Surfing

Being a coral island, a coral reef stretches all around Barbados' coastline, providing for unlimited surfing conditions all over and is guaranteed to have surf somewhere along it's shores at almost any given day of the year. The east coast boasts the most powerful and biggest waves and the foaming surf of the 'Soup Bowl' is a favourite spot that is internationally recognised and the venue for the annual surfing contest. Surfboard lessons and rentals are available, as well as surf tours for the more experienced.

Scuba diving

The waters around Barbados are a treasure trove of marine life. Barrier reefs, situated about one and a half to two miles (2.5 to 3km) from shore, are home to numerous schools of tropical fish, corals, turtles, rays and barracudas, while fringe reefs are found closer to shore with smaller coral formations and more plant life. These are home to marine life such as seahorses and eels. Barbados is also good for wreck diving; historic Carlisle Bay has numerous wrecks and is a popular dive location, as is Folkestone Marine Park, where the artificial reef was formed by the deliberate sinking of the Greek freighter Stavronikita in 1976.

Windsurfing

Barbados is one of the best wave windsurfing spots in the world, particularly from mid-November to the end of June when the moderate trade winds blow consistently over the shores. Beginners as well as experienced windsurfers will find ideal conditions in which to ride the waves, jump or simply sail. Silver Sands is a popular location, where the conditions are challenging but forgiving. A reef lies 820ft (250m) offshore and provides a steady three to seven foot swell (1-2m), although on some days the waves here can reach up to 16ft (5m).