We know the heatwave here in Singapore can be unbearable. One of the finest ways to beat the heat is to jump headlong into a pool in your swimsuit. If lounging by the pool is too boring for you, water parks would be the way to go. What can be better than spending the day on an adrenaline high, gloriously drenched as you careen down crazy slides? While we can’t send you to the aforementioned oasis of your dreams, here we present 6 insane water parks that will douse you in imaginary water and send your heart rate racing through your screens.
1. Aquaventure Waterpark (Dubai)
Aquaventure is one of Dubai’s most thrilling waterparks. In 2013 it got even better when it opened four more thrilling slides — each wrapped around the new Tower of Poseidon pyramid. It is also home to the Middle East’s longest zip line circuit.
The Leap of Faith
The Leap of Faith, is an old favourite with a 27.5-metre plunge that carries you through a clear tube surrounded by sharks and rays. Take a leap of faith – literally – with this 9-storey slide which will hurtle you down its near-vertical drop in a mere second, only to find yourself speeding through a clear acrylic tube surrounded by numerous sharks and cownose rays. I’d take this incredible one just to see the sharks and rays up close.
Photo: blog.atlantisthepalm.com
Photo: Atlantis The Palm on Twitter
Zoomerango
Conquer gravity itself on Zoomerango. This waterslide will have you experiencing a mix of sensations, from mega plummets and vertical zooms, with thrilling bursts of weightlessness throughout.
Photo: mustafa-travel.com
Poseidon’s Revenge
Feel your heart rate skyrocket as you step into the capsule and wait. When the floor falls out from beneath you, you’ll plummet through the heart of the tower at speeds of 60 kilometres per hour, before you’re propelled upside down.
Photo: Atlantis The Palm on Twitter
Shark Attack
Jump on a one or two person inner-tube and journey down into the Tower of Neptune’s mysterious core, before emerging in the middle of a shark-filled lagoon.
Photo: Trip Advisor
Photo: packages.asiatravel.com
2. Waterbom Bali (Bali)
Described as an oasis in the middle of the famous Kuta stretch, Waterbom Bali sets itself in lush tropical garden with many great rides and attractions. Exciting water slides slice through 3.8 hectares of landscaped tropical parks providing hours of fun and entertainment for the young and the young at heart. They have world-class slides and rides built and maintained to strict international safety standards.
Smash Down 2.0
This ride starts at a staggering 25.9 meters. You’ll enter a capsule, have a trap door open from underneath and then bullet your way down to the finish point in a matter of seconds.
Photo: http://waterbom-bali.com/
Python
This three-person slide is ridden in a circular tube. You’ll all be facing each other for the unexpected twists and turns. The slides largest point measures a staggering 6 meters in diameter before riders get propelled into the splash pool.
Photo: http://waterbom-bali.com/
Pipeline
The Pipeline whisks riders along a twisting and banking tube that is sure to make even the most adventurous hearts race. The Pipeline is perched some 20 meters high, giving riders a breathtaking, panoramic view of the Kuta skyline and of Waterbom’s lush tropical gardens. Riders race through the winding and weaving 150-meter clear tube in approximately 10-13 seconds, experiencing some 3.5 gravitational forces. The Pipeline is the perfect fix for thrill seekers both young and old.
Photo: http://waterbom-bali.com/
Climax
This is another one of those trap-door types. The ride takes your body takes you on a near vertical dip before going back up and looping around. It’s ride is 7 seconds long with a speed of 70 kph.
Photo: http://waterbom-bali.com/
3. Aqualandia (Costa Blanca, Spain)
Aqualandia is a waterpark located in Costa Blanca, Spain. It is the sister of marine animal park Mundomar, which is right next door. It has frequently been dubbed the best water park in Italy and some say Europe. It is described as an 80,000 square metres wide “oasis of entertainment”, with attractions to suit all ages.
Don’t expect your regular water theme park here. The waterpark has 26 attractions, including the highest water-slide in the world and Europe’s highest bungee jumping tower, 7 shows and 4 animation activities.
Apocalypse
Perched on the top of a hill, Apocalypse 2012 is a multi-slide attraction. Find yourself transported to the foot of the Chichen-Itza pyramid as you slide down the majestic Maya portal.
Photo: Aqualandia
Barracudas
The highlight of this ride is essentially a 17-metre high almost-vertical slide from which guests can plunge head-first as they bodysurf down on inflatable mat. Talk about an adrenaline rush.
Photo: Aqualandia
Captain Spacemaker
Captain Spacemaker is the highest slide in the world at 42 metres of height. That’s roughly the height of your average 12-storey HDB flat. This ride from hell is taken on inflatable rafts which can carry 3 to 4 intrepid souls. With a drop this insane, you can expect speeds to reach up to 100km/hr!
Photo: Aqualandia
Scary Falls
Scary Falls is a 38-metre high slide with a 60 degree slope in the final leg. Riders board 2-person inflatable rafts and face a thrilling descent down a closed flume. After the start riders race in complete darkness down a tumultuous river as they slowly go on – shrouded in fog – towards the edge of a waterfall. Gulp. Our heart is already thundering as loud as the sound of that menacing waterfall.
Shark Bay
Shark Bay is the first-ever themed wave pool with real caribbean sand both inside and outside the water. The clear water mimics the movement of real waves and is lined by beach umbrellas with banana leaves. It’s modelled after an actual tropical seaside town near Venice – so you can cover both the beach and the pool in the same day.
Photo: Aqualandia
Toboganes
This ride comprises three slides that intertwine from a 18-metre height. Riders go down in a two-seater inflatable raft and basically get spun out of their wits as they spiral down into a turquoise pool.
Photo: Aqualandia
4. Yas Waterworld (UAE)
Yas Waterworld is UAE’s first mega water park and it offers 43 rides, slides and attractions. Five of these have never been seen before in a water park – such as a unique pearl diving experience that showcases traditional Emirati pearl diving culture, and an interactive treasure hunt game that will awaken the Indiana Jones in you.
Dawwama
This is basically a ride that simulates being in a tornado, because why wouldn’t you want to be caught in a tornado right? This 6-person raft ride has a 20-metre high funnel and is taken on a raft with six people. Perfect for your group of friends who have pledged to go through thick and thin together.
Photo: Cleartrip.com
Photo: Blooloop
We couldn’t find much else about this park, but we think pictures speak louder than words. Here we found evidence of heart-thumping, stomach-churning, vertical-drop type water rides. Feast your eyes on them.
Jebel Drop
Photo: WebbyTechy
Photo: marutzzi.com
Photo: stopthinkandunderstand.blogspot.com
Hamlool’s Hump
Photo: @YasWaterWorld
Liaw Loop
Photo: Yas Waterworld
Photo: CNN
Photo: Yas Waterworld
Slither’s Slides
Photo: The Theme Park Guy
Slither Alley
Slither Alley hides a series of sharp drops and a water curtain separating the dark tunnel from bright sunlight, lots of surprises are in store as you descend to the pool.
Slither Surprise
The slithery fun continues with this torturous ravine, which makes riders believe they are being tossed between rocks. It’s a real bumpy ride as you go through steep drops and oscillations where the gaps between the rocks are wider.
Serpent Spin
After two sharp turns, guests will drop through a water curtain into the darkness and spin around, lit only by tiny LED lights, around the bowl’s periphery, before getting ejected down into a landing pool.
Photo: Yas Waterworld
5. Beach Park (Brazil)
Beach Park is a Brazilian water park and tourist resort, situated on the beach of Porto das Dunas in the municipality of Aquiraz, in the Metropolitan region of Fortaleza. Spread out across an area totaling 170,000 m², the aquatic park area is 35,000 m² ( 376,700 ft²). It is one of the leading tourist attractions in the country, and the largest water park in Latin America.
Arrepius
Five different water slides and something for everyone. Arre Égua accommodates four riders at one time through a series of funnel slides. You get to ride on floats through a mysterious closed path until you reach the most exciting part: the bowl! You then descend in free fall from a height of 25 meters.
Photo: www.midiorama.com.br
Photo: Wikipedia
Photo: Wikipedia
Chills
On two-person floats, visitors ride a half pipe at a 90-degree slope. You read that right. 90-degree slope.
Photo: Beach Park
Vaikuntudo
This is the largest water slide in the world’s Tornado category in terms of height and route. Their colours are unique and are designed to ensure an even more exciting experience with a speed of 43km/h.
Photo: Proslide.com
Insane
This might just be one of the greatest thrills of your life. The adventure begins 14 floors up, when riders are greeted with an amazing view of the entire park and ocean. You won’t get to enjoy the view for long though! Shortly after, you’ll have to experience a 14 story free fall that reaches 65mph in five seconds.
Photo: travel.allwomenstalk.com
Photo: CNN
Photo: www.myhiddengems.co.uk
Photo: www.climbingframesgroup.com
Bakuli
“Bakuli” is the Swahili word for bowl. Riders start out in a dark tunnel, then the bottom drops out and into the giant bowl for a dizzying spiral ending.
Photo: http://www.holidayworld.com/
Jungle Racer
Jungle Racer is a five-story-tall complex of 10 racing water slides. Racers ride on toboggan-style foam mats in individual lanes and compete to be the first to cross the finish line. Challenge your entire family to race on Jungle Racer! And no arguments at the finish line – an electronic scoreboard displays the winners.
Photo: http://www.holidayworld.com/
Otorongo
This is a water slide complex of three enclosed, opaque water slides. The slides offer three distinctly different rides, all very fast and very dark. Named after the rare Peruvian Jaguar the Otorongo (otto-RON-go) it offers a watery ride through four stories of darkness on double inner tubes. Whether you ride “Otto,” “Ron,” or “Go,” you’ll get a fast, dark ride and heart-racing experience.
Photo: http://www.holidayworld.com/
Zoombabwe
ZOOMbabwe (pronounced: zoom-BOB-way) is the World’s Largest Enclosed Waterslide. An in-the-dark thrill ride, ZOOMbabwe transports families down 10 stories with steep drops, fast back-and-forth action, banked curves, and a huge splash back into the sunlight. Nearly 900-feet long, the purple ZOOMbabwe provides unexpected twists, sudden drops and the thrill of riding in complete darkness.
Photo: http://www.holidayworld.com/
Mammoth Water Coaster
Mammoth towers seven stories from highest to lowest point. The massive ride begins with a conveyor ride up the water coaster’s lift hill. Mammoth’s rafts are six-passenger round boats. That means your thrilling trek on the World’s Longest Water Coaster (certified by the Guinness World Record folks) may be facing forward, sideways, or *gasp* backwards. Yes, and in the dark too.
Photo: http://www.holidayworld.com/
