Summer has arrived and the scorching heat is already getting unbearable. That’s why Rhea Dhanbhoora & Gargi Bansod bring you the best pools and water sports the city has to offer. Are you ready to dive in?
It’s back to the humid, sticky summer and we’re all sweating it out in sultry Mumbai. We’re sure that you can’t wait to wipe away that sweat and beat the glaring sun by diving into a pool. Tempting, isn’t it? There’s several ways to cool down with the help of a little water this summer. Take a look at our suggestions.
Water Sports & Parks
Water sports and theme parks are a great way to beat the summer heat. Here’s where to go to bring out the water baby in you:
H2O Water Sports
This sports complex is situated at Marine Drive and offers many water sport options such as parasailing, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking, jet boats, wind surfing and rowing. The rides include the Bay Cruise, Pontoon Boat, Heritage Cruise, Sunset Cruise and the Moonlight Cruise.
The center also conducts summer camps and special schemes for school children and college students. It also has well-trained lifeguards. The 430 foot floating jetty with a walkway is a major attraction. And you can also enroll yourself in courses for water skiing, wind surfing, hobie cat sailing or powerboat handling.
Where Girgaon Chowpatty, Near Maffatlal Bath Club, Charni Road
Contact 23677584 / 46
Water Kingdom
If you want to head down for a fun family weekend with some great water sports, visit the ever popular Water Kingdom. It offers you an opportunity to mix adventure and fun, is a clean, hygienic place (with the water being recycled 20 times a day) and is open throughout the year. They have over 64 acres of greenery and a variety of rides, zippy slides and its twin park, Essel World, where you can jump over to for some more adventure sports. It’s a great weekend hangout. Their rates for a single park are `390 for children, `590 for adults and `290 for senior citizens on regular days and `490, `690 and `290 respectively during peak season.
Where Gorai Island, Gorai
Contact 2265280306 / 05
Sail Away
Sailing is another great sport that you can indulge in if you love the ocean. And in Mumbai, there are great opportunities for the sport. We spoke to sailor Dhanya Pilo, who told us, “Mumbai has water and sea all around it and it’s sad that most people don’t access it.” For Dhanya, sailing gives her a break from the hectic and dusty city that she loves. It cools her brain and she vows there’s nothing better than looking out to sea and listening to the waves splashing around.
“Sometimes, if you’re lucky, dolphins come around your boat and that feels magical. I started sailing at the age of 16 and it has been one of my best decisions.
When you start taking the sport seriously you can compete in sailing races and even represent India at international regattas or world championships. There are also strategic races called match racing, for those who love an adrenalin rush, where teams compete against each other on a triangular course. I have represented India in team racing and match racing over the years and that keeps you grounded in how much practice one needs to race internationally.” She tells us where to head down to catch a few waves:
A sailing club: You need to learn how to sail before you really get into it. There are several weekday and weekend courses organised by sailing enthusiasts at clubs around the city. While it will take 6 to 9 sessions for each beginner course, you get to learn the basics of how to sail around the harbour. You’ll be taken around lighthouses, anchored ships and the coastal batteries that you can catch a glimpse of from the Gateway of India. It’s a great experience.
Where Colaba Sailing Club, Nariman Point; Royal Bombay Yacht Club, Apollo Bunder
Contact www.colabasailingclub.com; www.royalbombayyachtclub.com
Sea Cadets Corp: If you’re really serious, you can enroll at the Sea Cadets Corp. It’s a great learning spot for children below the age of 15 and includes proper training for a period of over a year. They even have a special category of boats called Optimists, which are designed for children within 8 to 15 years of age. They’re safe boats for kids to learn in and have fun at the same time. They also have Optimist coaching camps organised by the various clubs.
Where Major Veri Nathan Marg, Colaba. Contact 22160568
Windsurf
Windsurfing is a great option in the city. In the late ’90s there used to be a big windsurfing gang and you could often see them surfing around Nariman Point. In fact, different parts of Mumbai that face the sea have different wind and wave conditions that you can do so many sorts of water sports in each one. Wind surfing includes just a light board and a sail which you can mount on top of your car and drive to the nearest waterfront with.
Where Adventure Mandwa, a new setup near Mandwa jetty with watersports such as kite surfing, kayaking and para sailing.
Contact www.adventuremandwa.com
Dive in
Swimming is one of the best activities for your health, as it involves using your entire body. Swimming classes are extremely popular and are specially organised during the summer for children as well as adults. It is a great activity for your child. Swimming classes last a few weeks and are a great way to keep your children occupied during the vacations. The classes get full fast, so register soon. Here’s where you can enroll your children for a swimming course during the summer:
- Wellington Catholic Gymkhana, Khar (W) Contact: 26497531
- Otters Club, Bandra (W) Contact: 26457183
- Andheri Sports Complex, Andheri (W) Contact: 26744292
- Mahatma Gandhi Swimming Pool, Dadar Contact: 24452062
Water sports safety tips
Whether you’re swimming, boating or jetskiing, keeping safety first can help prevent a needless tragedy from happening to you or your loved ones this summer. Keep the following tips in mind:
- Learn how to swim: The first and most important thing you can do is learn to swim. The sooner you learn to swim, the easier and more fun water sports will be for you.
- Always wear a life jacket: Regardless of your swimming ability, always wear a lifejacket. Even if you’re a great swimmer, you could be knocked unconscious, exhausted by the currents or overcome by the elements. Wearing a lifejacket helps you stay afloat and makes you more visible to rescuers in the event of an accident.
- Never go out on the water alone: Make sure you have someone with you and that friends or family on shore know where you’re going and for how long.
- Keep an eye on the weather: Check the weather conditions and make sure that they are stable. Avoid rough water as currents can be stronger than expected.
- Protect yourself from the sun: Sunscreen should be reapplied every 2-3 hours. Keep extra sunglasses at hand to protect your eyes.
- Avoid alcohol: Finally, avoid consuming alcohol when you’re going to be out on the water. Alcohol impairs your judgement, which can be critical in dangerous situations. It’s important to keep in mind that the effects of alcohol are heightened by any exposure to heat and sunlight. Especially during a beach vacation, stay safe and enjoy your alcohol away from the water.
Water Products
Get ready to take a dip with some of these great products we found:
Sock story
Now you can stay dry from head to toe with these interesting, waterproof latex socks from Speedo. Price `399
Where Leading sports shops and retail outlets across the city
Goggling around
When you’re in the water, you need a good pair of goggles to protect your eyes from the chlorine. We recommend these ones from Speedo.
Price `1,199
Where Leading sports shops and retail outlets across the city
Pool runner
We love the pool runner shoe from Speedo that gives you a great grip underwater.
Price `1,999
Where Leading sports shops and retail outlets across the city
Watch that water
Your watches can stay safe in the water too with this stylish waterproof range from Davidoff.
Price `1,88,000 (left) and `91,500 (below)
Where Watches of Switzerland, Bandra (W)
Click away
There’s no need to keep your underwater memories to yourself anymore with this waterproof camera called the Olympus TG-810.
Price `20,999
Where Leading electronic outlets
Wear it right
This summer range for both men and women is filled with bright colours and vintage prints.
Price `2,499 for the women’s range and `3,099 onwards for the men’s range
Where Tommy Hilfiger outlets across the city
Eat by the pool
Want to combine a dip in the pool with a brunch? The Sunday Brunch at Saptami is a great way to cool off. The brunch includes a dip in the open air rooftop infinity pool. You can also stop over at their tropical fruit station that offers fruit skewers. The brunch costs just `999.
When Every Sunday from 12.30 — 3.30 pm
Where Saptami, Holiday Inn, Andheri (E)
Contact 40851800