With 2 500km of coastline, South Africa boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, you can be forgiven if your idea of water sports is splashing about in the surf before stretching out to chill and work on your tan. For others, each wave beckons, promising a thrill and adventure rush. Here’s our choice of the top adrenaline-pumping water sports. 

Get jet set

It might look small and harmless but don’t be fooled. This machine has 250 horsepower and the ability to give you the ride of your life. Jetting around on the ocean is best done with in a group and tandem riding is a definite bonus. For a beginner it can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re not used to the high speed and having water gushing in your face. But as you get used to it, you’ll soon be doing 180-degree-turns and your competitive streak is bound to be released. You can venture quite far out into the ocean with a jet ski and the silence will catch you off-guard - but make sure you have enough fuel for the return journey.

The need for speed

The thrill of travelling at 100km/h in a speed boat is exactly what you’d expect, with a little bit more. There is an incredible feeling as the boat ricochets off the waves and rises high into the air. Hold on tight as the impact of the boat coming down hits the water pretty hard. However it definitely won’t deflate your mood or experience. Some inflatable speed boats are built to house anything from two to 12 passengers and don’t be alarmed about sea sickness – hard to believe but the high speeds you’re travelling at cancels it out.

Fly a kite

Kite Surfing, also known as kite boarding or parasurfing, is a fast-paced fun-filled action sport. It involves soaring across open water at top speeds for the ultimate air-and-water induced thrill. A fairly new water sport at only 10 years old, it started out simultaneously in Hawaii and France. The sport has evolved very, very quickly. Big boards and parachutes to start with have now become sleek surfboards and refined kite technology. There are two directions that the kiters have gone:

The young guns coming from skate and wake-boarding are on 'twintip' boards and do loads of scary tricks in the sky.

The oldies have gone back to their surfing roots and are all riding small surfboards and concentrate on wave riding. The sport requires a certain amount of training before you hit the ocean but with some patience and lots of perseverance, you will soon be hooked.

The long drop

Heli-surfing is still is its infancy, but is gaining popularity with the jet-set. Surfers have the choice of being dropped via a helicopter at their specific location or lowered with their surfboards out at sea – who needs the lengthy paddle? The helicopter will be hovering over you, recording your very special experience and moment. First done in Australia, the sport has just caught on in South Africa and seems to be making quite an impression on the locals.

So the next time you feel the urge to want to try something daring, don’t be alarmed and allow your adrenaline to rush.

Check out our adrenalin water sport gallery.