Pearl Diving
The Annual Pearl Diving festivals help the current generation to experience the hardship and excitement of pearl diving, which their forefathers once experienced. The festivals are a tribute to men who dedicated their lives to the pearling industry. The youngsters prepare in advance for the event by training themselves in sailing and diving, interacting with old divers and experienced captains, and get familiarized with the equipment. The attire of today’s pearl-divers are identical to those worn by their forefathers. During the dive, the diver is secured to the railing of the ship with a rope, tied around his waist. Once he is ready to surface, he tugs on the rope, which his helper holds all through, and the latter then pulls back the diver. The end of the festival is celebrated by singing and dancing.
Sea Clubs
Most sea clubs in Kuwait offer a variety of facilities such as outdoor and indoor swimming pools, tennis courts, beaches, bowling, gymnasiums and karate. There are five sea clubs currently run by the KTEC. Each club allocates a particular day exclusively for women and children. Ras Al-Ardh is a sea club exclusively reserved for children and women. Kuwait also has several private sea clubs.
Water Sports
Tourists are required to buy their own equipments from dealers for windsurfing, boating, water-skiing, jet skiing, scuba diving and yachting, as the facilities for hiring these equipments are very few. Most of such sports could be enjoyed away from the beaches along the coast.
Yachting
Kuwait is considered to be the sailor’s paradise. The sea’s offshore is seldom rough. The yacht club has a marina with about 300 fully serviced berths. Most sea clubs have marinas and organize sailing activities. The Kuwait Offshore Sailing Association often organizes races.
Trips to the Islands
Taking boat trip to the islands such as Kubbar, could be a pleasant experience with picnicking and swimming in the island. A dhow could be hired for a few hundred KD, which could be ideal for a small family outing together.
Fishing
Most experts use home-made equipments for fishing, though simple and sophisticated fishing tackle is readily available in the shops. One could go fishing with long casting rods from ends of piers and prominent rocks using simple hooks, lines, poles or wireless baskets.
Sports
For those interested in Archery, there is the National Archery Center in the Hunting and Equestrian Club, and anyone could make use of it at a nominal fee. Among the other popular sports in Kuwait are the Basketball and Bowling. Also, for those interested in Equestrian Sports, the Hunting and Equestrian Club on the sixth Ring Road offers race tracks, gymkhana and riding facilities, squash courts, tennis, swimming pools, restaurant, bowling alley, and indoor sports area. Ice-skating at the Ice Skating Rink on the first Ring Road, and motorbike racing are other sporting activities in Kuwait, worth a try.
The Liberation Tower
It represents Kuwaiti liberation, the sure sign of the country’s resurgence. It is one of tallest telecommunication towers in the world. The tower is 372 meters in height, and is 40 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower. The tower was named after the nation was liberated from the multinational coalition which happended due to seven months of Iraqi occupation during the Gulf War. The structure has been built by use of ceramic tiles on the façade from the base to the first mezzanine level, which is 308 meters above ground level.
The tower and telecommunication complex is divided into three; a public communications center, a restaurant at 150 meters and the revolving observation level, and the plant and equipment structure. The tower has eighteen elevators, which are also the fastest in the world, operating at the speed of 6.3meters per second. Located above the revolving mezzanine, are the six office floors, the section being encased in anodized aluminium, to withstand the extreme temperatures in Kuwait.
The Kuwait Towers
These are the most famous landmarks of Kuwait. The Kuwait Towers are situated on the Arabian Gulf Street in Dasman, promontory to east of City Center. The topmost sphere of the largest tower (187 meters in height), has a revolving observation area and a restaurant with access to high speed lifts. The middle tower comprises one million gallons of water.
