In the summer season, we all seek the most beautiful, blue-limned shores for a memorable sea holiday. In addition to a peaceful trip which gets you in touch with nature, it is also among our priorities to make the holiday fun and different. Water sports are at the top of the activities that will add excitement to your next holiday. For holidaymakers who love extreme sports, especially those who want to be in (or on) the water, a scan through the choices listed in our water sports guide will spice up your trip, fill you up with excitement and anticipation, and help you easily choose the adrenaline-laced activities that will add excitement to the holiday.
Windsurfing
Windsurfing, one of the top water sports, is based on endurance and strength. It is one of the most beautiful, adrenaline-fueled activities you can combine with deep water to add excitement to your holiday. The sport takes its driving force from the wind, and is performed by using surfboards, sails, mast and booms. Recommendations for this type of surfing, which can be navigated with the help of the wind in the absence of a wave factor, include keeping your body balanced and — above all — staying above the water. Before starting your windsurfing journey, it is essential that you first pass a short training course. For beginners, regions with shallow water are more suitable. After the initial lessons, techniques such as jibe, trapeze, water start can also be learned as you perfect your craft.
Alaçatı, Çeşme, Antalya, İstanbul, Akyaka, Gökçeada and Datça are the leading locations in Türkiye suitable for windsurfing. The spring and summer months have the most suitable weather conditions.
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing, one of the most enjoyable water sports, is performed by jumping on the board and sailing over the waves with the help of wind power. It is one of the most fun water activities, is easy to learn, and the techniques can be absorbed relatively quickly, usually in a maximum of three days. Kitesurfing differs from windsurfing mainly in the equipment required for its practice. The most important material is, of course, the kite. Kitesurfing is a type of sport that requires balance, in this case while perched on a surfboard which in turn is pulled by a large kite that takes off with the support of the wind. To facilitate a smooth and speedy path over the water, a rope with an average length of 18 meters is tied to the waist of the rider and connects them to the trapeze, itself connected to the kite that pulls them along.
Akyaka is the most popular destination in Türkiye for kitesurfing, one of the favourite activities of adrenaline-loving sports enthusiasts. Locales such as Ayvalık, Urla, Çeşme, Alaçatı, Gökçeada, Bozcaada, Gökova are among the suitable spots for kitesurfing. If you are planning an exciting summer holiday, you can start by making a reservation for Akyaka hotels just for you.
Cave Diving
Cave diving is an amazing activity which gives you an adrenaline rush as you explore the underwater realm. The mysterious submarine world, which always fascinates, is always open to surprises, waiting to be discovered. Cave diving pushes normal boundaries by introducing slightly different techniques from standard diving, offering its enthusiasts an unforgettable experience. Before starting this sport, it is absolutely essential that you first receive training from professional instructors. A cave diving experience is permitted only after proficiency has been demonstrated and tested during the training phase. Cave diving is a reasoning-based and simultaneously exciting sport that offers the opportunity to discover sea creatures as well as to explore hundreds of years of natural formations and historical ruins.
The most beautiful places you can choose for cave diving are densely located in Kaş. The most important of these are Uçan Balık -Flying Fish (Kaş), Dimitri Batığı -Dimitri Shipwreck (Kaş). Apart from these routes, Büyük Resif –Big Reef (Bodrum), Delikli Mağara – Delikli Cave (Bodrum), Akvaryum Koyu- Aquarium Bay (Fethiye), Fener Adası -Fener Island (Çeşme), Saros (Çanakkale) are among the suitable destinations for cave diving.
Wakeboarding
Compared to other extreme sports, you will find that wakeboarding is easy to learn and perform. It is also quite fun! Wakeboarding is accomplishedly fixing the feet to the board and being pulled along the water with the help of a speedboat. Some also call it windless surfing. The speed can be adjusted according to the rider’s experience; the wakeboard is selected according to the weight-height index of the person, making it easier to control over the area to be covered. Performing aerial manoeuvres on the wakeboard, and ”sailing” above the water are among the factors that add adrenaline to this sport. It should be enough to learn the basics before beginning your wakeboarding adventure, and to discover a few techniques to keep your balance. For wakeboarding, which is suitable for the summer season, the sea should be waveless and the wind factor should be nil to insignificant at best. For the calmest of waters, lakes and artificial ponds are given preference. This sport, which you can cool off and have fun, should definitely be on your to-do list.
Among the places where you can wakeboard, you can think of cities such as Antalya, Sakarya, Bursa, Muğla, Samsun.
Rafting
Rafting is one of the most popular sports among those who love adventure, on boats called rafts, in streams with high flow rates. It is an activity based on the challenge of navigating high-flow waters. In addition to the streams rated between 1-6 according to their difficulty level, rivers with hydroelectric dams are also considered to be excellent locations for rafting. Teams consist of at least 4 people; the appropriate positions are taken and rowing begins. The number of people forming the team is limited to 12 and the teams are supervised with the help of a guide. Among the equipment considered essential for safety, life jackets and shoes that protect against rocks are important, and ropes surrounding the boots help to rafters to hold on and stay balanced in the event of a fall. If you like challenge, excitement and being in the water, you should try rafting, at least once.
There are many spots suitable for rafting in Türkiye, from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. The most prominent cities with rafting activities are: Muğla, Antalya, Düzce, Rize, Artvin, Tunceli. One of the most popular choices of those who have vacationed in the Black Sea in recent years is rafting on the Storm Creek (Fırtına Deresi). If you want to have this experience, Rize hotels await you.
