HydroDash — Attraction in Singapore

Here's your Hydrodash cheat sheet. I had many unanswered questions before I went so I hope this helps!

Wear water booties. You can buy them from Decathlon for cheap. It really helps with the grip. Also, you won't feel the algae on the steps when climbing back up, and trust me, you'll be falling into the water a lot. So if that bothers you, wear water booties. Oh and the bouncy castle gets hot under the sun.

You can wear your spectacles in. Yes that Smartlocal article said no specs but I went ahead with it anyway. Hydrodash, if you're reading this, please add it to your FAQ. I had so much difficulty finding an answer to this. Lifeguard asked what was my degree and tried to persuade me to not bring them in but I'm blind as a bat without so he allowed it. Do your prep and secure the specs using rubber bands. Oh and I even wore a hat in. Again, secured to my head. Otherwise you WILL lose them in the seawater.

Yes, you may stash your items in the lockers near the toilets. However, I felt like there isn't a need to. You can leave your bags on the beach (demarcated by squares due to social distancing). This part of the beach is closed off to public anyway so it's definitely safer (not 100% safe). Leave your valuables with the counter. It's going to be hot and there's only limited squares under the shade so bring a picnic mat or two. 1 layer to protect your stuff from the sand, another layer on top to protect it from the rain/sun.

It's not that physically demanding. You will slip and fall into the water here and there but you won't hurt yourself. It's not exactly Ninja Warrior. Kinda, but not really. Again, water booties helps!

Check the tides before you book your timeslot. You can only do the jump station if it's high tide.

1 hour is enough to try the entire course.

I didn't get cut by any barnacles. Follow the rules and you...

Area for Kids aged less than 7 Children who are less than 7 years old are confined to a small area called "Stage 1" with accompanying adults. The problem is that the floating steps where you are supposed to get back up onto the course after falling off are sized for small children. There is almost no way an adult can climb back onto the course when they fall off and thus must swim around to the adult steps 15m or so away. Please install adult steps in Stage 1 asap.

Challenge Children! Don't hold them back because "it’s the rules" The rationale for limiting kids under the age of 7 to Stage 1 is not clear. The reason given was "it's the rules". Why? "Because we will get into trouble if we allow kids less than 7 onto Stages 2 - 4", Again I asked "Why".... "because it the rules". Very frustrating. At least give the parent a choice to accompany their child onto Stages 2 - 4 to challenge them and help them grow! Ask parents to sign a legal waiver if necessary but don't hold children back because.... "it's the rules".

Dangerous Lifeguard The lifeguard in Stage 1 tower between 10am and 11:30 am on 24th October is DANGEROUS! I fell off Stage 1 with my son and we tried to swim to the adult steps together (because, as mentioned, the kid’s steps on stage 1 are too small for an adult). The lifeguard shouted at me to separate from my son because he's not allowed to be in Stage 2. Seriously? He's enforcing the rules on age limits but wishes me to abandon my son in the open ocean because of an age restriction. We just wanted to get back onto the platform and walk around back to stage 1! I strongly urge you to remove him from your employment before he...

Pretty fun first time experience here. Booked for one hour and I think it’s really more than enough. We went on a cloudy/windy day and it’s great because we didn’t have to run around under the hot sun but I felt pretty woozy after 45 minutes because the waves were quite strong and the platforms rocked about quite a bit.

The instructor doing the briefing was clear and friendly. You can wear your glasses but it’s at your own risk because there’s a chance it might go missing in the water. Stated in their website participants have to know how to swim but it really isn’t necessary. I don’t actually know how to lol. You’ll wear life jackets and will stay afloat in the water 100% of the time. Just have to know how to move your arms and kick your legs a bit to move to the platforms.

Pro tips:

Go on an empty stomach. You will be slipping and sliding around, falling off the platforms and heaving yourself up onto them. On top of that, the platforms are rocky if the waves are strong. You REALLY do not want to feel sick and puke at the play area!

I wish someone had mentioned this before I went. If you’re not an expert in holding your breath under water, I’d recommend wearing nose plugs (not sure if that’s viable tbh) or to pinch your nose quickly when you slide off the platforms because it’s definitely not pleasant to have saltwater up your nose and in your mouth! Yes it’s common sense to hold your breath when you’re going under water. But when you’re falling off a high platform, it might take you by surprise and you might just end up with a mouthful of saltwater so if you’re not much of a water person or a swimmer like me, that’s something to prepare...