We were fishing with heavy duty rods (‘Heavy popping gear’ it’s called) and using big shiny lures. The rods were mounted on a harness around our waists and we had to wear protective gloves to protect against the line cutting our fingers off.

Ouch! Did you catch anything else?
We caught Giant Trevally, a Queen-fish and I landed a beautiful Rainbow Runner, which even FC reckoned he’d never caught. It was just beginner’s luck I think. We put all the fish back.
 
Did you receive any training?
Nick and FC were brilliant and It didn’t matter if you were experienced or not, you had to follow their strict safety procedures, particularly when casting from the boat as the hooks are very dangerous. It was all explained and demonstrated in a simple way and we soon got the hang of it.

You must have worked up an appetite. Did you eat on the boat?
We sailed into a small inlet and moored in shallow water. Nick and FC prepared sandwiches and we fished for smaller coral fish and did some snorkelling - it was paradise.

Sounds amazing, how long were you at sea for in total?
We got back to Dibba Port at 2.30pm, so eight hours. It was physically challenging to land the fish in the heat as they are big creatures that put up a fight.  

Would you go again?
Tomorrow if I could! It was an amazing trip, great company, great views, a real adrenaline rush catching the fish and a pretty good workout too! We were all soaking wet (with sweat) when we got back. I think the season starts again in September and I’ll be sure to get down to Dubai Garden Centre where Ocean Active will be located very soon to book it.

So, could you go fast?
As a bit of a speed demon I thought I’d relish the chance to drive fast legally but as it happened I wasn’t brave enough to put my foot fully down on the accelerator as the karts are really nippy and you have to really trust your skills to utilise them to their full capacity. Even though I drove fast enough for the steering wheel to shake in my hands I was still out-lapped three times in 20 minutes by one of my friends!

What’s the track like?
It’s great - a decent size and with plenty of twists to test your driving skills and straight sections to allow you to pick up speed.

I’ve never heard of it, how long has the track been there?
Most people I tell say they weren’t aware it was there and all the shop assistants and security guards in Festival City who I approached to ask how to get there didn’t know it existed either!
Luckily the customer services girls were able to give me directions.
If you’re in the mall, head to Sun and Sand Sports and it’s through the doors on the right of the shop behind Toys R Us - next to the skate park (yes, there’s a skate park there as well!).
The track has been there for a year and I’m really glad I found it as, living on the Mirdif side of town, it’s great to have this facility so close to home as most other attractions are miles away.

Would you do it again?
Definitely. We emerged from our suits feeling like we’d done a session in the gym- so even though we were having fun it was a good workout. The instructors told us that in the evenings the track is filled with youngsters racing, but when we were there we had the whole track to ourselves. What’s a little sweat compared to being bumped off the track by a bunch of brats? I know which time of the day I’d choose to go again!

The crystal grains used are less harsh than traditional microdermabrasion crystals and are highly therapeutic. The procedure is known to improve leathery, sun-damaged skin and iblotchy pigmentation and minimise broken capillaries and age spots.
It’s also effective for cleaning out blackheads and whiteheads.  

So what happens?
Microdermabrasion (also known as particle resurfacing) involves the doctor using a hand-held device that blasts fine crystals against the skin to vacuum away dirt and dead surface skin.

Microdermabrasion is also called a “lunchtime peel,” because it takes only 20 to 30 minutes for a full-face treatment and can also be used on the neck and chest. It requires no anaesthesia and will not adversely lighten or darken skin, as some exfoliating treatments do.

Blasting crystals on your face, ouch! Did that hurt?
I was understandably apprehensive about having grains blasted against my skin but microdermabrasion is an enjoyable experience.

The sensation of the machine refining my skin with the tiny organic grains was unusual but pleasant. I could see a visible difference in my skin straightaway as it had smoothed away roughness and fine lines. I did experience mild redness and a slightly itchy sensation afterwards though but it wasn’t uncomfortable and faded on its own after an hour.

Did you have to have any follow up treatments?
After the initial session, periodic maintenance treatments (from once a month to once every three months, as needed) are often recommended. After a few days of following the clinic’s resident Plastic Surgeon Doctor Marwan Al Zarouni’s skin care routine my skin texture had considerably improved and it was visibly noticeable.

All our skin care woes cannot, sadly, be solved with one facial but if you’re serious about getting your skin ship-shape, proceed with a tailor-made course of treatments. This combo suited me - the microdermabrasion polished up my dull skin, while weekly peels cleans away dead cells.

The speed with which one sees results varies between individuals: all I saw, at first, was oily skin due to the heavy moisturiser.
However, a fresher-looking me materialised the day after!