Water sports in Cyprus, from Kourion to Coral Bay

Warm water and the south coast wind make Cyprus a good place to spend the day in the sea rather than just beside it. I won’t recount experiences, only what the Limassol and Paphos tourism boards offer and how I’d choose.

What’s on offer

Limassol Tourism lists jet skiing, parasailing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, kayaking and diving, and explains that most beaches have professional instructors, with warm water and reliable winds. The board names several operators, such as Crest Watersports at St Raphael Marina, West Water Sports in Agios Tychonas and Enaerios Watersports. At Castella, in the Agios Tychonas area, you get sunbeds, umbrellas, water sports and lifeguards on duty 10:00 to 17:00 during the season, and Panagies and Pyrgos beach also have activities. With warm water and steady winds, the board says the coast suits every level, from beginners to adrenaline seekers.

Windsurfing at Kourion

For windsurfing, the beach Limassol Tourism singles out is Kourion, at Episkopi, for its clear water and steady winds. It mixes sand and pebbles at the foot of the cliffs of ancient Kourion, so between sessions you could head up to the theatre. I describe it in more detail under Cyprus beaches.

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Paphos and Coral Bay

In Paphos, the regional tourism website features Pafos Watersports, which started in 1979 in front of the Paphos Beach, the town’s first hotel and now the Almyra hotel. It calls itself the largest watersports and boat trip business in Cyprus, and its listing mentions qualified staff, up-to-date equipment and facilities giving easy access to the boats and the sea. At Coral Bay, with calm and shallow water, there is windsurfing, jet skiing and pedal boats by the hour, and the rocks around the bay are good for snorkelling.

Sailing and air sports

Limassol is, according to its board, the country’s leading sailing destination, with Limassol Marina and St Raphael Marina, sail or motor charters, sunset and fishing trips, and nautical clubs that hold sailing and swimming competitions. If you prefer the air, the same board speaks of more than 330 flyable days a year and the Cyprus Airsports Federation, with parachuting, hang gliding and paragliding.

If you are short on time, see the best tours in Limassol and pick one that fits your day.

Safety

Gov.uk advises that your travel insurance should name the sport explicitly, that you check the exclusions, deal only with licensed and insured operators and never leave your passport as a deposit for hired gear. It adds that bathing is generally safe, though there can be strong waves and currents.

How I’d combine it

I’d base myself in Limassol, with organised beaches and marinas close at hand. If you’d rather sit back, sunset cruises and deep-sea fishing are in boat trips in Cyprus. To go deeper, diving in Cyprus; the water parks in Cyprus are made for children, and if one day you’d rather stay on dry land, golf in Cyprus is close to the Paphos coast.

Where the bus does not go, a car does: compare car hire in Limassol before you arrive rather than at the desk.

To sleep close to everything, search places to stay in Limassol on Booking.com and filter by area before price.