Barbados Sports & Outdoors Tips by grandmaR Top 5 Page for this destination

Bathsheba Surfing

There's a competition at the end of November, but there is apparently good surfing on the Atlantic coast most of the time. This area is called the Soup Bowl. We were in Barbados staying at the Edgewater Inn in Bathsheba at the time of the surfing competition in 1996 (photos 3 and 4). We saw surfers there again ten years later.

Because it is on the Atlantic, with a long fetch to the nearest land, the East Coast is home to the most consistent breaks on Barbados. When the waves meet the Continental Shelf the swell rumbles across the reefs to create world class waves that are for the more experienced surfer. It also makes swimming very risky

Not being a surfer, I would not know, but I found this quote.

The New York Times wrote in March '09: “'I’ve been going for over 20 years, and I’d put Soup Bowl as one of the top three waves in the world,' said Kelly Slater, the Tiger Woods of surfing, who recently won his ninth world championship. 'It’s got a really good curve and allows all sorts of maneuvers and airs.'”

Equipment: There are surf shops throughout the island, where you can rent boards, get surfing lessons or buy surfing equipment. The best time of year for surfing is between November and June

Surfing Day (Beach lesson and board) 50 US per person
2 Hour ("Get Wet") 80 US Per Person
6 Hour ("Be a Surfer") 3 days/2hr 180 US per person
Additional 2 hours (each) 50 US per person
Private 50 US/HR per person

Glass surfboards rentals (Ricky Carrol/Local Mottion)

Price Week $160 US
Day $40 US
1/2 day $25 US
1 Hour $15 US

Surftech (Tuflite) surfboardrentals

Price Week $250 US
Day $50 US
1/2 day $35 US
1 Hour $20 US

Theme: Surfing

Website: http://www.caribzones.com/surfadventure.html

Folkestone Snorkeling

About one mile north of Holetown is the government-run Folkestone Marine Park. This is basically an underwater park with exhibits, and beach facilities. I was told that there was an underwater trail there. I was also told that it had been destroyed in the last hurricane.

Neither the people in the gift shop or the folks at the aquarium knew anything about the underwater trail, and I never found it. It was probably out farther than I went.

The Barbados website says:

Snorkelers will prefer to swim around the inshore reef found in the Recreational Zone of the Park. This reef is found about one-third of a mile offshore and is home to numerous fish and other marine life, including sea anemones, sea lilies, corals and sponges.

Before we went snorkeling, we went through the interpretive center and museum with marine and coastal environment displays, exhibits of the island’s fishing industry and a salt water aquarium. I also did a little shopping at the souvenier shop.

Lots of folks go snorkeling off of boats - a combo of a booze cruise and a snorkeling cruise.

Equipment: Folkestone has a good beach, along with fresh water showers. I wasn't sure whether we were expected to tip the changing room attendents or not. When we were there you had to bring your own snorkeling equipment, towels etc.

I had not been snorkeling before this for some time, and did not know what good snorkeling was. While we did see some fish, the snorkeling there is not wonderful, or at least was not when we were there.

Directions: On the west coast.

Theme: Beach Activities

Website: http://barbados.org/maps_google.htm?mapPoint=54