When people think of water sports, they imagine it’s a holiday activity to be enjoyed in exotic destinations around the world. What they don’t realise is that several popular water sports are available right here in the UK. From family activities for Saturday afternoons to thrilling solo and couples activities, you should take the time to explore the abundance of fresh water sports across the country.

Paddleboarding

If you’re new to water sports, you may want to start slow. When paddleboarding, you stand on a board that resembles a surfboard and use a paddle to move and change direction. Typically, paddleboarding is best suited to coves, rivers and lakes, and can be enjoyed as a group or alone. According to Redbull, some of the best paddleboard adventures are in the Lake District and Wales. However, it’s also popular in cities such as Cambridge, where you can paddle the river and take in picture-perfect architecture.

Kayaking

Like canoeing but with smaller boats, kayaking involves sitting down and paddling with an oar. There are two levels of kayaking: river kayaking and sea kayaking, each suiting different levels of skill.

To familiarise yourself with how kayaking works, you can hire kayaks along the river in hundreds of locations throughout the UK. It’s particularly popular in the South East, where you can explore the rivers of Suffolk and Norfolk as part of a relaxing day out. With sea kayaking, the water is much rougher, making for an exciting experience. Start in rivers and work your way to the sea.

Windsurfing

Like paddleboarding, only with a sail rather than a paddle, windsurfing requires time and skill to get right. It’s mostly enjoyed in the sea, which means more training is needed before you take to the waves. There are windsurfing schools that host one day and weekend training sessions throughout the UK. Unlike paddleboarding and kayaking, windsurfing is best suited to those that enjoy solo sports. If you’re interested in trying, find your nearest place to learn windsurfing in the UK and get started.

Jet Skiing

If you love speed, jet skiing is the way to go. You can hire jet skis all along the coast, particularly useful for exploring the bays and coves of Cornwall and Devon. Jet skiing can become costly if you partake on a regular basis, so it’s best suited to short family breaks.

Waterskiing

Imagine skiing on snow but then replace the snow with water, being pulled by a speedboat. That’s water skiing. There are few places in the UK you can enjoy this enthralling activity, but it’s well worth a try if you’re presented with the chance. To water ski, you need to hone balance and be confident in the water. The most popular way to get into water skiing is to start with a balance bar, which is suitable for children and adults of all ages.

Scuba Diving

Wales is one of the best locations to experience the rich underwater environments that surround our island’s coastline. Visit Wales suggest diving off Pembrokeshire or Anglesey. From here, you can explore infamous shipwrecks such as the Wellington Bomber and Molesey Wreck, plus many more.

Wherever you are in the UK, spend a weekend experiencing some great water activities. This means that when you do venture abroad you can test out your new skills in exotic waters for a truly memorable experience.