Official tourism website for Northern Ireland

Wet bouldering at Bloody Bridge
County Down

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Watersports

Here in Northern Ireland, tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea, you’re never far away from water. Which means you’re never far from the fun either! And there’s plenty of fun to had in, on, under and around the water in Northern Ireland no matter what water sport you choose or what sort of activity break you’re looking for.

Navigate the waters of the Mournes

In the heart of the Mournes, the experienced and energetic team at Life Adventure Centre are on hand with a range of water activities to suit all ages and abilities. Whether it’s a family kayak experience on Castlewellan Lake, a Stand Up paddle boarding session, or a canoeing trip around the Lake Trail, these guys have you covered and can provide all the equipment and facilities you need for a splashing day out - you just bring the energy and paddle power!

Dive into our deeps

The spectacular coast of Northern Ireland has seen many a ship get into trouble – from Spanish Armada galleons to World War 1 frigates and even World War II submarines. These wrecks are huge diving adventures in themselves, but there’s also our sub-sea marine life to be explored and discovered in our pristine clear waters. Fortunately, there’s a plethora of dive centres all around our coast who are more than happy to hire you the right gear and bring you along to some of our best diving spots.

Aquaholics Dive Centre and Sea Safari (PADI certified) in Portstewart, offers ‘Try a Dive’ sessions in the sea for complete beginners - and can take the more experienced to some fascinating finds. Explore the ancient wrecks and reefs of Rathlin Island, swim with seals along the Causeway Coast or discover caves under the island at Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. A day’s diving will work up one hell of an appetite and a longing for a soft pillow. The Strand House B&B (5*) is the place to slip between linen sheets for the night, while with pub grub and live music on offer, The Anchor Bar Complex will be more than happy to oblige on the food and drink front.

Explore uninhabited islands on lakes and loughs

A kayak is a great way to tour our lakes and loughs as they get you into and out of all sorts of places so easily. You’re welcome to bring your own or hire one from the many operators here.

The largest inlet in the British Isles, Strangford Lough has astonishing scenery, hundreds of wild islands and an abundance of marine creatures and beautiful wildlife.

The best way to experience this spectacular place is by sea kayak on the Strangford Lough Canoe Trail. Get up close to the shoreline and rock pools for a chance to see seals and look out for porpoises and otters bobbing in the waters.

The calm waters in the north of the lough are contrasted by the fast-flowing waters of ‘the narrows’ in the south, where a high level of expertise is required. Kayak hire and guided sea kayak experiences are available from Mobile Team Adventure and Clearsky Adventure Centre. If you need to rest for the night while dreaming of sea swells and swell seas, then head for The Shoreline at Mount Stewart (5*) and dine at The Saltwater Brig.

Lough Erne’s historic Devenish Island is also worth a visit by kayak to see its round tower and other ecclesiastical remains. It’s a short paddle from the shoreline and you can hire kayaks from Castle Archdale Marina Boat Hire & Water Sports in Lisnarick, amongst others.

Coasteering the clifftops, castles and coves

Coasteering allows you to experience body-surfing waves, scramble up waterfalls and cliffs and fling yourself into deep water from heights of up to 20ft.

With shallow coastal caves and hidden coves, the unique Causeway Coast is the perfect place for this daredevil activity any time of year. The enthusiastic team at Causeway Coasteering in Portrush are only too ready to supply everything you need for a few hours or more on the rocks: wetsuits, gloves, boots and helmets. They’ll also guide you to and through the best marks for beginners and more experienced coasteers, including caves below the medieval Dunluce Castle, perched dramatically on the coastal cliffs.

Once the jumping and whooping is over, you’ll want to leap into somewhere dry, warm and filling. The Bayview Hotel (4*) in nearby Bushmills has wonderful rooms while you’ll find great food at Tartine at The Distillers Arms just a short walk away.

Wakeboarding in the shadow of the city

You can even get some watersports action without leaving the embrace of Belfast’s big city! At Let’s Go Hydro in Carryduff you’ll find a fully-equipped cable-pulled wakeboarding and kneeboarding course – the only one of its size in Ireland. Board rental is available at the site and you can purchase hourly and daily passes, as well as joining the classes for beginners. You can even stay and eat on site, because Let’s Go Hydro has glamping to suit everyone.

Windsurfing in Portstewart

This is Northern Ireland’s longest beach and once you arrive it’s easy to see why it’s so popular with windsurfers. There’s miles of immaculate soft sand here, a steady wave and loads of room to manoeuvre well out of the way of bathers and day-trippers. Once your sail is up and you’re on the wave, there’s rarely a reason to be down again before sunset! Troggs in nearby Portrush is the place to head for gear and advice, while At The Beach (5*) on Strand Road offers plenty of luxury bedrooms with views of those amazing waves.

Water-skiing on Lough Erne

Inland to the mighty Lough Erne is the place to go to try your hand at water-skiing. Can there be a more thrilling way to travel this lake than zipping past the forested shoreline as the waves roll and skid beneath your skis? Tudor Farm Watersports at Boa Island near Kesh, County Fermanagh offers water-skiing and wake boarding tuition from an Irish Water Skiing Federation accredited instructor. All equipment is provided and while you’re there you can make it more than a lesson because there’s plenty of en-suite accommodation in the on-site B&B at Tudor Farm.

On, off and under the water, Northern Ireland offers more water sports options, more places, more thrills and more wonder than perhaps anywhere else you’ll find.

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Number of results: 35

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Canoe and Cake

Killinchy

Address

52A Ballymorran Road, Killinchy, County Down, BT23 6UD

Telephone
+44 (0) 7749 011 283

Type

Type:

Food Tour

A wellness experience and combines two experiences in one.

More Info
Discover Scuba Diving by Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Portstewart

Address

16 Portmore Road, Portstewart, County Londonderry, BT55 7BE

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 7083 2584

info@aquaholics.co.uk

Price
Price £160.00 Activity

Type

Type:

Diving & SubAqua

Dive into a new and exciting world with Aquaholics. Hop aboard the Aquaholics dive vessel for a unique, world-class experience along the coastline to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. Here you’ll be briefed, kitted-up and then jumping overboard for an…

Price
Price £160.00 Activity

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Freedive Northern Ireland

Portrush

Address

8 Ballyreagh Road, Portrush, County Antrim, BT56 8LP

Telephone
+44 (0) 7725408980

joy@freedivenorthernireland.com

Type

Type:

Water Sports

Welcome to Freedive NI, Northern Ireland’s first and only freediving and adventure SUP, snorkel and wild swim centre based in Portrush.

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Splash Outdoor Water Park

Moneymore

Address

Maghadone Road, Moneymore, County Londonderry, BT45 7SW

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 8674 8881

info@splashni.com

Type

Type:

Water Sports

Fill your next day out with laughs and excitement, while bouncing, sliding, jumping and crashing your way around a state-of-the-art inflatable aquapark, loaded with slides and obstacles. Or enjoy a relaxing and tranquil float around a beautiful…

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Strangford Lough Activity Centre

Killinchy

Address

40 Whiterock Road, Killinchy, County Down, BT23 6PT

Telephone
+44 (0) 7909 721 898

strangfordloughactivitycentre@hotmail.co.uk

Type

Type:

Activity Centre

Strangford Lough Activity Centre offer a variety of land and water activities throughout Northern Ireland. Whatever your adventure, we’ll help you realise it. We are run by a team of qualified experienced instructors & guides.

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
- Parking (free)
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
195 reviews
Troggs Surf School

Portrush

Address

East Strand Water sports Centre, Portrush, County Antrim, BT568AF

Telephone
07719315372

troggssurfschool@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Surfing

Troggs surf school has been teaching the art of surfing since 1994. As the longest running surf school in Portrush, we have a passion to share the thrill and pleasure that is connecting with the ocean. Let's get stoked!

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
44 reviews
Long Line Surf School

Limavady

Address

Benone Avenue, Limavady, County Londonderry, BT49 0LQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 7738128 507

info@longlinesurfschool.co.uk

Type

Type:

Surfing

Long Line Surf School is situated on Benone Beach and Portstewart Strand offering a wide selection of packages from beginner to advanced surf lessons.

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
2 reviews
Eagle Divers NI

Antrim

Address

14A Castle Road, Antrim, County Antrim, BT41 4NA

Telephone
+44 (0) 7756 699 880

info@eaglediversni.com

Type

Type:

Diving & SubAqua

Whether it be your first time or you haven't been diving for a few years, we can help. We offer high quality PADI Certified scuba classes from entry-level course through to professional level training.

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City Paddle Boards

Derry~Londonderry

Address

St. Columb's Park House, 4 Limavady Road, Derry~Londonderry, County Londonderry, BT47 6JY

Telephone
+44 (0) 7775 911 198

hello@farandwild.co.uk

Type

Type:

Sightseeing

Stand Up Paddle Boards come to Derry-Londonderry with the City Paddle Boards tour. It is a perfect way to experience the historic city from a completely relaxing perspective.

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Tollymore National Outdoor Centre

Bryansford

Address

32 Hilltown Road, Bryansford, County Down, BT33 0PZ

Telephone
+44028 4372 2158

livetheadventure@tollymore.com

Type

Type:

Activity Centre

Tollymore National Outdoor Centre is Sport Northern Ireland's National Outdoor Centre.

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
141 reviews
The Lake Kilrea

Kilrea

Address

69B Bridge Street, Kilrea, County Londonderry, BT51 5RR

Telephone
+44 (0) 7845 874 499

info@thelakekilrea.com

Type

Type:

Water Sports

The Lake Kilrea is an outdoor adventure and water park, offering a wide range of family-friendly activities including a water-based inflatable adventure park, canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding, climbing wall and zipline.

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking
- On site parking
- Parking (free)
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
- Wi-fi available
Xplore Outdoors

Coleraine

Address

1 The Salmon Leap, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT51 3TX

Telephone
+44 (0) 7734 365 321

info@xploreoutdoors.co.uk

Type

Type:

Canoeing & Kayaking

Xplore Outdoors offers visitors the opportunity to sample the delights of the Causeway Coast and Glens coastline and rivers by sit on top kayak.

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Surf Belfast

Belfast

Address

Andersonstown Leisure Centre, 132 Andersonstown Road, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT11 9BY

Telephone
+44 (0) 2890 726 311

andersonstown@gll.org

Type

Type:

Surfing

Catch a wave, whatever the conditions outside at Northern Ireland’s first ever indoor surf simulator. Pumps fire a constant 5 metre wide wave sheet to challenge riders.

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Corralea Activity Centre Ltd

Belcoo

Address

Upper Lough MacNean, Belcoo, County Fermanagh, BT93 5DZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 6638 6123

info@corralea.com

Type

Type:

Activity Centre

Corralea offers a range of outdoor activities & self-catering cottages on the same site. All experiences are eco-friendly to safeguard the quality of the water and the peacefulness which surrounds Lough Macnean. Corralea is open all year round,…

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- Ramp to main entrance
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
- Wi-fi available
Clearsky Adventure Centre

Strangford

Address

Castle Ward Demesne, Strangford, County Down, BT30 7LT

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4372 3933

fun@clearsky-adventure.com

Type

Type:

Activity Centre

Newcastle and Castlewellan Bike Hire
We have a wide range of bikes available for hire. Mountain bikes, electric e-bikes, tandem bicycles, kids bicycles. You name it, we should have it.
Free delivery and shuttle bus service.

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
829 reviews
Alive Adventures

Portrush

Address

West Strand, Portrush, County Antrim, BT56 8FQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 7935 952 532

lessons@aliveadventures.co.uk

Type

Type:

Surfing

Welcome to Alive Adventures in Portrush, N. Ireland, 6 * time winner of Tripadvisor’s “Cert. of Excellence” & “Hall Of Fame” award! We offer a range of activities & rentals, from surfing & SUP, to kayaking & eBikes You’ll be spoiled for choice!

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
28 reviews
Active Adventures NI

Address

Various Locations, County Antrim, BT54 6NA

info@activeadventuresni.com

Type

Type:

Water Sports

Active Adventures NI offer multiple activity options including Kayak sessions/lessons/courses/tours, SUP sessions/lessons/courses/tours, Surfing experiences/camps/lessons and of course our renowned Coasteering Experiences. We can create a bespoke…

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
59 reviews
Hydrobikes at Enniskillen Castle

Enniskillen

Address

Stuarts Car Park, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, BT74 7JY

Telephone
+44 28 686 21156

info@castlearchdaleboathire.com

Price
Price £23.00 to £27.00 Activity

Type

Type:

Activity Centre

This unique water experience is set in the water below the magnificent Enniskillen Castle and can be done in the day or at nighttime, providing a completely unique perspective of the town.

Price
Price £23.00 to £27.00 Activity

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
WaveRides Paddleboarding

Carrickfergus

Address

3 Quayside, Carrickfergus, County Antrim, BT38 8BJ

Telephone
+44 (0) 7428 771 991

robert.richardson1212@btinternet.com

Type

Type:

Water Sports

Learn stand up paddle boarding in the picturesque old harbour at Carrickfergus Castle, on the main Causeway Coastal route with the castle as your impressive backdrop.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Coasteering NI

Ballintoy

Address

Harbour Road, Ballintoy, County Antrim, BT54 6NA

splash@coasteeringni.co.uk

Type

Type:

Coasteering & Bouldering

Our mission is to take you on adventure like no other. Coasteering is challenging, thrilling and suitable for all ages and abilities.
We want you to test your comfort zone, feel the fear and do it anyway and have mega fun.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking