Travel Agent - June 23, 2008 - (Page XVI) WATERSPORTS AGENDA More ways to enjoy the waters of the Caribbean include (pictured here) kayaking in Cozumel, windsurfing in the U.S. Virgin Islands and riding a WaveRunner in Antigua. the caribbean beckons clients to PLAY IN THE WATER he Caribbean’s vibrant hues of blue and green will entice your clients to try a variety of fun water sports that will challenge, thrill and entertain them during their vacation. Plus, splashy sports make great photo opportunities. Snorkeling is the most popular water sport. One snorkeling hotspot is Buck Island Reef National Monument, a small sand cay surrounded by lush coral gardens off St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. There are more than 250 species of fish in this expansive marine sanctuary, as well as elkhorn coral, sponges and crustaceans. A snorkeling trail helps swimmers identify the coral. Additional snorkeling trails can be found at Trunk Bay on St. John, USVI; Shoal Bay East on Anguilla; Folkestone Marine Park on Barbados; Curacao Underwater Marine Park on Curacao; Well’s Bay on Saba; and White House Reef and Smith’s Reef on Provo, Turks and Caicos. There is an underwater sculpture park for snorkeling at Moilinere Bay off Grenada with 65 works of art by Jason de Caires Taylor. www.underwatersculpture.com A zippy way to go snorkeling in Bermuda is by water scooter. On this T Blue Water Divers & Watersports tour from Elbow Beach Hotel, your clients can cruise to snorkel sites like James Bond, and peruse the Pollockshields shipwreck, a 323-foot steamer in 15 to 40 feet of water. www.divebermuda.com The calm waters in Bermuda’s nearly enclosed Great Sound offer good conditions for water skiing. The Bermuda Waterski Centre is open May through September with slalom skis, trick skis, knee boards, wake boards and tubes. 441-234-3354 For more speed, recommend the jet-ski tour of St. Martin/St. Maarten through Caraibe Watersports. The safari departs Anse Marcel heading south, passing Marigot and Phillipsburg before completing the round-island circuit. 011-590-59087-6790 With 20 mile-per-hour winds yearround, Aruba is one of the best windsurfing spots in the world. The flat, waist-deep water at Fisherman’s Huts on the west coast is a great place to learn the sport. The Aruba Hi-Winds World Challenge, one of the most popular amateur events in the world, takes place every year in early July. www.aruba-hiwinds.org For kitesurfing, the recognized hotspot is Cabarete, Dominican Republic, with steady, year-round winds averaging 15 to 20 miles per hour. Check out Kitexcite, which offers lessons with radio helmets for instructor feedback, kiteboard towing, offshore boat training and a rescue boat. www.kitexcite.com Parasailing will enable your clients to get 400 feet above the sea for a highaltitude perspective. Participants take off from a platform on the boat, and can return PREFACE I to the platform without getting wet. Suggest Red Sail Sports on Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman with clear, calm water. www.redsail.com The most renowned break for surfing is Rincon, Puerto Rico, site of the 1968 Surfing World Championships. In the winter, Atlantic swells produce consistent five- to six-foot-high rollers that occasionally reach up 20 feet. Rincon Surf School is the place for anyone who wants to learn the moves. www.rinconsurfschool.com The best bet in the Caribbean for sailing instruction and boat selection is Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands. There’s a large, protected harbor and a fleet of more than 100 watercraft of all types and sizes included in room rates, plus fun weekly regattas. www.beyc.com Bonefishing is excellent year-round on the shallow flats in The Bahamas, peaking in March and April. Your clients can learn how to fly-cast and land the fighting grey ghosts at the Andros Island Bonefishing Club, where trophy-sized bonefish exceed 10 pounds. www.androsbonefishing.com. I —Kathleen M. Mangan XVI http://www.redsail.com http://www.divebermuda.com http://www.rinconsurfschool.com http://www.underwatersculpture.com http://www.aruba-hiwinds.org http://www.beyc.com http://www.kitexcite.com http://www.androsbonefishing.com
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