Top 5: Watersports Holidays for Families in 2016By Angelica Malin

If you could have been a fish in another life and love nothing more than splashing in the pool or frolicking in the waves, a holiday based around watersports could be right up your street. Resorts across the globe offer a wide array of water activities for you and the kids to enjoy but the question is – where’s best to go? Let’s take a closer look.

Dubai

Toddler holidays and trips to family-friendly resorts don’t have to be hard work or a drag.
In fact, they’re designed to be memorable and fun with many top locations offering superb facilities for all ages. The Jebel Ali Beach Hotel and Palm Tree Court & Spa in Dubai, for instance, is home to some of the best leisure activities in the world (particularly for water babies) with the ‘Watercooled’ watersports centre – an RYA accredited training centre for sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing – being a highlight for many guests.

Cyprus

With ancient ruins, spectacular beaches and sunshine almost all-year round, Cyprus is an attractive destination for many tourists. But for those who enjoy wriggling into a wetsuit and going on an adventure, this Mediterranean paradise is a real hit with snorkelling, SCUBA diving and surfing available island-wide – not to mention one of the biggest fitness trends of the moment, stand-up paddle boarding (otherwise known as SUP). Wreck diving in Cyprus takes place at all of the main resorts including Protaras, Aiya Napa, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos so it’s well worth seeing what all the fuss is about.

Hawaii

According to local legends, ancient kings used to surf the rolling waves off Hawaii beaches, so if you fancy following in their footsteps, don’t miss a trip to this part of the world. Experienced surfers would have a great time here but even those with no experience at all can learn the ropes at one of the many surf schools in the country. What’s more, scuba diving, fishing trips, snorkelling, SUP and sunset cruises are all common here but if you want an experience that’ll stay with you forever, explore the colourful coral reefs of Hawaii on board a fully-submersible eco-scooter.

Tarifa, Spain

There’s nothing quite like a spot of kitesurfing to get your heart racing and adrenalin pumping. It really is a high-energy sport that requires strong winds and big waves, so if you’re looking for the perfect hot spot for this activity, head to Tarifa in Spain. Sure, there are many other destinations worldwide that’ll provide the perfect environment for kitesurfing, but the Strait of Gibraltar forms the perfect wind tunnel between the African and European continent. It really is ideal for anyone looking to put their skills to this test, so perhaps pop Tarifa in your diaries for 2016.

Australia

Diving the Great Barrier Reef has surely got to be on the bucket list of any water fanatic.
As the world’s largest coral reef system composed of 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands it’s an underwater paradise just waiting to be explored. With crystal clear water warm enough to swim in all year round and the largest population of West Indian manatee on the planet, this world-famous dive spot off the coast of Queensland is not to be missed. From the Big Blue Hole (allegedly the largest sinkhole on earth) to the impressive array of exotic fish, you won’t be short of things to see – just make sure you have enough time and money to do it properly.

Resorts centred around watersports make for the perfect family holiday, so go ahead and book your trip for the year ahead.