Secret 101 to Water Sports

2011年5月7日星期六

A Great Place For Your Favorite Water Sport - Hilton Head

Hilton Head Island isn't just about tennis and golf. Chances are, if you have a favorite water sport, the island not only offers it, but offers it in the unique and beautiful waters that can only be found here. For those who prefer a faster-paced, adrenaline-fueled water sport, the local scene offers waterskiing, jet skiing, surfing, windsurfing, kayaking, and more. Of course, not everyone is looking for a rush, preferring instead to experience the island's beauty at a slower pace. For them, Hilton Head offers activities such as fishing and boating. Anyone wanting to experience their favorite water sport in a unique location should definitely check out what this island has to offer.

Probably the fastest-paced water sport Hilton Head has to offer is jet skiing, perfect for anyone seeking the ultimate adrenaline rush on the island's gorgeous waters. You feel the water and the wind rushing past you as you ride the motorized personal watercraft of your choice standing up. Another great option for those who prefer sitting down is a wave runner, which is identical except that the motorized personal watercraft comes equipped with a seat. If you don't have your own equipment for either water sport, the local community has several companies offering rentals on both types of personal watercraft.

In addition to personal watercrafts, the island offers many other boating experiences as well. If boating is your water sport, Hilton Head's rental companies offer a wide selection of sailboats, motorboats, kayaks, and more. If you are interested in fishing, you can rent that equipment as well or even hire a specialized fishing tour boat. Just make sure you get your fishing license first! Of course, if you want to experience the waves from behind a boat, water skiing equipment is also available.

If surfing is your preferred water sport, Hilton Head offers 12 miles of beaches with great surfing to be had on every single mile. If you would like to combine the thrill of surfing with sailing, windsurfing is a great option. Windsurfers still enjoy riding the waves like surfers, but their sails give them some control over their speed and direction. Of course, the true thrill of windsurfing comes when the wind picks up speed. Instead of just riding the waves, windsurfers who know what they're doing can use the wind to plane the surface of the water, achieving speeds normally only possible with a motor.

If you want to experience something truly unique to the area, you can take advantage of parasailing to get spectacular views of the island and its surroundings. Parasailing is similar to water skiing, except you use a parachute. The speed of the motorboat creates enough wind to life you and your parachute up into the air, allowing you to enjoy Hilton Head's natural beauty from above. While you can parasail almost anywhere there is water, nowhere else can you use it to view the island in all its glory. This is something that every water sport enthusiast visiting and resident to the island should experience.

Ken is a Hilton Head Real Estate professional with over 29 years in the business. To see current properties for sale visit Ken-Oliver.com.

2011年5月6日星期五

African Safari Destination - Fishing and Water Sports, Lake Tanganyika, Zambia

Although Lake Tanganyika is of great importance to Zambia, only a small tip of the lake is actually within its borders. This small tip is enough to make it a Zambian adventure holiday destination built around fishing and water based activities. The lake serves a greater purpose too - it provides a real port to an otherwise landlocked country, providing a key link to Tanzania and Burundi. The result is that this part of Zambia has a very distinctive feel about it, a kind of tropical, exotic Central African feel if there is such a thing!

Geographically the lake is of great interest to scientists since it is the deepest of Central Africa's rift valley lakes with its deepest point about 1,470m. It is 34,000km2 with tropical surface waters with an average 26 degrees Celsius. The area of specific interest for researchers is the colder water far below the penetration of natural light and the even deeper water that is deprived of oxygen.

Fishing is the main activity to be found here - over 450 different species have been found in the lake! Lake Tanganyika is renowned for the sheer variety of fish that can be caught here. Anglers come here in search of the goliath tiger fish, nkupi and Nile perch and anglers will be glad to know that a single visit can result in catching a dozen different fish species. The best time to fish here is between November and March and people come to fish by rod and line with fly fishing becoming more popular. The annual fishing competition held in March is also a great attraction where you will be warmly welcomed.

Water based activities include snorkelling and diving due to the lakes large number of magnificently coloured fish found in quite shallow waters. Visibility is known to vary but it is known to be as good as 10-20m in some areas. A series of cliffs and drop offs between Sumbu and Mpulungu are well known by divers and prove very popular.

Part and parcel of water sports are the risks, many of which can be avoided. The Tanganyika water cobra which can grow up to 2m is venomous but non aggressive. Many visitors fear crocodiles and hippos but the rocky shores, clear water and lack of hiding cover discourage these from the lake although they are not unseen. They are more commonly encountered near the mouths of rivers and in the quieter parts of the Sumbu National Park. Crocodiles and hippos are known but localised. There is also the possibility of Bilharzia but there is much doubt about its existence here. Following such information some visitors may not step foot in the sparkling waters but exploration of authentic natural environments does not come with buttons to control it! The reality is people swim, fish and explore Lake Tanganyika on a daily basis and come to no harm. The trick is to ask your guides, lodge owners and the locals who know the area well.

There is a growing number of lake side lodges dotting the shoreline but what is attractive is that they still 'dot' the shoreline not take it over. Visits here are still very authentic, perfect for the traveller with an eye for the real thing and a mind for exploration. You will get comfort and luxury here but you can't control the nature that surrounds you and that is the beauty of it.

Note: If you wish to publish this article on your website, blog, etc. you can as long as the article remains in its full entirety; including the links and the author resource box.

Sara Brown is instrumental in the running of the Best of Zambia site (http://www.thebestofzambia.com), a website dedicated to putting Zambia on the map by creating a strong internet presence and successfully promoting Zambia and those operating in Zambia.

This site will help potential visitors to Zambia reasearch this beautiful country, find the perfect holiday in Zambia, plan their trip and send out enquiries. As the site develops it will have useful links to the international development sector, commercial and investment opportunities and, local businesses and services.

Our mission is to ensure the best of Zambia site becomes THE information hub for all things Zambia.

You can learn more about the Best of Zambia and how you can benefit from our products and services at our constantly updated website, http://www.thebestofzambia.com

Zambia is stunning and tourism is increasing. Despite this many would prefer Zambia to stay exactly as it is - a place that is fascinating, a rich resource of natural habitat and animals that few other people visit. As we promote Zambia, we ask that you respect its resources and people and help to preserve it - be a thoughtful visitor.

2011年5月5日星期四

Understanding the Types of Water Sports Towables

Water Sports Towables are fast becoming the number one water activity for families and thrill seekers alike this season. With their ease of use, versatility, affordability and just plain fun factor there really is a tubing towable that is a perfect fit for just about anyone.

There is a seemingly endless array of awesome designs in colors and shapes of the water sports towables available on the market today. But, no matter how crazy the aesthetics of the water tubes, knowing what kind of ride you want to experience is really one of the more important factors in determining which type of water towable you choose for yourself and your family.

Here is a run down of the basic types of Water Sports Towables:

STANDARD/ROUND/DONUT TUBING TOWABLES: These are the traditional shaped towables that look like an inflated inner tube. They can be ridden by laying on top of the donut for a more exciting ride or by sitting in the hole for a more secure feeling. These standard watersports towables offer hand grips and can be ridden by one or several riders depending on the design and are usually the most economical of the tubing towables.

DECK TUBING TOWABLES: These towables are more flat and look like an inflated mattress. Perfect for the thrill seekers, on this tubing towable, the rider(s) lies on their stomach and holds on with their face very close to the water. This gives them the feeling of speed that they crave. Due to the flat shape of this water sports towable, it also tends to catch air more easily going over wakes and during quick turns making the ride more exciting and challenging.

RIDE-IN TUBING TOWABLES: These watersports towables can accommodate up to 4 riders at once which is great for a family or group of friends to enjoy together. In this configuration, the riders sit on the floor or "cockpit" of the tubing towable, much like in a small boat, and are surrounded by the sides of the towable. Often the floor is inflated also so the ride is quite comfortable and smooth. This is a perfect water sports towable for younger children or those adults who prefer a ride of comfort and security over thrills and spills.

RIDE-ON TUBING TOWABLES: These water sport towables are most often in an elongated shape-much like a torpedo or giant hot dog and can hold up to 6 riders at once. In this case, the riders sit on top of the water tube. Due to the high center of gravity, there tend to be a lot of rollovers and lots of laughs to go with it. These towables are great for large groups of all ages.

SPECIALTY TUBING TOWABLES: These water sports towables can include kites in which the riders are lifted into the air, towables that riders actually are completely inside of, water towables that spin or rock and many others. These require riders with more physical skill and a higher level of thrill seeking.

There are a tremendous variety of water tubes to choose from on the market today. Once you've decided on the type of ride you'd like to experience, you're sure to find the perfect Water Sports Towable for you this season.

At PlayfulInflatables.com you are sure to find the perfect Water Sports Towable among the large selection of fun and exciting designs.

They also carry other fun water related activities like Family Above Ground Swimming Pools, Kid's Inflatable Pools and

Swimming Pool Floats, Slides and Games.