St Barthélemy / Watersports

The bigger hotels usually have some sports equipment on offer to their guests if they are located on the beach. Those not located on the beach may lend or hire out snorkelling gear, but do not depend on anything larger. For windsurfers or kayaks you will need to go to the independent operators.

Scuba Diving

Please see our Special Interest - Scuba section.

Snorkelling

The best snorkelling in the island is reckoned to be in the northwest, in the area around Colombier, on the northern and southern arms of Colombier Bay and just offshore on the southern side, around the island in the bay, Ile Petit Jean. Most people go by boat (often on day sails), but there are paths that lead over to the bay so you can walk. If you don’t want that far, then you can stop in the bay before, Petite Anse, which also has a nice reef with good fish.

Sports Fishing

Big fish ply the waters off St Barths, so you can head off after tuna, dorado and blue marlin. Contact Nautica or Océan Must.

Surfing

Surfing is limited in St Barths, but when the swell is up then some large waves make it over the reefs into Anse des Cayes, Lorient, Piquette and Toiny. Which side of the island the waves are on depends on the prevailing winds. You’ll have to ask around.

Windsurfing and Kitesurfing

Windsurfing and kitesurfing are available in Grand Cul de Sac, in the eastern part of the island. Here the Atlantic winds whistle onshore into the bay, which is protected at its mouth by a reef and is only a few feet deep throughout.

Rental and instruction is available through: WindWave Power - also jet-skis and boats.