Get into an aquatic, fantastic summer!

Hong Kong is blessed with many beautiful beaches that provide ideal settings for numerous fun-filled water sports that you don’t need to be an expert swimmer for. This summer, get to a beach and get in shape!

Outlying island snorkeling to exercise heart and lungs

Among all the water sports, snorkeling is the most approachable. Even if you can’t swim, some basic snorkeling gear is all you need to explore the underwater world and enjoy a fish’s eye view of fascinating marine creatures even while you get a cardio-pulmonary workout.

In the summer, the waters around Hong Kong are usually quite calm, making them great to snorkel in. On days when the right ocean currents are keeping algae and plankton to a minimum, the water quality can rival that of many famous overseas snorkeling destinations! The two snorkeling hot spots below, in particular, are known for their crystal-clear water:

Tung Ping Chau Tung Ping Chau, is about 1.5 hours from Ma Liu Shui Pier by ferry. Its clear, unpolluted water hosts a flourishing seaweed bed. Snorkelers can feast their eyes on the swaying seaweeds that form a underwater kaleidoscope.

Sharp Island Of all of Hong Kong’s outlying islands, Sharp Island is only a 15-minute ferry ride from Sai Kung town centre. The water around the island supports a designated coral nursery, home to many beautiful species of marine life, making it a great destination for family outings.

SUP yoga for training the key muscle groups You’re probably no stranger to yoga, but have you tried SUP yoga? This new water sport combines two of the most popular exercises in recent years – the stand up paddle board and yoga. Practicing yoga on the water lets you breathe in the ocean while training your core muscle groups. This exercise is easy to get into even for newcomers to water sports; as long as you can swim, you’re good to go. Even for yoga enthusiasts, it’s a fresh and challenging experience.

Aqua fitness for cardio-pulmonary health If you are sun-shy or don’t want your workout to get rained out, then indoor aqua fitness classes are perfect for you! Aqua fitness encompasses a range of aerobic exercises typically done in waist-deep water in a pool. The idea is to use water resistance and buoyancy to facilitate cardio-pulmonary training while reducing stress on your joints. Since aquatic training can help relieve body aches, it’s particularly suited to people who find it difficult to exercise on land. And there’s a lot more to it than just splashing around in a pool. Different exercise tools like float sticks, aquatic barbells, flotation belts, fins and more can be incorporated into your routine to make it more effective and fun!