Watersports in Tobago

Ringed with reefs, Tobago’s underwater rainforests provide days of endless exploration, with snorkel strapped to face, or peering through the goldfish bowl-like glass bottom of a tour boat. Tobago has some of the Caribbean’s best scuba diving – expert divers will be charmed, and beginners will find this is a wonderful place to start. Stay on top of the water on a stand up paddle board, sea kayak or surf board – and catch the breeze by windsurfing or even kite surfing your way around the shore.

Wreck, reef and drift dives are all possible, depending on experience. The wreck of the MV Maverick lies 30m down on the ocean floor off the west coast – it’s recommended for intermediate divers. The reefs off Castara and Mt Irvine Bay are great options for beginners, with towering pinnacles and neon shoals of fish. Alternatively, Kelliston Drain, near Little Tobago, has the largest known brain coral in the world at over 5m across. Advanced divers will be wowed by Sisters Rocks – five rock pinnacles known for attracting manta rays (particularly Nov-Feb).

Half or full day resort dives are a great taster session, teaching you all the basics in a hotel pool before heading into the ocean. PADI open water and advanced open water certifications are also available – courses last two to five days. Professional qualifications are also possible. Always look for a fully certified operator – a good place to start is the Association of Tobago Dive Operators. There is a recompression chamber in Roxborough for divers who get into difficulties.

Tobago’s Underwater Carnival is not literally a submarine parade – it’s a week-long event each July celebrating underwater activities and biodiversity. There are underwater photography seminars, fish identification, kids activities and introductory dives – this is an awesome experience for anyone – diver or not – to get more involved in the world under the sea.

Paddling and swimming is all very well, but for that true Pirates of the Caribbean experience, get stuck in with a full day at sea – and preferably one that has involves sailing, of course. The Island Girl catamaran departs from Mt Irvine Bay each morning, to spend around seven hours cruising the Caribbean Coast; seas are generally calm but you’ll still be bobbing around once you step back on dry land – though whether that’s the waves or the rum it’s hard to tell…

Island Girl offers a balance of adventure and relaxation: visiting bays which can only be reached by boat, snorkelling offshore, and – if fortune finds you – gasping at pods of dolphins frolicking in the deep blue waters. The 600TT tour includes an open bar stocked with Caribbean favourites, staffed by an overly generous barman. Even more impressively, there’s a full, fresh lunch cooked on an onboard barbecue, while you snorkel to your heart’s content in Emerald Bay. Low-slung tanning nets on the front of the catamaran allow sun-seekers to get their fix, and as the sail is hoisted, you may just find yourself thinking this is the best place in the world to be.

Pigeon Point is the center for all things wind-powered. The famous trade winds are consistent from October to May, with stronger winds in November to January, which is the best time to come for a full blown (no pun intended) wind surfing vacation, as well as one-off beginner lessons.

Surfing also takes place here further out on Pigeon Point’s reef, although the wilder waters of Mount Irvine are where the best breaks are found – seven metre swells are not uncommon in the right season. There are smaller waves ideal for beginners though – and local instructors to teach you how to ride them. The sandy bottom also makes this a safer choice for inexperienced boarders. September to May have the most powerful waves for those who really want to test their skills.

You can kite surf at Pigeon Point and Lowlands Beach – with a more thrilling option catching the wind from Nylon Pool all the way back to Pigeon Point. Intensive kite surfing courses last three days – to make sure you’ve really got to grips with the basics – or the advanced jumps.

Radical Sports Tobago, based in Pigeon Point offers kite surf and windsurf lessons with experienced instructors and brand new equipment.