Sassy Mama’s Roundup of Water Activities for Kids

Before we all dive back into school mode, here’s a guide to fun summer water sports for the little ones to enjoy their last moments of Summer 2015.

Hey Sassy Mamas, September is here and back-to-school sales are in full force! But let’s be honest, Hong Kong summers don’t really end until well into the school year, so there’s still time for a bit of watery fun. Whether or not your tot is ready for a dip into the warm late-summer sea, here’s a comprehensive list of water sports to keep even the most picky of kids thoroughly entertained at the beach! All you need to pack for your little one is a swimsuit, a rash guard, and some sunscreen for a fun-filled day out in the water!

Surfing

Surf Hong Kong
While Hong Kong isn’t the most exciting surf spot for adults, this makes it an excellent practicing ground for kids! With small waves and gentler currents than some of Asia’s more exciting locations, Hong Kong is an ideal place for the younger ones to learn how to surf in a safe environment. Surf Hong Kong offers a Learn to Surf Program from ages 6 to 16, with either half day or full day lessons ranging from two to six hours. Once you’ve got the basics down, you can rent a board and practice out in the serene and clean waters of Tai Long Wan in Sai Kung. For the advanced learners, Surf SUP (Stand Up Padding) is their newest course this year!

For the thrill-seeking child, Surf Hong Kong has Surf Adventure Camps that include surfing, canyoning, camping, and cooking for three days and two nights while camping out on Sai Wan. Children of all ages are welcome, with two groups split between ages 8-12 and 13-17. This camp is offered throughout the year from spring until the end of fall, with calmer surfing in the summer. All you’ll need to bring is beachwear and a small amount of overnight gear, as there is full facilities service and meals are included.

Where: #4 Tai Long Sai Wan, Sai Kung, New Territories, Hong Kong
Contact: 9126 1248 and email: [email protected]
Ages: 6-17

Treasure Island Surf Camp
Ready for your little “grommet” to become familiar with a surf board and ocean safety? Treasure Island has Grommet, Intermediate, and Adventure surf camps for children starting from age 5 to 15. Camp groups are further divided by age, with an excellent 1:3 instructor to camper ratio. Held on a weekly schedule, all camps include lunch and snacks, with transport to and from Central Ferry Pier every morning. There’s even an option for one day of overnight camp at their private camp site. Parents are also invited on Parents Day to come surf with kids, with free surf and SUP sessions!

Where: Pui O Beach, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Contact: 2546 3543 and [email protected]
Ages: 5-15

Kayaking

Sea Kayak Academy
If you’re looking to see some of the best scenery and join in the budding kayaking community in SE Asia, look no further than the only professional and international standard Sea Kayak Academy. For confident swimmers and older kids, the Sea Kayak Academy offers family and group kayaking tours on weekends and weekdays to lesser-known and hidden locales. Learn some basic strokes early in your trip and then paddle yourselves away to remote islands for an afternoon of fun in the sun. Their eco-tour includes guided paddling through Tai O and the Geopark, promising coral reefs and faraway beaches. Perhaps you’ll even see pink dolphins in the water on this eco-friendly trip to some of the most pristine and clean waters of Hong Kong!

Where: 4 Kei Ling Ha San Wai (Head Office)
Contact: 3482 3912 and [email protected]
Ages: Recommended 12 and up

Windsurfing

Aberdeen Boat Club
Windsurfing will challenge your child’s balance and ability to think quickly on their toes while paying attention to currents and wind speed out in the bay. As a recognised Windsurfing Association of Hong Kong Training Centre, The Aberdeen Boating Club offers Windsurfing courses for children age 8 and up. They have rigs sized from 1.5m² to 3.5m² for budding windsurfers of all sizes. Their Junior Basic and Intermediate Courses are only one-day classes, and kids can follow up with practice days before enrolling in the Junior Advanced Windsurfing Course, which is the equivalent of the Adult Basic Course.

Where: Aberdeen Boat Club, 20 Shum Wan Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
Contact: 2552 8182 and [email protected]
Ages: 8 and up

Long Coast Seasports
For a short two-day course, Long Coast Seasports has kids beginner windsurfing lessons. Classes will include guided instructions and self-practice, and there is an option for extended skill improvement with 1-on-1 special training. Additionally, they offer kitesurfing, surfing, skimboarding, and SUP courses to both children and adults.

Where: 29 Lower Cheung Sha Village, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Contact: 8104 6222 and [email protected]
Ages: All Ages

Sailing

Aberdeen Boat Club
Does your child enjoy a strong wind and sea spray? Sailing is just the sport for young explorer and pirates alike. The Aberdeen Boat Club offers sailing lessons for both members and non-members for children starting from age 7 and up. Their kids-oriented sailing classes begin with Youth Courses for Juniors (7-11) and Teens (12-18) in the ABC Junior and Youth Sailing Programme, an excellent way for beginners to become acquainted with the basics and safety measures for sailing on specially designed dinghies. See here for their programme brochure, and here for their application forms. Their full August schedule has been posted here.

In addition, they host a Water Sports Week with a variety of water sports for kids who already have basic level qualifications. Applications can be found here.

Where: Aberdeen Boat Club, 20 Shum Wan Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
Contact: 2552 8182 and [email protected]
Ages: 7 and up

Diving and Snorkelling

Splash Hong Kong
With such warm waters in Hong Kong, it’s a great time to learn scuba in the summer. Splash has a PADI Open Water Diver Course and a PADI Scuba Diving Certification course. The PADI Open Water Diver course is approximately 30 hours of instruction, depending on progress and performance, spread out over two weekends. There is a combination of confined water lessons and open water dives. If you’re crunched for time, the PADI Scuba Diving Certification is a one weekend class. The next step is their PADI Advanced Open Water Diving course. This is definitely an excellent way to spend a summer exploring the coast of Hong Kong! Splash has their own boat, and it organises Splash Days all summer long, for unusual dive destinations.

Where: Unit 5, 1/F, Ko Fu House, 58-72 Fuk Man Road, Sai Kung, New Territories, Hong Kong
Contact: 2792 4495 and [email protected]
Age: 10 and up

Marine Divers
If you’re looking for Nemo and Dori with your little guppy on the next family diving trip, snorkelling can be a memorable family adventure. Make sure everyone is properly trained at Marine Divers, the only BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club) School in China teaching basic snorkelling and diving courses. Their BSAC Basic Snorkelling Diver Course is for age 6 and up in the safety of a pool environment. Students will learn snorkelling with entry tests, basic snorkelling lessons, surface dives, and a final assessment. For kids age 12 and up, the BSAC Ocean Diver Course is a thorough class where kids and adults learn at the same level. This course will take 6 days, and Marine Divers has flexible full time, evening, and private courses.

Where: c/o United Services Recreation Club, 1 Gascoigne Road, Kings Park
Contact: 9194 0221 and Email: [email protected]
Age: 6 and up

Swimming

Harry Wright International
Does your child seem more like a fish or mermaid than a land-dweller? Wake up your child’s inner swim champion at Harry Wright International, a well-known and established swimming school in Hong Kong. This is the school to learn how to swim from professional and experienced instructors capable of teaching all types of learners, as its alumni go on to become strong swimmers and record-setters. Lessons are offered throughout Hong Kong schools and other pool locations for your convenience. The Infant Aquatic Programme is perfect for parent and baby bonding while exercising in the pool. The Learn to Swim Programme introduces swimming in a positive environment, and once they’ve mastered their strokes, feel free to spark your child’s competitive edge by trying out for their Competitive Programme.

Where: 2C Kwong Ga Building, 64 Victoria Road, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong
Contact: 2575 6279 and [email protected]
Ages: All Ages

STAR Aquatics
Looking to nurture your child’s swimming talent with a serious bunch of Olympic level athletes? Started by four former Hong Kong Olympians, STAR Aquatics aims to provide a fun aquatic environment for kids and adults alike. Sign up for beginner and improvement courses, or try out for their Junior (7-12) or Senior (12+) Training Teams. Their classes are held at the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool, and their swim team meets at various locations in Sha Tin during the week.

Where: Kowloon Park Swimming Pool, 22 Austin Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon and other practice locations
Contact: 9311 0946 and [email protected]
Ages: All Ages

Hong Kong Island Stingrays Swim Club
For almost semi-private swim lessons, Stingrays’ Learn to Swim Sharks is a beginner’s swimming program that covers everything from getting in and out of the pool safely to standing dives. Student to coach ratios are extremely low, starting at 4:1 and remains small with the highest level at 8:1. Students graduate from being “Ducklings,” at the beginning, to “Dolphins,” the prep class for competitive swimming, and there are 7 different swim squads run by the Stingrays club for a year-round swim program. The Stingrays club promotes a team spirit and emphasizes perseverance for each swimmer and team to reach their set goals.

Where: Hong Kong International School – Swimming Pool, 1 Redhill Road Tai Tam, Hong Kong
Contact: [email protected]
Ages: 3 and up

Wakeboarding

Tai Tam Wakeboarding Centre
Got a little one who just can’t keep still? Perhaps a high energy water sport like wakeboarding will keep them focused on staying up against the waves. With both school and family packages, it’s the perfect weekend activity in placid waters. But with a little wind and rougher waves, you can still try wakeskating and wakesurfing. There’s no need for classroom lessons or any previous experience, as teaching is included in each booking.

Where: Tai Tam Tuk Village
Contact: 9454 5772 and [email protected]
Ages: All Ages

Wake Plus Wakeboarding Club
Perhaps you’re looking for a dedicated one-on-one instructor, hoping to have your little one pick up some new tricks on the water. Reid So at Wake Plus Wakeboarding Club has got you covered for an insightful wakeboarding lesson in Sai Kung. He comes with extensive experience working with school groups and has conducted school activities out on the water. All levels of learners are welcome to join in for an exciting afternoon fighting the waves to keep upright on their boards!

Where: Sai Kung Pier, Sai Kung, Hong Kong
Contact: 6592 4600 and [email protected]
Ages: All ages welcome