UAE, 9 March 2013 – Discover the underwater wonders and mesmerizing marine life of the stunning Arabian Gulf with the opening of the Desert Islands WaterSport Centre on Sir Bani Yas Island. Set upon the pristine beach, the Watersports Centre is the latest expansion on the island, with this stand alone facility being home to first-class amenities, offering a range of diving and water sports experiences to suit guests of all ages and abilities.

Featuring a range of lecture rooms and a 3-metre deep dive pool, the Watersports Centre is the perfect place to take the plunge to learn to dive or take the diving experience to a new level, with full PADI certification courses lead by highly qualified instructors. Divers can explore the depths of the Arabian Gulf Sea and the exotic coral reefs with an Adventure Dive, qualify as a Rescue Diver, or for the more experienced, take part in a Dive Master course across 7 days. Younger guests are also catered for with children aged 8 and over able to take part in diving activities.

For those looking for more leisurely water sports, the island offers an Island Cruise and private boat charters, with stand-up paddle boarding, pearl diving and deep sea fishing activities soon to be added to the list of experiences on offer. In addition guests can also take part in activities on the island such as the nature and wildlife drive, horse riding, kayaking or mountain biking.

Anantara is now offering exclusive packages combining the exciting new activities with their luxury accommodation, such as the two night dive refresher package starting from just AED 2,280++, or the five night open water discovery package from AED 5,160++. All packages includes a supervised dive for two, accommodation in a room, suite or villa, return boat transfers to the island and daily buffet breakfast for two people.

Steven Phillips, General Manager Desert Islands Resort & Spa, comments:  “Anantara is passionate about immersing our guests in our magnificent and natural surroundings and our island location and wide ranging activities provide the perfect destination to do this. The opening of the Watersports Centre has opened up a new world of underwater adventures for our guests, to suit all seasons, and to ensure the perfect extended island getaway. We are also pleased to have the expertise of the Dive Mahara team on board to offer these exciting diving experiences. ”

For further information and reservations contact 02 656 1399 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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