Travel Guide Eilat:All Water Sports on Hof HaHashmal, Eilat Beach, Israel

You are spoilt for choice when looking for a beach to relax on in Eilat or to try one of the water sports on offer, but you may be put off by the crowded Eilat beaches (those near the Tielet and down town Eilat), or by the beaches which charge entrance fees (approximately 30 shekels) and then charge you for your chair, umbrella and anything else you want.

Electric Beach Eilat, Hof Hahashmal or Hof Khevrat haKhashmal (electric company beach) in Hebrew, is a small beach which caters primarily to water sports. A short stretch of the beach is for water sports. If you plan on doing a number of the water sports available in Eilat, Israel then this will be perfect for you.

Electric Beach Eilat has a small kiosk with limited drinks and snacks although they are rather pricey. There is a shaded area where you can escape from the sun, use the facilities and book your water sports. Electric Beach/ Hof Hahashmal is a family run affair with the wife, mother, sister and brother all taking a part in the smooth organization of the various Eilat water sport activities.

At Hof HaHashmal there is an atmosphere of friendly efficiency, and the various water sports are carried out in swift succession without much waiting time necessary. One of the advantages of being a smaller Eilat water sport business is that you won't be told to come back later, or wait an hour for your turn. If you were at one of the down town beaches the water sports are always over run with tourists and a waiting list of eager Israelis wanting to go next. When I was there were more than 25 people doing various water sports and the longest waiting time was 20 minutes for one of the more popular activities. At Hof Hahashmal the owners will take the time to see that you have received the water sport you wanted and that you are satisfied.

Safety jackets are issued for every water sport at Hof Hahashmal Eilat even if you are just riding along in the boat to take photos of your friends as they parasail or ski. All the required regulations are adhered to at this Eilat water sports beach and they make sure that the boats don't have too many people in at a time. If you plan to drive one of the boats you will need a driver's license. Some of the water sports are safe for younger kids and the whole family will find something they can take part in. If you are with really young kids or babies you can paddle or swim close to the floating pier where the boats leave from.

Notice the Ibuv between the two boats.

Red Sea Water Sports Available at Hof Hahashmal/Electric Beach

The various water sports on offer at Hof Hahashmal are kayaks (80shekels for an hour); parasailing – where you are pulled along behind a speedboat while attacked to a parachute (160 shekels); water skiing (150 shekels for 15 minutes); windsurfing (130 shekels for an hour); self-drive speedboat hire (350 shekels for half an hour); Catamaran (280 shekels an hour); small sail boats (180 shekels an hour); jet ski (140 shekels for 15 minutes); kasaka – a flat boat shaped float which you stand on while rowing (90 shekels an hour). The prices are competitive and if you are with a group or taking more than one water sport activities make sure you ask for a discount. There are always special deals at this Eilat Beach, for example in summer 2010 you could do three activities – kayak, banana and Ibuv for 75 shekels, this is a great deal and will keep a group of friends or family busy for a good few hours.

Another two water sport attractions available in Eilat are the banana and the Ibuv

A "banana" being pulled by speed boat.

A banana is an inflated giant banana with straps to hold on to, the banana is pulled at high speed behind a sped boat and the people sitting on top of the banana hold on for dear life, until they are finally flung off of the banana! This is one of the most popular water sports in Eilat.

Ibuv being pulled behind a speed boat, not the dolphin in the left foreground.

Ibuv is a large floating tube or water bed, with straps to hang onto and like the banana the Ibuv is pulled behind a speeding boat and the participants try not to fall off into the water. On the ibuv you lie on your tummy while on the banana you sit. An Ibuv can hold about 6 people and a banana about 10.

Location of Hof Hahashmal, Eilat, Israel

You will find this Eilat beach between the naval base and Hof HaDekel

Water sports are offered between 09:00-19:00, and the beach remains open 24 hours.

How to contact the Hof HaHashmalAlthough there is no need to book water sport activities at Hof HaHashmal, Eilat in advance, if you do want to ask any other details call 08-6332467, or directly to the owners and managers on 052-8461918.

There is a web site but it is mostly in Hebrew http://www.galredsea.co.il

 Hof Hahashmal is my top pick for a water sport beach in Eilat, but for an extra special day try the Dolphin Reef, and for a day of snorkeling and relaxing on a small beach try Hof Harush. In Eilat you can also rent a glass bottom kayak. For a family hotel in Eilat at a reasonable price I recommend Nova Hotel Eilat.