St Lucia / Watersports

St Lucia offers good watersports. The hotels will have a watersports centre which will lend you snorkelling gear and point you in the direction of the best reef nearby or lend you a kayak. The only licensed operator on Reduit beach is based in the Rex St Lucian. Be aware that jet-ski operators are unlikely to have third party insurance.

Kayaking

Dive Fair Helen offers two kayak trips out of Marigot Bay, tracking along the rugged Caribbean coast that tumbles vertical to the sea in massive headlands and then flattens out to reveal valleys with estuaries fringed with mangrove forest.

The two hour Coastal and River Kayaking tour departs from Marigot Bay and heads out into the Caribbean Sea before entering the Roseau rivermouth, where the trees close over the top of you and you will pass through an area of mangroves that is home to several species of St Lucian birds. The Coastal Kayaking tour is three hours long and takes you beneath St Lucia’s dramatic coastline down to Anse la Raye, where there is a village walk before the return paddle.

Tours use some sit-on kayaks, but also some expedition touring kayaks. Part of the time is spent in training to familiarise you with the equipment.

Dive Fair Helen tour details and costs:

1. River Kayaking (duration 1½ hrs – 2 hrs actual tour time) includes transfers, meals, beverages and all kayaking equipment. You need to take sunscreen lotion, insect repellent and bottled water. US$75-85 per person.
2. Coastal Kayaking (duration 2½ hrs – 3 hrs actual tour time) includes transfers, meals, beverages, park fees and all kayaking equipment. You will need to take everything as per River Kayaking plus hiking attire. US$85 per person.
3. Coastal Kayaking & Camping (duration 1 day and 1 night) includes transportation, meals, kayaking and camping equipment (tents and sleeping mats). You will need to take your back pack equipped with camping attire, bed linen, touch lights, sun screen lotion and insect repellant. US$190 per person.
4. Family Water Safari includes taxi/boat transfers, lunch, snorkel and/or kayak equipment (recreational sit-on-top units). US$50 per person.

Scuba Diving

Please see our Special Interest - Scuba section.

Snorkelling

Please see our Things to Do - Day Sails section.

Sports Fishing

Deep sea fishing boat charters include:

Hackshaw’s Boat Charters - With four boats based in the north of the island, Hackshaw’s offer deep sea fishing (tag and release) for blue marlin, yellow fin tuna, wahoo and dorado (from US$500 for a half day), private cruising charters that run down the coast to Soufriere, stopping off at towns and bays along the way, and dolphin and whale watching trips, looking for 25 varieties of whale. Sperm, pilot and humpback are regulars and they have even seen orcas. They follow international whale watching rules, from US$60 for 4 hours.

Captain Mike’s Sport Fishing and Pleasure Cruises - Offers tackle and drink for the trip, to try your luck at marlin, tuna, dorado or wahoo. From US$500 for a half day.