Malaysia's beaches and islands are more than just holiday spots, they are also playgrounds for water sports enthusiasts.
Whether you’re soaring above the waves on a flyboard or paddling through still waters on a paddleboard, these activities are a great way to experience our beautiful coasts.
Here are some of the water adventures to try on your next getaway.
Flyboarding
Imagine “surfing” way above the water surface with your board being pushed upwards by water jet propulsion. The optics are great, but the experience is even better.
Flyboarding sure is an exciting sport that you can do in a few places in Malaysia, such as in Langkawi (Kedah) and Port Dickson (Negri Sembilan).
Flyboarding is also available at the Putrajaya marina.
Don’t worry if you’ve never done it before, as trained instructors will be there to guide you every step of the way.
Parasailing
Think paragliding, but at sea.
Parasailing lifts you high above the water, offering you panoramic views of the area down below and sometimes – if you manage to go high enough – way beyond that.
You’re strapped into a parachute, pulled by a speedboat as you drift above the waves. It’s a peaceful ride, and suitable even for beginners.
Among the spots available for this activity in Malaysia are Pantai Cenang in Langkawi, Batu Ferringhi in Penang, and Pulau Tioman in Pahang.
Wakeboarding
Wakeboarding combines surfing with skateboarding, all while being pulled across the water by a high-speed boat.
It’s an exhilarating sport, but it does take a bit of skill to manoeuvre the board.
You may want to try it on lakes like at Putrajaya or Seri Kembangan in Selangor first, before advancing to the beaches or islands, where the stronger waves will add to the challenge!
Stand-up paddle
If you like kayaking, then perhaps stand-up paddle or paddleboarding will come naturally to you.
For this sport, you would need to kneel or stand on a wide board much like a surfboard and paddle your way across the water. While doing this on still waters like a lake is easier, most people head to the beaches to paddle with the waves.
Many beaches in Malaysia now offer stand-up paddle activities and most companies will have coaches to teach first-timers.
If you’re already comfortable doing it on your own, some of these companies will also let you rent their boards.
For something even more relaxing (or maybe challenging to some), try paddleboard yoga, which can be found in several spots across Malaysia.
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing is a thrilling water sport, where you ride a board across the sea while holding on to a big kite that is, of course, controlled by the wind.
Some of the best places to kitesurf in the nation are along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, especially in Cherating and Balok, Pahang.
Beginners would need to learn the basics first from kitesurfing schools or coaches, before going on their own.
