the early twentieth century. Today there are several college teams and clubs for this sport.

For a while, Americans tried their own version of water polo that used a soft rubber ball and a larger pool. This game came to be known as softball water polo. However, due to a high incidence of violent behavior and rough play, this variation was abandoned. Men’s water polo became an Olympic event in 1900 and women’s water polo was added in 2000.

These are only a few water sports. There are many others that are equally thrilling, like white water rafting, water skiing, underwater hockey, diving, etc.

Whether you are participating or just watching, water sports are amazingly fun. If you want to take a cool break from the traditional sports like football and basketball, give your body the unique experience of water sports.

Summary:

Water sports have excited and energized people all through the ages. This article takes a look at the origins of four of the popular variety – Swimming, Snorkeling, Surfing and Water Polo.

For kids, water sports are adventurous and fun filled. But safety has to be given first priority. All kids should compulsorily wear life jackets, even if kids know how to swim. All boats and rafts should also carry extra life jackets, whistle and lifebuoys. Water sports need to be accompanies by an adult who must know how to swim, preferable accompanied by an attentive lifeguard. He should also know what to do during times of emergency and A B Cs of giving first aid. Water sports should always be carried out, when the climate is pleasant. If the climate is sunny, do apply sun screen cream to protect yourself from radiations.

There are different kinds of water sports for children, some are for pleasure and some are very adventurous and exciting. Let’s start with a simple water sport like boating, which is very much enjoyable. In most of the kids and youths camps you’ll find boating and canoeing. Don’t forget to carry your life jackets while you get into the boat. Always you need to follow what your instructor or guide says. Sailing is adventurous when the wind is good. Once you have enough practice, you can begin to participate in your local sailing competitions! If you want an adventurous water sport, then sailing has to be your first choice! Most nature loving kids will choose scuba diving, where kids will be able to learn more about the fascinating world of animals and it also helps them to develop empathy towards animals. If you want to swim with fishes, explore the corals and admire the color of blue, then scuba diving is the best. Scuba diving is also an excellent exercise.

Surfing is an excellent exercise and a superb family sport. Surfing is also a great outdoor sport during a sunny day or during summers. Swimming is the most favorite sport for many children and as well as for adults, it doesn’t matter if you swim in a lake, ocean, river, pool or with any competitive swimmers or friends; swimming is always enjoyable. But make sure the water is clean. If you are a beginner or a learner, then stay away from the depth. Wear goggles, ear plugs and a swim cap while swimming and you need to avoid swimming after heavy food. Apart from these water sports, you can even play water basketball and volleyball which is even more fun and exciting.

The Caribbean islands are the best place for people who enjoy water sports. Whether your own preference is on the water or below it, Caribbean water sports have something to offer you including swimming, waterskiing, sailing, snorkeling, kayaking, and so on.

Snorkeling

Snorkeling is probably the most popular of Caribbean watersports because swimmers of all ages can enjoy it. Going snorkeling means getting personal with the wonderful and colorful marine life found in the Caribbean. Due to the immense popularity of this activity, there are many well-marked snorkeling trails across many islands in the Caribbean. Most of the better resorts and hotels in offer snorkeling equipment as well as instruction.

Board watersports

Windsurfing, surfing, and kiteboarding are all forms of board sports. These Caribbean watersports enjoy a lot of popularity because the trade winds in the Caribbean provide unlimited opportunities for them. Kiteboarding is actually the same as windsurfing except that it uses a relatively smaller board. As to surfing, if you are not going to Hawaii then you had better go to the Caribbean. The water is warm, the surf is good, the bays are sheltered and there is always one trade wind or another making waves, what more could you possibly demand? Due to the combination of ideal conditions, the Caribbean attracts surfers from the world over. Instruction and equipment is available through most hotels or through vendors along the beaches.

Parasailing

If you are not the type for on-water or below-water sports then you have this third option among Caribbean watersports. Facilities for training and equipment are available through your hotel or through vendors along the beach. Going parasailing means getting a unique view of the Caribbean with the whole vista of white beaches, clear waters, blue skies, and the wildlife spread below you as you soar on the wind.

Waterskiing

Waterskiing or jetskiing has become quite popular recently. Jetskiing is especially very convenient with many people renting jetskis for a single rider experience or wave runners that can take on 2-4 riders at one time. As usual, your hotel or the beach front can offer you the vendors for this Caribbean watersport.

Canoeing and Kayaking

There are several guided tours for people who prefer the calm and tranquility of canoeing or kayaking to the other motorized means of traveling on water. The Caribbean is liberally supplied with mangroves and lagoons.

Sailing

Spend a day on a powerboat, catamaran, sailboat, or trimraran and enjoy sailing in the Caribbean. You can opt between bare boat and crewed boats and there are even special charters for people who are interested in learning how to sail.

Scuba Diving

If you wish to go a step beyond snorkeling then go scuba diving and you will see yet another unique perspective of the Caribbean. There are several popular diving spots in the Cayman Islands and Curacao. Go swimming with tamed stingrays in Stingray City. Do not forget the Buck Island Reef National Monument that has 250 species of fish.