10 water sports to try in Hong Kong

It’s well-known that summer in Hong Kong is a scorcher. So instead of hiding away in shopping malls and air-conditioned apartments, why not take a dip and try your hand at some water sports? Not only is it a great way to cool off, but you’ll get to experience some of the most epic ways to get around Hong Kong waters.

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Wakeboarding and wakesurfing

If you’ve got a good sense of balance, you’ll take to wakeboarding like a pro. With your feet attached to a board that resembles a surfboard, you will be riding waves while being towed forward by a speedboat. Wakeboarding requires a reasonably good level of core strength as you manoeuvre your way through the rocky water without losing balance and crashing into the sea.

If you find wakeboarding a bit too challenging but are still up for some speed and excitement, wakesurfing is for you. Similar to wakeboarding, your goal is to make your way to standing upright on the board. But you will be riding on waves pumped by the engine of the motorboat and once you are fully standing on the board, you can let go of the rope and go hands-free on water.

Best spots to wakeboard and wakesurf: Stanley, Sai Kung and Tai Tam
Where to hire or tour: Wakeboard Hong Kong, based in Tai Tam, have various packages available for private groups, corporates and schools. Prices vary, but its Friends and Family Package offers three-hour sessions which include wakeboarding, tubing and boating for $2,700, available Monday through Friday. Wakesurfing Hong Kong is conveniently located in Tai Tam, just 30 minutes away from Central by car. Sessions are available Monday to Sunday from 6am-7pm, with life vests, wakesurf boards, wetsuits and drysuits included. Bookings available via the website.

Stand-up paddleboarding

Paddle across calm waters while the sun goes down, stretch yourself into a downward facing dog or have your very own furry friend jump on the back. Stand-up paddleboarding (or SUP) is a popular way to enjoy the sights and seas in Hong Kong, plus it is fairly easy to grasp for beginners. Put simply, you stand up on a board that looks somewhat like a surfboard, but rather than catch waves, you use a paddle to propel yourself through the water. 

Best spots for SUP: Stanley Main Beach and Sai Kung Country Park 
Where to hire or tour: Aqua Bound offers SUP rentals on Stanley Main Beach from $80 for a one-hour rental. Wild Hong Kong offers a SUP tour around Sai Kung which allows for up to five hours on the water depending on conditions. A group of one to three persons is $800 and includes all equipment rental.

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Kayaking

Aboard this small, narrow watercraft is an ideal way to explore some of Hong Kong’s 260 plus outlying islands and remote beaches. Each boat generally holds one to two people and is operated by a double-bladed paddle. Not only is kayaking a great day out, but it’s an opportunity to learn about our marine ecosystem.

Best spots to kayak: There are many great islands to kayak around in Hong Kong. We recommend Hong Kong GeoPark and Dog Island just off Lamma Island.
Where to hire or tour: Sea Kayak Hong Kong offers a gentle six-kilometre kayak session perfect for beginners. The trip takes about three hours and is $450 per person which includes equipment, an experienced instructor, photography, water and snacks.

Read more: Your guide to kayaking around Sai Kung Country Park

Pedal boating

It may not technically be a sport, but it still counts. Head over to Inspiration Lake in Hong Kong Disneyland, where you can rent a two-seater or four-seater pedal boat and explore the artificial lake. You can also rent a surrey bike and cycle lakeside during designated hours.

Best spots for peddal boating: Inspiration Lake
Where to hire or tour: Inspiration Lake Recreation Centre offers pedal boats and surrey bikes, available to rent every day from 10am to 5pm. Pedal boats are $70 per half hour whilst surrey bike are $100 per hour. Rentals are subject to the weather conditions.

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Flyboarding

Game enough to give this one a whirl? Fairly new to the scene, the flyboard was only invented in 2012. Never heard of it? A flyboard is a type of water jet pack attached to a jet ski which supplies propulsion to drive the flyboard up to 15 metres through the air over the water. Look out for high-tides and high winds speeds as they are most unsafe when engaging in this water sport.

Best spots for flyboarding: Tai Tam Tuk Village
Where to hire or tour: Flyboard Hong Kong says that it takes five to 20 minutes to learn the basics of the Flyboard with an instructor. It takes about three hours of training to master the manoeuvres and understand the operation of the Flyboard. For bookings or to find out more, check out its website.

Kiteboarding

Not sure which water sport is for you? Kiteboarding is a good mix of them all. The sport combines aspects of wakeboarding, windsurfing, surfing and sailing into one extreme sport. Harnessing the power of the wind, the large controllable power kite helps kite boarders to propel themselves across the water.

Best spots for kiteboarding: Shui Hau Wan and Lung Kwu Tan
Where to hire or tour: The Kiteboarding Association of Hong Kong offers different packages from private lessons to lessons for beginners and intermediate kite boarders. It has two training locations available, Shui Hau Wan and Lung Kwu Tan, depending on wind direction. Prices vary so check out its website for details.

Snorkelling and scuba diving

Always wondered what lurks below Hong Kong waters? There’s a total of 84 different coral species in Hong Kong just waiting to be explored, many of which you will find at Hoi Ha, Sai Kung. You may also spot crabs, sea cucumbers, fish, lobsters, sea urchins and even seahorses if you’re lucky. You generally have to be open water certified to scuba dive most places in the world, including Hong Kong.

Best spots to snorkel: Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park
Best spots to scuba dive: Clearwater Bay
Where to hire or tour: Splash HK offers a PADI Discover Scuba experience which allows inexperienced divers to get some basic skills in the pool before heading out into the ocean. The one day course is $1,200. Then you can join in its Splash Days with shore and boat diving. Prices start at $500 (equipment rental is an extra $250 per day). South China Diving Club and Mandarin Divers also offer training programmes for recreational and technical diving.

Windsurfing

Did you know that our Hong Kong windsurfing team has won many Asian and World titles in the past, including a Gold medal won by Lee Lai San in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996? Stanley is known to be Hong Kong’s most popular spot for windsurfing, with ideal months of the year being September to April. Look out for the easterly and north easterly winds in Stanley to hit the sweet spot for perfect conditions. 

Best spots to windsurf: Stanley, Sai Kung, Cheung Chau, Tai Po, Tai Mei Tuk and Tuen Mun
Where to hire or tour: Located on Stanley Beach, Hiwindlover has been organising windsurfing equipment rentals and courses for over 40 years. A beginners course starts at $800 for three hours and beginner windsurfing gear rental starts at $150 per hour.

Surfing

Hong Kong isn’t the first place you would think of when it comes to surfing, but believe it or not, we actually have a couple of great surfing spots. Big Wave Bay is probably the first place that comes to mind for many. The beach is also where many early morning surf lessons take place. If you’ve always wanted to jump on a board, now is a great time to start. 

Best spots to surf: Big Wave Bay, Tai Long Wan Bay and Pui O
Where to hire or tour: HK Waterman hosts group and one-on-one surf lessons at Big Wave Bay, starting at $600 per person. Weekday and weekend morning slots available.

Skimboarding

Just like its cousin surfboarding, skimboarding is a discipline of surfing, but with a smaller board that does not have a fin. Skimboarders start on the beach and rely on the pull of the wave to lead them out onto the sea. 

Best spots for skimboarding: Big Wave Bay and Shek O
Where to hire or tour: Long Coast Seasports offers equipment rental as well as a range of private and small group classes for both adults and children. Rental pricing starts at $60 per hour and class pricing depends on the number of people taking part. Visit its website for details.