Sand, sea, sun and fun, what a heady mix for a fabulous holiday! With World Leisure Holidays you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation, location and activity choices on a selection of Indian Ocean island destinations. While each resort caters for a variety of activities, it’s the water sports that are the greatest draw, as the visitors head to the beaches and the call of the aquamarine waters.

From adrenaline junkies to the more composed water babies, the Indian Ocean islands have it all! What is great about the water is that you can choose whether you want to be in it, under it, or on top of it!

Each activity has a level of expertise to cater for both the adventure seeker and the more sedate holidaymaker, from beginner to expert. Here we highlight a few water activities from a list that is endless!

Be a mermaid (or merman!) in Mauritius

The Pearl of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius, offers a range of water sport options to choose from, including snorkelling, water skiing and scuba diving.

Scuba diving

Located in Roche Zozo and Colorado, off Blue Bay on the southern coast of Mauritius, scuba diving is possible in an underwater wonderland abounding with spectacularly coloured marine life. The tranquillity of the underwater kingdom is an experience that will endure a lifetime. Even if swimming isn’t your area of excellence, fear not, as it’s not a requisite and you can also obtain a certificate once you have completed a course.

Whale Watching
In the Grande Riviere Noire, you can experience the magnificence of whale watching. From the safety of a speed boat positioned a safe distance from these gentle marine giants, your small group of whale watchers will still be close enough to capture the incredible imagery of these wonderful creatures on the late morning outing. While sperm whales can be seen year-round, humpback whales are seasonal, so there is no guarantee that you will catch sight of these magnificent beasts, although, using hydrophones, your guide will do his best to locate them.

Parasailing

This exhilarating sport takes place in Grand Baie, Trou d’eau Douce, and Ile aux Cerfs and gives you the best of both worlds: soaring in a parachute while being towed by a motorboat! You get to experience the beauty of the island from an elevated vantage point with the wind whistling around you as you take in the spectacular surroundings that is the domain of only bird life.

Cave Sea Kayaking

With the starting point at Pointe Aux Sable Cliffs of Albion in the Mauritius West Coast, cave sea kayaking is a moderately easy water sport in which to participate, allowing you to go at your own pace as you investigate the unexplored islands and the mysterious, concealed caves in either a single or two-man kayak.

While there are dozens more water sports and activities to choose from in Mauritius, we are going to whip you off to Maldives to discover other options for an island holiday!

Immerse yourself in the Maldives archipelago!

Maldives are surrounded by immense oceans making it the perfect destination for the water sport enthusiast, no matter what format the experience offers. The choice is immense from snorkelling and scuba diving, kayaking and surfing, the islands have it all and more!

Fly Boarding

Located in Hulhumale, North Male Atoll fly boarding is one of the newest action water sports in the industry and gaining popularity for adrenaline seekers. This thrilling sport lets you experience flying by using jet propulsion powered by a watercraft, with instructors ready to get you airborne, no matter your level of experience! If you can concentrate on more than the jet of water beneath you, this is the opportunity to view the turquoise coastal waters of Maldives from the air!

Banana Boat Ride

With five people sitting atop a large inflatable tube, passengers enjoy the fun of a banana boat ride in Male Maldives. Flying through the water at high speeds and over large waves, you are advised to hold on tight, as you navigate over the waves and experience mean curves and an adrenaline rush that will stay in your system long after the ride is finished!

Windsurfing

A haven for holidaymakers and fully exposed to the Indian ocean, Maldives is ideal for the avid windsurfer. There are multiple lagoons on the various resort islands where you can get a taste for this sport and develop your confidence before going out to experience it on the blue ocean waves.

Surfing

Known for its selection of some of the greatest surfing spots (breaks) on the globe, the North Male Atoll, accessible by small boat, draws the surfing enthusiasts. Although the season starts in March, the period between June and August usually see the biggest swells. As popularity for the sport has grown, the South Male atolls have also become favourites amongst surfers. So, the choice of ‘breaks’ is immense for this exciting pastime.

And onto spicing up your water activities …

Zip over to Zanzibar!

Located on the east coast of Africa, the Zanzibar archipelago is famous for its coral reefs and abundant marine life, and wonderfully temperate waters. The islands offer a range of water activities, ranging from adventurous to low-key.

Dhow Cruises

If you are into spectacular African sunsets, relive the Arabian history of Zanzibar in a sunset dhow cruise through the calm ocean waters, stopping off at Nungwi and Kendwa beaches, rated among the best beaches in Africa, where you can swim in the warm Indian Ocean. This is the adventure of a lifetime and makes for amazing memories.

Snorkelling and Diving

The variety of coral reefs (some of which are bigger than the island itself!) offer the snorkelling enthusiast an unforgettable experience as you get to swim through shoals of brightly coloured tropical fish. While in the marine conservation area of Mnemba Atoll Marine Park, the high visibility waters are home to populations of moray eels, lionfish, stingrays, and other aquatic life. The azure oceans offer so much to the water enthusiasts, and are a haven to divers, including the opportunity to swim alongside pods of dolphins.

Kiteboarding

One of the latest and fastest growing extreme sports, is kiteboarding — for people of all ages and ability. Not nearly as frightening as it may appear, kiteboarding’s attraction is that it’s safe and easy to learn, while thrilling at the same time! Professionals take you through your paces and before you know it, you are skimming over the crystal clear, tropical waters.

Azam Water Park

Azam Water Park is one of East Africa’s biggest water parks and offers all-day fun and entertainment for the whole family. Treat the kids (and yourselves!) to a pleasurable day splashing around in the cooling waters and enjoy the different water features including Flow Rider – gliding down a slide, Lazy River – bobbing along in an inflatable boat, or aiming the Aqua Spray at unsuspecting family members! There is something for everyone!

When you go on a tropical island break World Leisure Holidays will ensure that no matter what your destination, you will come back awash with memories and kissed by the sun!