On Thanksgiving in Dubai we spent the day at the fabulous AquaAdventure Water Park. We had a blast spending all day riding tubes down slides and through rapids. The weather was perfect (mid-80's), and the park was not too crowded at all. The park is located at the Atlantis resort at the end of the Palm Jumeirah islands (one of the several man-made palm-shaped islands in Dubai). The main feature of this park is the giant ziggaraut where most of the rides start. The park is laid out really nicely with conveyors so for most of the rides you don't have to get out of the water. After going down a slide, you can float through a stream and either go around the park through some rapids or direct yourself to the conveyor that will take you in your tube up to the slides again.
One of the coolest rides drops your tube into a tunnel where you are surrounded by an aquarium. Then you float slowly through the aquarium so you can check out all the fish, sharks, and sting rays that are swimming around you on all sides.
The biggest slide is the "Leap of Faith". It is a 200 ft. slide that drops you 90 feet at an 84 degree angle. It was actually featured on the show "The Amazing Race" a couple season ago. In the show both members of each team had to go down the slide. One girl refused getting her team eliminated and costing them a shot at the million dollar prize. After seeing the view from the top I can understand how she felt. When you stand at the top and look down all you can see is the slide disappearing into the shark tank. It also lives up to its name. When you sit down at the top of the slide it is so steep that you can't see anything below you. You have to push yourself off in a literal leap of faith.
I went on it twice. The first time I was so surprised at the speed and the water splashing my face that I didn't have time to enjoy it. The second time it was a blast. Since I knew what to expect I had a little more time to watch the shark tank getting closer (but not much; it is fast).
The "Leap of Faith" ride
View from "The Leap of Faith". Jenn's at the second bridge in the white skirt getting ready to film me.
View of Dubai from the park
The Burj Al-Arab, known as the world's only "7-star hotel"
One of the coolest rides drops your tube into a tunnel where you are surrounded by an aquarium. Then you float slowly through the aquarium so you can check out all the fish, sharks, and sting rays that are swimming around you on all sides.
The biggest slide is the "Leap of Faith". It is a 200 ft. slide that drops you 90 feet at an 84 degree angle. It was actually featured on the show "The Amazing Race" a couple season ago. In the show both members of each team had to go down the slide. One girl refused getting her team eliminated and costing them a shot at the million dollar prize. After seeing the view from the top I can understand how she felt. When you stand at the top and look down all you can see is the slide disappearing into the shark tank. It also lives up to its name. When you sit down at the top of the slide it is so steep that you can't see anything below you. You have to push yourself off in a literal leap of faith.
I went on it twice. The first time I was so surprised at the speed and the water splashing my face that I didn't have time to enjoy it. The second time it was a blast. Since I knew what to expect I had a little more time to watch the shark tank getting closer (but not much; it is fast).
The Atlantis Resort
The "Leap of Faith" ride
View from "The Leap of Faith". Jenn's at the second bridge in the white skirt getting ready to film me.
View of the slides from the top of the ziggaraut. The Burj Al-Arab hotel is visible in the distance.
The Persian Gulf from Aqua Adventure
Some of the rives that flow around the park
View of Dubai from the park
The Burj Al-Arab, known as the world's only "7-star hotel"
Sharks and sting rays in the aquarium. The tube in the center is the ride you float through.
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