Which beach and sea sports can you do on the Costa Blanca?

Living on the Costa Blanca means having the Mediterranean as a year-round playground: sailing, kitesurfing, diving, paddleboarding and kayaking are all within easy reach, the choice is huge, and the water stays pleasant from June to November.

Whatever your level, from a nervous first-timer to a seasoned racer, there is a way in. Here is what you can genuinely do along the Alicante coast, where to begin and who to do it with.

Sailing

Alicante is the home port of The Ocean Race, the round-the-world sailing race, so the whole region breathes sailing. Nautical clubs (clubs náuticos) line the coast from Alicante to Denia, with sailing schools for all ages, from Optimist dinghies for children to adult courses.

You can get started in a few days, hire a dinghy or a catamaran, or set your sights on racing. It is also one of the best ways to build a social circle when you have just moved to the coast.

Kitesurfing and windsurfing

Santa Pola is one of the best wind spots in Spain, well known for kitesurfing and windsurfing, with schools offering lessons and gear hire. Other windy beaches around the province add to the choice.

One rule matters: beginners should always take a supervised lesson. Kitesurfing is learned with an instructor, never self-taught.

Diving

Tabarca island, off Alicante, is home to Spain's first marine reserve, created in 1986. Clear water, seagrass meadows (posidonia) and abundant fish make it an exceptional site for diving and snorkelling.

Dive centres along the coast run trips and taster dives ("baptisms") there and at other protected sites in the province. You need no experience for a first supervised taster dive.

Paddleboarding, kayaking and other activities

To explore the "calas" (coves) you cannot reach on foot, paddleboarding (SUP) and sea kayaking are ideal. Add a few more options and you can fill a whole summer without ever leaving the coast:

• Paddleboarding (SUP): hourly rentals on most beaches in season, stable and easy for families.
• Sea kayaking: guided trips to the caves and coves of the Marina Alta.
• Beach volleyball: a classic on the sand, no booking needed.
• Snorkelling: perfect over the posidonia meadows around Tabarca.
• Long-distance swimming: the calm summer sea makes open-water swims accessible.

Frequently asked questions

Which sea sport is best for a family to start with?

Paddleboarding and kayaking are the easiest way in: stable, simple, with nothing to buy since boards and kayaks are hired by the hour on most beaches. For children keen on sailing, the nautical club schools take them out in Optimist dinghies from around age six or seven.

Can I dive with no experience at all?

Yes. A dive centre will run a supervised taster dive: a briefing, an instructor beside you and a safe, controlled descent. Tabarca, with its clear water and marine reserve, is an ideal first site.

Where should I learn to kitesurf?

Santa Pola is the province's reference spot for kitesurfing. Take a lesson at a school and never head out alone at first. You can rent the gear on site, so there is no need to invest before you know you enjoy it.

Sources

• Comunitat Valenciana, water sports on the Costa Blanca
• Real Federación Española de Vela

Information verified in July 2026. Sea and wind conditions change fast: always follow instructions from schools and clubs, and check the marine forecast. The Daily Costa Blanca is an AI-assisted publication with human editorial review and responsibility.