8 fun Bali water activities you don’t need to be a swimmer to enjoy

Love beach holidays, but can’t swim? Not to worry, you aren’t the only one.

Bali may be the perfect destination for those who love the sand and sea, but who says you can’t enjoy all those water activities just because you can’t float?

Also read: Going extreme: 10 heart-pounding extreme sports in Bali

You don’t have to be sporty, or able to save yourself from drowning (though of course it’s best if you can) to have fun in Bali. You just need the spirit for adventure.

Ready? Here’s some awesome (and safe) stuff you can do as a non-swimmer.

1. Ride an underwater scooter – Bali Underwater Scooter

Have you ever seen or heard of an underwater scooter?!

Before we stumbled on this, we definitely hadn’t heard of this ourselves. It looks super fun and looks almost like your personal one-man submarine.

Imagine you and your friends all on your underwater scooters floating over the sea beds… Now wouldn’t that make an interesting photo for Instagram!

The underwater scooter is perfect for those who want a good scuba diving experience that’s not as demanding (read: no certification, experience, or troublesome gear attached required) as when you actually scuba dive.

All you need to do is sit, and you’ll be able to breathe comfortably in your personal ‘head bubble’ that thankfully provides very clear visibility and distortion-free views! The underwater scooter travels at up to 2km/hour, and it can go down to 20m depth so you’re able to access the shallow reefs!

And just like a standard motorbike, simply turn the handlebars to go where you want to go, and easily press the buttons for more speed or depth.

Video via wayansidarta

For those who always wanted to scuba dive, but might’ve been scared off by the requirements – here’s your chance!

2. Walk on the sea – Bali seawalker

Yes, we mean it, literally. You won’t miss out on experiencing the underwater wonders of Bali, even if you can’t swim to save your life.

Seawalking, a new trend that’s making waves on the island, allows you to see the mysterious world beneath the clear waters, without even getting you hair wet.

Based in Sanur, the Seawalker tours use special helmets and body weights to sink participants to the shallow ocean floor. And from there, anyone aged nine to 70 can enjoy Bali’s vibrant marine life, getting up close to fish and reef, all in a safe environment.

Photo via RendyTravel

The best part about Seawalking is you don’t need to swim; you just need to walk. Isn’t it easy?

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3. Zoom up like a superhero: Flyboarding at Flyboard Bali Nusa Dua

From the flat waters of Tanjung Benoa Beach, a man just sprouts a jet of water coming out from what appears to be a boot.

You might start to wonder – is it Iron Man or Aqua Man?

Well, this is the newest kid on the block – Flyboarding.

Invented by a former jet-ski champion, Franky Zapata, it combines a surfing board and a Jet Ski motor.

You’ll be wearing a boot attached to a surfing board with a hose connected to a motor, usually from a water vessel.

With high water pressure, you will be propelled into the air, with water ejecting from the nozzles – yes, very much like a superhero saving the day.

The basic flyboarding is while standing upright, but if you’re more experienced and want to experiment, you can even dive into the water like a human dolphin.

Recent flyboarding events also showcase acrobatic stunts! (Of course, don’t try this if you aren’t trained!)

As the newest attraction in Nusa Dua, flyboarding can propel you up to 15 metres high.

A great adventure for the adrenaline junkies!

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A video posted by Marischka Prudence (@marischkaprue) on Jun 20, 2015 at 3:26am PDT

Video credits: mldare2fly

4. Rush with the rapids: Water Tubing in Payangan Region

Bali is home to many streams, canyons, and rivers and the northern region of Payangan is one of the island’s most untouched places.

Down the stream, you’ll get a heart-pumping experience from water tubing as you gawk at Bali’s rich flora and fauna.

What makes water tubing different from water rafting?

Unlike rafting where you ride in a raft with others, water tubing is a solo ride with an inflatable doughnut-shaped water tube.

You go with the rapids as you hold tight inside the tube, and enjoy a few moments of serenity as you flow with the river of Siap and down again with the rushing water.

Talk about thrill and getting wet!

Video credits: Bali Quad Discovery Tours

5. Ride the waves like never before: Kitesurfing in Sanur

Combine surfing, windsurfing, gymnastics, paragliding and wakeboarding and you have one of the most extreme sports ever – kitesurfing, an escalated form of kiteboarding that lets you ride the waves with a surfboard and a kite.

Though demanding great physical strength and mental toughness, kitesurfing already has a large following across the globe.

As the island’s top surfing destination, Sanur attracts a lot of kitesurfers.

Known for its big waves, Sanur Beach also has flat water, perfect for you if you’re a beginner.

If you’re an adept kitesurfer, ride the waves outside the lagoon.

Video credits: Flying High Perth

6. Segway By The Beach

Want to enjoy the ocean at a distance? Why not try a guided beachside Segway tour?

Unlike Segway tours in many cities, the Sanur beach Segway tour is fresh, clean and natural.

Photo via Bali Green Connection

If you wheel along the beautiful Sanur beach boulevard, you can savour the stunning views of the turquoise ocean and golden sand.

And you may even spot Lombok, Bali’s closest island neighbour.

To top off your Segway adventure, you can find your way to a traditional coastal temple, and have lunch on the beach.

Photo via Bali Green Connection

7.  Jet Skiing

Thrillseekers, look no further.

Most non-swimmers believe that jet skiing isn’t possible for them, but in actual fact, it’s a perfect non-swimmers activity, involving very minimum water contact! (but you will still be wet of course)

Photo via Bali1link Blog

We can assure you, it’s almost impossible to flip or crash jet skis. In addition, lifejackets must be worn at all times, and if you aren’t sure about driving, rental outlets will have skilled employees take you out.

We recommend renting from certified outlets only, such as Jet Set Marine in Nusa Dua, where safety and service quality are first class.

And remember to hold on tight!

8. Go underwater in a submarine

Have you always dreamed of diving to the ocean bottom in a submarine?

Photo via mamashoppe blog

This once-in-a-lifetime experience is possible on the Odyssey Bali Submarine.

Photo via Odyssey Bali Submarine

That’s how you can immerse yourself deep underwater and ogle at everything on ocean floor – from the beautiful reefs to the amazing marine life – while remaining safe and dry.

It’s also probably one of the rare times you can snap away in the water without the need for an underwater camera too!

Photo via mamashoppe blog

Are there any more interesting water activities we have missed? Let us know in the comment section below!

Write up for flyboarding, kitesurfing, water tubing contributed by Val Caulin.

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