Official tourism website for Northern Ireland

Wet bouldering at Bloody Bridge
County Down

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Watersports

Experience the Best Watersports Adventures in Northern Ireland

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.

Family-Friendly Watersports and Outdoor Adventures in 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!

Scuba Diving and Shipwreck Adventures Along Northern Ireland’s Coast

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. Strand Head (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 Clearsky Adventure Centre. If you need to rest for the night while dreaming of sea swells and swell seas, then head for The Lodge at Quarterland Bay (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, Beach Views, and Coastal Adventures at Northern Ireland’s Longest Beach

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 on Strand Road offers plenty of luxury bedrooms with views of those amazing waves.

Water Skiing and Wakeboarding Adventures at 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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Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
144 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
Revive North Coast

Coleraine

Address

Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1NS

Telephone
+44 (0) 7547 016 112

info@revivenorthcoast.com

Type

Type:

Activity Centre

Revive North Coast - Purpose Driven Adventure. Providing you meaning for Adventurous Activities along the North Coast. Offering you the opportunity to experience: Rock climbing - Abseiling - Stand Up Paddleboarding - Coasteering - Bespoke programmes

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
270 reviews
Portrush Surf School

Portrush

Address

Portrush Yacht Club, Portrush Harbour, Portrush, County Antrim, BT56 8DF

Telephone
+44 (0) 7894 854 791

info@portrushsurfschool.com

Type

Type:

Surfing

Join a group lesson on your own or with your friends, for a full 2 hours of water time in waist depth water. Fun at the beach guaranteed.

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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

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
64 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

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
64 reviews
Castle Archdale Marina Boat Hire & Water Sports

Irvinestown

Address

Castle Archdale Marina, Lisnarick, Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, BT94 1NB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 6862 1156

info@castlearchdaleboathire.com

Type

Type:

Activity Centre

Castle Archdale Boat Hire & Water Sports is located at Castle Archdale Marina, which nestles in the heart of Fermanagh’s tourist area and within the grounds of the ever popular Castle Archdale Country Park. We offer a wide range of activities to…

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Ultimate SUP NI

Donaghadee

Address

114 Killaughey Road, Donaghadee, County Down, BT21 0BE

Telephone
+44 (0) 7717 777 995

ultimatesupni@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Canoeing

Ultimate SUP NI provides efoiling lessons and experiences along side its very popular Paddle Boarding (SUP) school.

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking
- On site parking
- Parking (free)
Get up & Get on Paddleboarding

Portballintrae & Bangor

Address

Portballintrae Harbour & Helen's Bay, Portballintrae & Bangor, County Antrim, BT57 8RS

Telephone
+44 (0) 7767 443 173

info@getup-geton.co.uk

Type

Type:

Water Sports

Start your paddleboarding journey with Get Up & Get On Paddleboarding. Experience excitement, adventure and a healthy aquatic lifestyle encouraging sights, sounds and smells of nature.

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2025to31 Dec 2025Open 10:00 - 20:00

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
258 reviews
Life Adventure Centre

Castlewellan

Address

The Forest Park, Castlewellan, County Down, BT31 9BU

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 437 70714

iwant@onegreatadventure.com

Type

Type:

Activity Centre

Epic adventures are on offer all year round at Life Adventure Centre. Their extensive range of activities include mountain biking, stand-up paddleboarding, wet bouldering, rock climbing, sit on top kayaking, coasteering, electric biking and open…

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wi-fi available
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.

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
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
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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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
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
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.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
131 reviews
SUB6 Surf & SUP School

Portrush

Address

Whiterocks Beach, Dunluce Road, Portrush, County Antrim, BT56 8NB

Telephone
+44 (0) 7748257717

carl@sub6life.com

Type

Type:

Surfing

SUB6 incorporates an Online Surf Store, ASI Accredited Surf & Sup school with RLSS lifeguard training all under one company.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
835 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
South Lake Watersports Centre

Craigavon

Address

1 Lake Road, Craigavon, County Armagh, BT64 1AS

Telephone
0330 0564 411

sllc@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Water Sports

At South Lake Watersports, Craigavon, say hello to unforgettable ”whoopeeee’ water and land-based adventure and ‘total wipeout’ style fun, whatever your age, experience and ability, all set within the stunning grounds of Craigavon City Park and…

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking