Greece is a water sports paradise, providing perfect conditions for adventures of the aquatic variety from - June to October.

Water sports facilities and clubs can be found on many islands as well as in the Attica region, just an hour away from Athens.

• Windsurfing

Conditions in Greece are perfect for windsurfing, especially during July and August, when the northern “meltemi” wind blows across the Aegean. The sport became extremely popular in the country in the 90s after Nikos Kaklamanakis’s gold medal in the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.

There are several windsurfing clubs around Attica – the closest to Athens being in Varkiza. On the east coast of Attica, windsurfing clubs can be found in Schinias and Loutsa. 

• Kite Surfing

Kite surfing -the newest and more adrenaline-inducing surf experience- has been growing rapidly in popularity in Greece in the last few years.

In Attica the Aiolos Surf Club in Loutsa offers lessons for beginners while on the island of Paros there is a Kiteboarding Center, home of the official International Kiteboarding Organization School.

• Wake-boarding & Water Skiing

Water-skiing has been around for some decades now while wake-boarding is a relatively new entry into the world of water sports.

Clubs that offer facilities and lessons on both can be found in places such as Schinias, Poros, Halkis and Kaiafa Lake [PHOTO].

Sea kayaking offers the opportunity not only to enjoy practicing a water sport, but also explore surrounding areas.  In that sense, the Ionian Sea is considered to be an ideal place to practice this activity.

With dramatic coastal cliffs, fascinating sea caves, unspoiled beaches, and turquoise bays of sparsely inhabited isles, along with traditional fishing villages, Venetian fortresses, and ancient Orthodox monasteries, the region is considered one of the world’s top 10 kayaking destinations.

Athens Plus: Summer Watersports (17.07.09 p.24-4)