When the summer is upon us, the call to the water can be difficult to resist. Rivers, seas and lakes all give us a welcome, cool reprieve from the intense heat but the water brings with it a real sense of adventure that has piqued mankind’s curiosity since we first gazed upon its glittering surface.
For the actively inclined, the sea offers us an opportunity to test the limits of our bodies and push ourselves as we match our strength, stamina and cardiovascular fitness against the might of the tides. There’s no better way of pursuing your fitness goals than in the water. But let’s not forget that as well as being a great workout and a fantastic way of engaging with nature, water sports can be a whole lot of fun, too. Whether we take on the cool blue waves on our own or with those we love, there’s no better place to spend the summer.
And with such a wide variety of activities open to you, you can do something different every week without getting bored, wherever in the world you are. Just remember to check the weather before you go! Click here for a list of the best weather apps for your smart phone!
River fishing
Fishing is not only a great activity, but it’s a great character building exercise that provides relaxation and oneness with the water along with skills that will help you with work and family life. It’s an activity that awards skill, attention to detail, planning preparation and above all… patience. Essential skills for navigating the frantic pace of 21st century living, for sure. River fishing also instills a great sense of adventure, incorporating all of the gratifications from boating and fishing combined.
As therapeutic as fishing can be, it can also be frustrating when things go awry so it’s important to do your homework, or seek help and advice if you’re a neophyte. To ensure that you have the best possible experience it’s important to find the right body of water.
Many rivers in urban areas may be too polluted or have insufficient water quality and clarity for fishing. You can get the most out of your trip by using a guide who will be able to educate you on the correct casting techniques and which kinds of equipment are needed for different kinds of fish.
If you check out http://www.mykenairiverguide.com you’ll get a good idea of everything you should be looking for in a guide. They should provide an intimate 1 on 1 experience so that you and you can ask as many questions as you need to and get good quality instruction from your guide without sharing their attention with too many people.
Get the whole family active in the water
Water sports are a great way to get kids off the couch and get active. Young ones who balk at the idea of going out for a run or picking up a football tend to get far more enthusiastic when it comes to swimming, diving or kayaking.
Watersports are great fun as well as having incredible physical benefits. Swimming, for example, strengthens muscles and improves cardiovascular fitness. Most swimming techniques are compound exercises that work various muscle groups simultaneously, but swimming is also a low impact exercise that doesn’t place stress on joints. Not that your kids will care about any of that. They’ll be too busy splashing around having fun!
Check out www.swimmingholes.org/ to find the nearest body of water that’s safe to swim in. But, that said, there’s so much more to water sports than swimming, though.
Catch a wave
Surfing is one of the most thrilling things you can do in the water, but it requires a real sense of timing and balance as well as the most important commodity of all… Patience! You can’t expect to ride a wave on your first day, and while most good beaches will have a surf school of some kind, there’s no reason why you can’t learn at your own pace on your own so long as you box clever. Most beaches have their own subculture of surfers, who’ll no doubt be more than happy to school you on the etiquette of who goes out and when (you certainly don’t want to get in anyone’s way). You should also practice ‘popping’ onto your feet from a paddling position on the sand before you get in the water. You might feel silly at first but it’ll save you a lot of frustration in the long term.
Explore the sea’s treasures by scuba diving
Scuba diving is a thrilling way for you to explore the vast and beautiful underwater world. It can be a therapeutic solitary exercise on your own, or you can explore Neptune’s kingdom with your significant other and kids together as a family. There’s something unique and other-wordly about interacting with the underwater world and getting up-close and personal with the marine life.
While, like many physical activities it comes with its own inherent caveats, there are few water based sports that provide the same sense of adventure and unique sense of perspective. There are numerous health and safety considerations which need to be adhered to. If you’re the kind who gets impatient and learns through doing rather than watching and listening you might have to sit on your hands in the early stages. Likewise, if your kids have a short attention span, they may also get frustrated. That said, it’s a great way to teach kids the importance of responsibility while engendering a real love of the underwater.
Soar above the waves
If you want to experience an altogether different water based experience this summer then how about parasailing? Here, you’re attached to the back of a boat with a big parachute attached to you. As the chute fills with air, you soar majestically into the air, skimming along the surface of the water. It’s more static than most water activities so you may not get a great workout but if you’re an adrenaline junky who craves unique experiences then it’s most definitely an avenue worth exploring. After all, what greater gift can you give yourself this summer than the opportunity to fly?
