Watersports
There's sailing, canoeing, kayaking and white-water rafting in England's many waterways and of course in the open sea around our coast! You can try your hand at water skiing, surfing, wake boarding - or how about kite-surfing? You'll get wet, tired and probably thoroughly exhilarated, so you have been warned.
East Midlands
If you're more of a water baby, sailing, canoeing and windsurfing are on offer at Rutland Water and Carsington Water. Sailing is also possible on the Tor Side Reservoir and Fernilee Reservoir or try kayaking at the National Watersports Centre in Nottinghamshire.
South East England
The West Sussex and Hampshire coast are home to kite surfing. A combination of windsurfing, wakeboarding, surfing and kite flying, it's one of the fastest growing extreme water sports in the world. Join jet-skiers and go humming across the sea or brighten the skyline with colourful sails as you go windsurfing. Inland lakes and reservoirs such as Bewl Water in Kent, Ardingly in Sussex or Willen Lake in Milton Keynes also offer facilities and lessons.
Test your sailing skills and take part in the Isle of Wight's Round the Island Yacht Race. One of the world's biggest yacht races, it's an opportunity for the amateur sailor to race alongside professional yachtsmen and women. There's another world to explore below the waves. The seabed has its own special features and a number of eerie shipwrecks. 'Channel Diving' is becoming an increasingly popular sport. There's diving to suit all levels with lessons and guides available.
South West
Cornwall and Devon are home to some of Europe's most spectacular surfing and extreme sport beaches – all of which are clean and safe. As well as the ever popular and always exciting surfing, the thrill-seeking visitor should not miss the opportunity to kite surf, water ski, windsurf and jet ski on a coastline where clean trade winds whip up the waves and provide energy for the sails.
Those wanting to get to know the ocean more deeply can experience life both above and below at the same time while snorkelling, and get on intimate terms with the deep by taking one of the professional diving courses on offer. Perhaps dive the Scylla; a purpose-sunk ship and Europe's only artificial reef.
If you're after a day or five of the most exhilarating activities to be had by and in the sea, you could do worse than checking out this self-proclaimed 'mountain resort on a beach', The Extreme Academy (www.extremeacademy.co.uk/) in Cornwall!
