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Sports > Watersports
The Mediterranean Sea provides Tunisia
with clear waters, coral beds diverse sea life and thus
makes it a popular destination for scuba diving.
Tabarka Yachting Club and the International Diving Center
at Port el Kantaoui are recognized by the World
Confederation for Diving and offer fully equipped lessons
and trips. Permission must be obtained to dive to the
natural reserve islands of Zembra and La Galite.
For
underwater fishing, it is necessary to bring one’s
own equipment, and obtain details of conservationist
underwater fishing restrictions from the National Tourist
Office. Visitors who have brought their own equipment can
refill their air bottles at the offices of the Société
d’Air Liquide at Mégrine, 7km (4 miles) from Tunis,
and at Sfax. The abundance and great variety of fish makes fishing
very popular. Catches include mullet, ray, dogfish,
groupers, red rock mullet, crayfish and shrimp. A wetsuit is
necessary only between November and April. One can watch
coral fishing at Tabarka, octopus fishing off the Kerkennah
Islands, sponge fishing at Sfax, on the island of Jerba and
in the Gulf of Gabès, and tuna fishing by the experts at
Sidi Daoud. These ‘fishing spectacles’ take place in May
and June.
Most
hotels on the coast have a heated pool as well as a private
beach suitable for swimming. Port el Kantaoui is a
port of international standard offering mooring for 340
boats, harbour master’s office, deep-sea navigation
school, sailing school, ship-chandler, boat-rental
and a dry-docking area with maintenance shops. Prices are
competitive, especially for winter careening services. There
is a marina at Cap Monastir with similar facilities. Among
other sailing (and water-skiing) centres is Le
Club Nautique de Sidi-Bou Said, which has a marina
complex.
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