St. Bart Scuba Diving

The pleasures of underwater observation are magical.
The branch corals are recovered from the last hurricanes, and the massive corals are in full bloom, with multicolored coral fish everywhere. Each bay has a reef to be explored, each islet has its walls and caves. The most spectacular dives are around Pain de Sucre, an islet off Gustavia harbour, or around a small cape, l'Ane Rouge, off Colombier bay. A few bays that had suffered from over-fishing have been protected since 1999 by the laws of a Marine Reserve , and their replenishment has already started. The marine turtles that were protected in 1991 have rapidly reappeared in Colombier, Fourchue, and all around the island.

Anyone who dives in the waters protected by the marine park is asked to contribute one euro per dive to the park. For those who dive on a regular basis, a pass is available for 15 euros. Good for one year, this card allows divers to try and "find Nemo" as frequently as they so desire. Available at the marine park office in Gustavia.

St. Bart Fishing
Everybody owns a boat of some kind in St. Barths, and most are used for fishing. There are twenty or so professional fishermen who provide the local restaurants with fresh lobster, fish and conchs. A bunch of natives from Les Saintes archipelago, south of Guadeloupe, introduced professional gears and methods when tourism created the needs at the end of the 60's. The Saintois also brought with them their famous open fishing boats called "saintoises".

Big game fishing provides amateurs with exciting days in the open sea: catches are frequent and some are huge. From May to September, you can measure yourself against the blue or white marlin when, strapped in your fighting seat, you'll have succeeded in taming it, the practice is to release it after tagging, not to deprive the under marine realm of such a lord.; from December to April delicious bull-nosed dolphin abound; and the whole year round, wahoo, tuna, and barracuda are waiting for your bait. Fishing with a spear-gun without bottles is permitted 200 yards from the beaches for fish that have reached a certain size, but is more sporting to trap lobsters with a loop. A Marine Reserve has been implemented in 1996, in order to encourage sea life in coastal waters.

St. Bart Sailing And Yachting
What is more relaxing and enjoyable than a sailing trip? Several rental agencies and a few private boat-owners offer you outings with a crew, for a day or a half-day or more. You may also charter a sailing boat just for a sunset cruise. If the weather is agreeable, choose to tour around the island, or anchor in the quiet bays of Fourchue or Colombier. Take the time to snorkel with the equipment you'll find onboard, and admire the multicolored fauna. Then, bathe in the sun while the boat is gently rocking, sip a ti'punch on ice, and enjoy a gourmet lunch .

Sporty catamarans, mainly 13' to 20' Hobbycats, are available in Saint-Jean and in Grand Cul-de-Sac. The organizers offer you either an introduction under the supervision of a pro, or single or double sailing for the thrill of high speed on the blue. The sailing school in Public is not confined to the sailing education of small-size Captain Blighs. Its fleet of "optimists" - a kind of soap-box with a sail - will soon be matched with a fleet of 14' Lasers available to visitors. Being managed by the yacht club, the school organizes regattas all year-round for any category, and on those days, the sea-side and all the viewpoints are crammed with local people.

St. Bart Surfing and Windsurfing
Surfing can be practiced in quite a number of bays in Saint-Barthélemy, but only a few of them are shaped to produce the beautiful rolling waves with a crest of foam that the young copper-skinned, straw-haired surfers must ride. A whole community of young locals and newcomers keep their senses alert to feel the wind that turns or grows, the swell that rises entering the bays of Toiny, Lorient or Saint-Jean, not to miss those rare moments when the waves roll and break to perfection. It is a whole way of life. If you would like to try, the equipment is for sale in a few specialized shops, and a connoisseurs' club can guide you through your first ride.

Windsurfing is more likely to be enjoyed by many. Winds can be extremely strong, though, and you'll then admire the color triangles that fly from one end of the bay to the other at an incredible speed. St. Barths is sometimes chosen by olympic teams to train their athletes, and has raised at least one young champion, Mario Lédée, in its sparkling waters. Most of the time, winds are blowing moderately enough to allow amateur wind surfers to gradually develop their technique. In St. Jean and in Grand Cul de Sac, beach clubs rent their windsurfing equipment, and their know-how, to beginners.

St. Bart Water skiing

In St. Barths, you can enjoy wake board and water skiing 12 months a year. The weather is almost always nice, and the suitable stretches of water are of good quality, especially for wake board. Two boats, a Mastercraft Maristar 225 and a Malibu Sunsetter LX, are available for water skiing and wake boarding (long traction mast).The pilots, Hervé et Christophe, are competent and patient. They know how to guide both the beginner or the more experienced. In St. Barths, you can enjoy : wake board, water skiing, knee board, air chair and ski bus.

St. Bart Other Nautical Activities

If sailing is not your cup of tea, but you still want to experience a trip on the ocean, there are other ways to go. First, you can rent a motor-boat with or without a captain from 17' to 55'.You can also rent a jet-ski or a sea-scooter, although their utilization is very controlled in St-Barths. A channel from the port of Gustavia leads you out of the 300 yards of the coastal waters towards high sea, but you should not go more than one mile away from the coastline. Kayaks and peddle boats, available on the beaches of Saint-Jean and Grand Cul-de-Sac, can take you away to mysterious caves and cliffs ...

St.Barts Land Sporting Activities

St. Bart Tennis
Believe it or not, the climate is not too hot to prevent numerous local players from enjoying this running and jumping sport. Most are careful, though, to avoid the mid-day hours. Some hotels have their own courts, and retain a pro for guests who want to progress during their stay. One private club eagerly accepts any outsider who wants to play on their two courts in Grand Cul-de-Sac. Anyone who wishs to play can find a way. Children on holiday in St. Barths may join the sports associations of Colombier and Lorient that are pleased to confront their young local hopefuls with the different style of young visitors. Several tournaments are organized every year, like "Le Rivage Tournament" in August which welcome residents and visitors for friendly and vigorous competition. We do not have a golf course on the island, but for those who want to give their swing some practice, they can do it at Grand Cul de Sac at a driving range.

St. Bart Hiking and Horseback riding

Provided that you choose heavy-sole shoes, wear a hat and sun-screen and take a bottle of water, hiking is a good way to discover St. Barts. The most famous path will take you from Petite Anse to the stunning bay of Colombier in fifteen minutes walk. That beach can only be access by sea otherwise. But you can also climb up to the top of the island, Mount Vitet, 286 meters high, or you can tour the Toiny Point.. Vegetation on various windward places grows like bonzaïs, tough tiny trees leaning away from many years of strong gusts of wind. The dry forest shelters botanical treasures, orchids, rare cactuses, beds of white lilies.. But you should be aware that all the lands being private, you can sometimes be kindly asked to walk back on your steps by owners not willing to see their properties trespassed. The Tourist bureau has a small document showing some hiking itineraries.

Finally, you can ride horseback from the Ranch des Flamands and discover in more rocky and organized way the secret nature of St. Barths, with your horse at a gallop on Flamands beach when the day fades and cools down.

St. Bart Fitness
Several hotels are equipped with fitness clubs and air-conditioned rooms complete with sophisticated equipment. Some accept outsiders, others limit the use of these facilities to guests. Two independent fitness clubs, Forma Form in Gustavia and St Barth Gym in Cul de Sac, already well-attended by a local clientele, welcomes visitors. Gymnastics also leads to bodybuilding for a minority of big muscle fans.The popularity of massages is consistent with the notion that St Barths is a place where people come to relax.

Yoga teachers can provide you with another approach to body and mind balance, through hata-yoga at beautiful outdoor sites that, in themselves, inspire a natural concentration.Judo and Tae Kwon Do are practiced on the island by numerous amateur groups who take part in competitions at regional level.And Archery has its own club of enthusiasts. A sporty atmosphere naturally hovers over the island thanks to the repeated efforts of the municipality and local associations, who organize competitions and friendly tournaments. Football, basketball and rugby gather many players in numerous teams playing on the new stadium in St-Jean. Every summer, an important volley-ball tournament is held with around twenty teams of 6 players who testy their skills, while beach- volley matches for 2 or 3 player teams are organized every Sunday on various beaches. You are welcome to take part.. or to cheer them on.