Iceberg dead ahead

An inflatable climbing mountain with scaling walls on three sides and a water slide is the first and only attraction of its kind in the Middle East — a must for thrill-seeking youngsters.

Parents and children stood in disbelief as a giant iceberg was spotted floating in the warm waters of Dubai.

Experts were called in by staff at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel after the huge white mass was seen by a group of excited youngsters.

They are normally thousands of years old, formed on glaciers and float at anything between minus 15-20 degrees centigrade in the some of the world's coldest waters.

So surely this sighting is almost an impossibility?

Ok, ok. So it may not be a real iceberg, but believe me it's loads more fun and a lot warmer.

Kids — prepare to be impressed. You've seen the pools, the slides, the diving boards and floats (bore snore).

Well the Jumeirah Beach Hotel has gone one step better and taken water sports for children to the max.

The hotel has bought a giant floating iceberg and it's the first of its kind in the Middle East.

Your parents will cringe as you throw yourself one of the four levels but that's what you were born for.

Youngsters are now invited to climb the 4.5 metre iceberg structure and remind their parents what it's like to be young again.

The unique iceberg is an inflatable climbing mountain in the marina, with scaling walls on three sides and a water slide on the fourth.

It is the first and only attraction of its kind in the Middle East — a must for thrill-seeking youngsters.

The iceberg is operational from 2-5pm and is supervised by three lifeguards.

Exciting line-up for August

It may seem as if summer camp fever has hit Dubai but at last we should never hear complaining youngsters saying that there just isn't anything to do.

An exciting summer lies ahead for children aged 8-12 who participate in the annual camp organised at The Pavilion Marina & Sports Club at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

Throughout July and August, every day promises a choice of themed activities that will keep the children entertained with endless fun and adventure.

Tickets are priced at Dh500 for a five-day package from 1-5pm and Dh1,700 for a four-week package.

But that's not the only option.

Until August 31, youngsters who are a bit bored without all those lessons and a ton of homework, can chase the summer blues away at the Jumeirah Beach Club Resort and Spa.

It's guaranteed to be filled with excitement and will keep youngsters entertained throughout the summer months.

There will be beach games, pool games, boat rides, water-skiing, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, beach football, dodge ball, squash, tennis, beach volleyball, table tennis and field trips.

It runs every Sunday-Wednesday from 9.30am-2pm and includes lunch at The Clubhouse.

Tickets are priced at Dh450 for members and Dh550 for non-members for the four-day camp or Dh130 (members) and Dh160 (non-members) for one day.

The Etiquette Summer Camp is the third and final offering for youngsters from the hotel and club.

From August 28-31, it appears that manners will be back in fashion. Due to popular demand, a second Etiquette Summer Camp will take place in August at The Jumeirah Beach Club Resort and Spa.

This summer workshop teaches children social skills, telephone handling and dining etiquette.

Patricia O'Sullivan, director of pro-training and qualified etiquette and protocol consultant, will conduct the training.

The grand finale of the camp will conclude in style when the children will arrive in a limousine for a five-star luncheon.

Their certification will depend on their display of fine dining etiquette.

The course is for children aged 7-10 years and runs from 10am-noon. Tickets are priced at Dh550 per child.

Beyond the tip

Where do icebergs come from?
A majority of the icebergs in the North Atlantic come from about 100 iceberg producing glaciers along the Greenland coast.

How many icebergs are there?
Approximately 40,000 medium to large sized icebergs calve annually in Greenland.

How old are icebergs?
Rarely do icebergs last more than one year. However, the glacial ice that icebergs are made of may be more that 15,000 years old.

How do icebergs form?
Glaciers form on land as a result of a net accumulation of snow over thousands of years. Successive layers compress earlier accumulations until, at depths below 60 to 70 meters, glacial ice is formed.

Glaciers "flow" or "creep" outward under their own weight like a viscous fluid. When the edge of a glacier advances into the ocean, the pieces that break off are what we call icebergs.

Why are icebergs mostly white?
Icebergs are mostly white because the ice is full of tiny air bubbles. The bubble surfaces reflect white light giving the iceberg an overall white appearance.

How cold are icebergs?
The interior temperature of icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador is in the range of -15o to -20o Centigrade.

What is the largest iceberg recorded?
The largest Northern Hemisphere iceberg on record was encountered near Baffin Island in 1882. It was 13 km long, 6 km wide and had a freeboard (height above water) of about 20 m.