For much of the year, surfing is confined to the wild east (pictured above) and semi-wild south coasts, where the constant Trade Winds ensure that there are at least some waves to bodysurf at any time of year. When the NE ground swell curls round the island (Oct–March) the East Coast waves become even more imposing but even the usually calm West Coast perks up, attracting surfers to the likes of Batt’s Rock and Brandon’s beaches.

The ‘Soup Bowl’ (above) is the island’s most famous wave; highly praised by all-time international surfing legend Kelly Slater, it rolls in from the Atlantic, crashing onto the reef at Bathsheba, though it is only for advanced practitioners. Beginners and intermediate-level surfers tend to head for the South Coast – Silver Sands, South Point and Freights Bay – where several surf schools are located.