Five of the world's most jaw dropping beach water polo settings

If you could play water polo anywhere in the world, where would you choose? Would it be near an island, in a lake deep in the forest, or in tropical waters with one of the grandest natural wonders of the world as a backdrop?

All of these are possible thanks to inflatable water polo equipment that allows players bring the game to new environments.

Water polo is no longer confined to swimming pools. Portable water polo goals and fields have made it easy for players to add a sense of adventure to the game by taking it to spectacular open-water settings. So, what are some of the most scenic and breath-taking locations the game has been taken to?

5. Water polo at Malus Island, Australia

Spectators looked on from private boats moored next to the field when 50 athletes competed 20km off the coast of Western Australia at Malus Island in 2018. Karratha Water Polo Association’s annual Australia Day water polo tournament, known as H20Polo@theisland, was a day of sun, sport and the sea in the spectacular offshore setting. It was an ideal opportunity to showcase the Dampier Archipelago and beauty of Karratha.

4. Water polo in Historic Royal Albert Dock, England

London’s unique and historic water space made for a picturesque location at the MANUP! Water Polo Festival of 2019. Twelve teams from England plunged into the waters off Liverpool’s Historic Royal Albert Dock. The event saw eight men’s and four women’s teams play non-stop, back-to-back games in soaring summer temperatures in a fantastic outdoor location. The weather, music, competition and setting made it a memorable event.

3. Water polo in Palm Jumeirah, United Arab Emirates

A water polo club in Dubai hosted an international tournament on a scenic stretch of water on Palm Jumeirah last year. The Dubai Camels Water Polo Club has hosted two other international beach water polo tournaments on the artificial offshore island, which resembles a stylised palm tree. The game was brought to the luxurious location in the United Arab Emirates at a time when the city’s public pools had been closed due to Covid-19 concerns.

2. Water polo at an old quarry in the forests, United States

A keen group of 230 water polo players travelled from the United States and Canada to play the game in an old quarry in the forests of Ohio. The Quarry Scramble event brought players together for a huge water polo party. The unique outdoor festival in North America also included camping, cliff jumping and rafting. While players waited for their games, they floated around on rafts, getting to know each other and enjoying a beer in the sun.

1. Water Polo in Great Barrier Reef, Australia

One of the most spectacular venues for a beach water polo event has to be Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Members of the Australian women’s water polo team took to its warm tropical waters for a one-of-a-kind exhibition match. The Aussie Stingers played 47km offshore, alongside the Moore Reef Marine Base. The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s natural wonders and is the world's largest coral reef system, composed of more than 2,900 individual reefs. Does it get any better than that?