Enjoying Water Sports at Tanjung Benoa Bali

- June 24, 2007

Tanjung Benoa or Benoa Bay is located 25 kilometers from Denpasar, the capital of Bali. Many hotels and restaurants has been built there for tourists. Some international hotels located here are The Aston Bali, The Novotel, and Club Bali Mirage. A restaurant called Bumbu Bali also very popular in Tanjung Benoa for its Balinese authentic cooking lesson. Though it is not as popular as Kuta, Sanur, or Ubud, Tanjung Benoa has it owns attractions; water sports.

There are lots of varieties of water sports you can do in Tanjung Benoa. There are also many water sports operators available. They offer individual or single activity or water sport tour package. You can choose what suit you best. These are the water sports you can enjoy in Tanjung Benoa.

Parasailing

You don't need actually need any special skill to enjoy this activity. You just have to be fit and have no problem with height issue. The staff will help you in attaching the parasail to your body. You will also wear special thick glove so you don't hurt your palm when holding the handle of the parasail. The handle are blue and red. This is what you will pull, either the blue or red handle, when landing. The staff will shout to you while you are in the air asking you to pull the blue handle or the red handle so you can land smoothly on the beach.

You probably don't get your chance to fly right away to parasail once you arrive in Benoa Bay. Not because of queue, but because of wind direction. Parasailing can only conducted when the wind blows from the sea to the land, because that way you will not land on the water because the wind will push you to the land. So, you'll have to wait a bit there. But don't worry, there are many other activities to enjoy while waiting for your turn.

Jet skiing

Jetskiing is another adrenalin pumping sport. Unless you are very very experienced in the riding jetski, you will have to be accompanied by a staff. Well, I don't think they will let you ride by yourself. There are many obstacles around, e g boats, people surfing, so you have to be sure you can dodge all this. That's why you need a staff who sit at the backseat guiding you for your exciting ride.

One ride usually lasts for fifteen minutes. But believe me, it feels like no more than five minutes because you will enjoy it very much. Time runs faster, and suddenly your game has stopped. But you can try again.

Flying Fish

It is a kind of raft which look like a mat to me pulled by a speedboat. You will be flying on the air as the boat pull the raft. Depending on how fast you're going, but you will bounce from the water to the air like a flying fish. Hmm, I got it, I think this is why it is called flying fish. I don't know about you, but jetskiing is more exciting to me. Maximum 3 people can be on the raft.

Snorkeling and diving

Snorkelling and diving package are availables also here. This is a way to explore the beauty of underwater scenery. Too bad I don't dive, and water choke me when doing some snorkelling.

Banana Boat Riding

A basic water sports, but also very exciting. A speedboat is pulling your banana boat, so hold yourself tight onto the handle on the boat, then off you go, bouncing on the water and speeding into the sea. You can stand it, but you will scream a lot, I mean a lot.

Glass Bottom Boat Ride

Not really much of a sport, but it will make you enjoy your day admiring rich colorful marine life in Benoa Bay. It sometimes needs a dozen of good luck to spot beautiful fish from the glass bottom boat. Unlike the divers who can touch the sponge or stand very close to the tropical fish, from the glass bottom boat you only can watch and sometimes the water is very crystal clear.

Usually the glass bottom boat ride is combined with a visit to the so-called turtle island. The turtle had been long gone, but there are people who have some at the their pond in their back yard. You are going to visit them, you can touch them, or hold the turtle. Not much to see, in my opinion. Opinion may vary ;-). There are also people who put more animals like snake, bats, iguana to attract more visitors. Nice try.

There are other activities to do in Tanjung Benoa such as water skiing, wake boarding or even fishing. Choose what most appealing and suitable for you.

And here is a short video of a parasailing activity that I once took in a while ago at Tanjung Benoa. If you have a fast internet connection, you can watch it by clicking the 'play' button.