Amuse yourself

Yes it's hot... and the best way to beat the heat is to stay in the water. Nadia Khalifeh indulges in lots of water fun at the Dubai Dolphinarium, Atlantis, Wild Wadi and Dreamland aquatic parks.

If you haven't experienced the excruciating heat of Dubai's summer yet, then we would advise you to stay put at home with your AC on full blast or keep yourself cool in the water. If you opt for the second choice, Dubai thankfully has lots to offer. From swimming with dolphins to diving into a wave pool, you just have to take your pick!

Wild Wadi

This park is a fast and cheap remedy to beat the heat. Located next to the Jumeirah Hotel and Burj Al Arab, Wild Wadi is small, accessible and very Arabesque. Compared to its brother on the Palm, there are less attractions but everything is condensed

making it easy to go from one game to the other. Within two hours, I was able to finish the whole park but that's not a bad thing. I actually liked it! Less queues and no conveyor belts to go mid-ride. You dip in the river and from the river, you move around the park. And if you feel hot, there are water sprinklers everywhere to stay chilled and walk comfortably barefoot. If you're not much of an action buff, you can drift around the lazy river aboard your rubber ring enjoying the warm sun, or you can dip into the wave pool and wait for the waves to take you over. Or, my favourite, take a seat on the terrace facing Burj Al Arab and the sandy beach and just relax.

But if you like action, Wild Wadi is no joke. From the Tunnel of Doom to the flood river with rapids and waves, the adrenaline is guaranteed especially when the water jets that throw you around leave you holding on to your swimsuit for dear life. You're still not convinced? Then try the Sceirah. The horrendous signature slide of Wild Wadi immersed in Disney-esque surroundings is the tallest and fastest free-fall speed slide outside the US. Here you can definitely experience the feeling of being weightless. And if you want to tame the waves, then you should try the flow riders.

It will make your surfer fantasy a reality.

Details
Dh195 (Adults), Dh165 (children) Daily from 10am-8pm. For more info call 04 348 4444

Atlantis

Whether it's swimming with dolphins or taking a ride down the Leap of Faith, Atlantis splashes away all its competitors. Dolphin Bay is a paradise on its own and an interaction with the dolphins is as magical as the place they inhabit. Sitting in the orientation room, the friendly instructors take us through the world of dolphins. Did you know that dolphins emit sounds from their blowhole? Did you know that while sharks swim side to side, dolphins swim up and down? With a clear concern for the friendly creatures, the instructors reinforce the idea of not touching our dolphins unless told to do so. But our dolphin S2 had no problem letting us place our hands on his soft black skin. While we all felt a little bit younger in front of this smart mammal, S2 was definitely confident and brilliant allowing our group to kiss him, hug him, dance and finally grab his fins for a spectacular belly ride upshore. Aside from the tight wetsuits and life vest that might be a little uncomfortable in the summer heat, the experience is memorable, and let's be honest.. when will you will get the chance to hug a dolphin again?

The largest water-themed attraction in the Middle East, Aquaventure is all chills and thrills. The whole park is connected by a 2.3 kilometre ride with rapids, tidal waves and pools and water charges which you can traverse on board a rubber ring. In my opinion - the best part of the day. While the river takes you leisurely around random waterfalls, the rapids whisk you around with great strength pushing your adrenaline to an all-time high. To access the rapids, you'll have to ride the conveyor belts which can be painful if your rear end is sticking out of the rubber ring. So remember to lift up your behind when you ride up! The rivers and the rapids surround the Ziggurat and the two signature slides; The Leap of Faith and Shark Attack. The first one, 27.5 metre high throws you down a scary vertical drop through a submerged tunnel into a shark-infested pool and then into the sunlight again. Too scary for my taste! Shark Attack instead is a fun and accessible ride for everyone (even me!) in which you ride through the lagoon filled with sinister creatures at a slow shark-viewing pace. Little tots can also have their share of fun at the Splashers. Here they can splash themselves as much as they want with two enourmous buckets spilling water regularly.

Details
Aquaventure, Dh200 (Adults) and Dh165 (Children). Dolphin Bay, Daily from 10am to 6pm. Dh625 (shallow water interaction). For bookings call 04 426 1030.

Dubai Dolphinarium

If you like dolphins and seals, then this is the ideal way to cool down the heat in the company of our gregarious friends. Located at the heart of Dubai Creek, the Dubai Dolphinarium offers daily shows where you can meet and interact with the mammals. The show is a must for kids and fun enough for adults. You'll see dolphins doing every acrobatic move possible from diving into loops, playing basketball, and doing heroic jumps into the air. The shows are supported by the hilarious seals who love the attention. They perform hand-stands, clap their fins, dance and hula hoop – all this choreographed by their instructor who guides the animals with great expertise. I believe it's fun for anyone watching a dolphin clap its fins or a seal stand on two legs to dance with the instructor! What amused me the most, however, was when one of these funny animals decided the show was over (even though it wasn't) they indifferently swam away or, in the case of the seal, walked to the door waiting for the instructor to let her out. And nevertheless, its fish snack was still expected! The climax of the show was the marine choir put together by the seals and the dolphins. It's surely not a Beethoven symphony, but it will definitely make you laugh.

Along with the daily shows, the Dolphinarium arranges workshops and classes to educate children on marine life as well as engaging swimming sessions where you can interact and swim along with the friendly mammals with sessions of 20 minutes each. Don't miss this opportunity!

Details

• Daily from Monday through to Saturday. Dh100 (regular-adult)Dh50 (regular-child)
• Swimming sessions: Dh400 (Up to six people with one large photo included).
• Dh1,600 (One to three people with 2 large photos included).
• For more info contact:04 336 9773.

Dreamland

This park is a real haven, set amidst nature, just 40 minutes away from Dubai. Dreamland differs from the other waterparks in that it's older, simpler, more authentic and most of all - relaxing. Once you arrive, you're welcomed by a friendly atmosphere and a mini zoo which will definitely make you smile. To access most of the slides, you'll have to walk on a wooden ramp surrounded by grass and trees which defy one's idea of a water park. From the top there's a wonderful view of the open sea (there is no Burj Al Arab, or Palm around here). It's just plain wild nature, something we rarely see in Dubai. The great thing about Dreamland is that you rarely have to queue. We were able to complete all the games in about one hour. Record time! The slides are shorter but are no joke. From the suffocating Black Hole to the Kamikaze (yes, I almost killed myself on this one) you'll keep your adrenaline pumping and... your back hurting from all the bumps you get! There's a lovely Hippo Island for the little ones to play on, a river, family rafters and lots of other fun slides. Beware of the twister – it throws you around in a circle and then it flushes you down like a toilet into deep water. The wave pool is another great attraction. Different from Wild Wadi, the waves open every 10 minutes and are much more powerful. Here, even the greatest of swimmers needs to wear a life-vest which might hinder you to swim at all!

Looking forward to relaxing, I enjoyed the rest of the afternoon in the cool Jacuzzi. At sunset, the sun directly hit the Jacuzzi making it the perfect spot to tan!

Details
10am-7pm. Until 8pm on weekends. Dh100 (regular) Dh70 (children), Dh50 (seniors- above 60 years old). For more info call 06 768 1888.