Try These Thrilling Water Sports in Nusa Dua for Family-Friendly Fun

When it comes to family-friendly beach destinations in Bali, it's tough to beat Nusa Dua. Located on the east side of the Bukit Peninsula in South Bali, Nusa Dua is known for its white sand beaches, calm crystal clear waters, amenity-packed resorts, and endless water sports. 

This is a laid-back beach destination to its core. Here you can while away the days soaking up the sun from an oceanfront lounger, sipping fruity drinks at the pool bar, and getting thrills trying out the many unique water sports on offer in Nusa Dua.

From snorkelling and diving excursions to jet skiing, parasailing, banana boating, and sea walking, you'll find options for everyone in your group.  

There's really nothing quite like parasailing. Being tethered to a parachute and floating high above the water while being tugged by a speedboat is a true bucket list experience. The bird's-eye views of the endless ocean on one side and the Bali coastline on the other are simply magical. 

Plus, getting your feet dunked in the water as you're reeled back down to the boat is half the fun. If you're looking for a thrilling, family-friendly activity to break up your beach day, parasailing in Nusa Dua is always a hit with tweens, teens, and adults alike. 

One of the most unique Nusa Dua water activities is to embark on a glass-bottom boat tour to Turtle Island, a nearby turtle conservation area. This is one of the most popular excursions for the whole family, especially young kids. 

With the boat's translucent bottom, you'll have the chance to spot coral reefs and colourful fish on the way out to the island. You can even feed the fish if you'd like. On Turtle Island, you'll get up close and personal with tiny baby turtles as well as the massive older turtles that swim in the protected waters.   

Sea walking is another one of the most popular water sports in Nusa Dua. If you've never done it before, you'll wear an oxygen-equipped helmet, which allows you to breathe underwater.  

You don't need to know how to swim or scuba dive to participate in sea walking, making this a fun option for kids 8 and up, depending on the tour operator. Once you have your helmet on, you'll be lowered a few metres underwater. Down on the sea floor, you can walk amongst the coral, sea plants, and come face-to-face with a variety of fish.  

Those looking for laughs and thrills will love being towed around the water in Nusa Dua on a banana boat. These inflatable banana-shaped rafts usually fit six people, so you can ride with your friends and family, including older kids.  

On your journey, you'll be pulled along the Bali coastline by an ultra-fast speedboat. Hold on tight because this is going to be a wild and bumpy ride. The speedboat driver will inevitably try their best to make you and your fellow banana boaters fall off the boat. But that's all part of the fun. 

If you've been on a banana boat before, why not change it up by going on a doughnut boat? Experiencing Nusa Dua on a doughnut boat is similar to a banana boat, but you'll be holding on tight to a circular raft as you glide across the water at thrilling speeds.   

If you've never driven a jet ski before, Nusa Dua is the perfect place to try it out. You can usually rent jet skis for increments of 15 minutes, so you can zip around the waters as fast as you'd like, for as long as you'd like. 

If you're feeling really adventurous, you can even get some serious air by hitting the wake of a boat just right. 

Depending on the operator, you usually have to be 16 to 18 to ride a jet ski in Nusa Dua. However, kids as young as 8 can often ride on a jet ski with an adult.  

Going snorkelling or scuba diving is easily one of the best Nusa Dua water activities. If you've never been snorkelling before or are travelling with younger kids, the calm and crystal-clear waters off Nusa Dua Beach (aka Mengiat Beach) and Tanjung Benoa Beach are ideal for beginners. Just slap on a mask and some fins and you'll spot plenty of colourful fish right offshore.  

For something a bit more exciting, there are popular boat trips that allow you to snorkel or scuba dive at nearby places like Padang Bai's Blue Lagoon and Nusa Penida's Manta Point. Blue Lagoon is wonderful for beginners, while Manta Point is ideal for experienced snorkellers and divers.  

When it comes to relaxing water sports in Nusa Dua, there's nothing quite like going stand-up paddleboarding. The calm and clear waters make this a great SUP spot for novices and experts alike.  

You'll find vendors renting out paddleboards on popular beaches, including Nusa Dua Beach and Tanjung Benoa Beach. If you're new to this water sport, you can always learn the basics by taking a lesson. Travelling with little ones? You can easily have them sit on the front of your board so they can enjoy the scenery as you paddle them around.

Looking for adventurous, adrenaline-pumping Nusa Dua water activities? Perhaps you should give flyboarding a go. If you've never heard of flyboarding before, that's okay. A flyboard is kind of like a futuristic, water-propelled jetpack. Basically, your feet are strapped into the board, which is attached to a jet ski via a long tube. Water is then pumped from the jet ski to the flyboard, propelling you into the air. 

You can get some major air on a flyboard, with experts flying as high as 22 metres into the air. But it's not as scary or challenging as it sounds. As long as you have good balance, you should get the hang of it pretty quickly. Even kids aged 8 to 16 can try it in Nusa Dua as long as they're accompanied by a guide. Flyboarders 17 and up are typically welcome to flyboard solo. 

For a thrilling combination of banana boating and parasailing, try tackling the flying fish. You'll ride on a large fish-shaped raft which is pulled at adrenaline-pumping speeds by a boat. 

Not only will you bob and weave through the water, but the combination of the wind and the unique shape of the raft allows you to fly high into the air. It's almost like riding on a roller coaster, but on the water. The flying fish is typically one for bigger kids, with a general age limit of 8 to 12, depending on the tour operator.  

Novotel Bali Nusa Dua has everything you need for a family-friendly stay in Nusa Dua. From luxury guest rooms to a private beach and endless water sports right on-site, this resort makes everything easy, so you can focus on being in full holiday mode.  

Beach activities and water sports aside, this tropical 4.8-hectare property boasts a huge two-tier lagoon pool, a kids' club, a private beach club, multiple restaurants, a luxury spa, and a state-of-the-art fitness centre. 

Another perk of basing yourself at Novotel Bali Nusa Dua is that you can choose from a variety of apartment-style suites that are perfect for families and groups. From multiple bedrooms to a kitchen, a living room, and even a private pool, you'll never want to leave. 

When you visit Nusa Dua you can participate in water sports including parasailing, jet skiing, sea walking, banana boating, doughnut boating, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, flyboarding, wakeboarding, waterskiing, underwater scooters, and flying fish rides. In addition, there are a variety of boat trips in Nusa Dua that will take you snorkelling, diving, fishing, and sunset cruising. 

The best place to snorkel near Nusa Dua is right off the shores of Nusa Dua Beach (aka Mengiat Beach). The calm, clear, and fish-filled waters are perfect for beginners. For more diverse sea life, including turtles, Padang Bai's Blue Lagoon and Nusa Penida's Manta Point are popular snorkelling spots.

Yes, you can absolutely go jet skiing when holidaying in Nusa Dua, Bali. Most oceanfront resorts will arrange jet skis for you. Otherwise, you'll find many jet ski operators on Tanjung Benoa Beach and Nusa Dua Beach.

Yes, you can go parasailing in Nusa Dua. As with most water sports in Nusa Dua, your resort can likely arrange a parasailing excursion for you. You'll also find vendors offering their services on Nusa Dua's most popular beaches.

The best water activities in Nusa Dua depend on what you're looking for. Kids and adults alike will love going parasailing, banana boating, jet skiing, and sea walking. For something more adventurous, there's always the option of going on a snorkelling or diving excursion, taking a deep-sea fishing trip, or even attempting to fly through the air on a flyboard.