Done water-skiing? Try jet-blading. Sometimes known as jet-boarding, it involves strapping on a sort of water-powered jetpack that allows you to hover across the surface of the sea like a Speedo-clad Iron Man. As complex as that sounds, it’s simple enough to get to grips with in an hour-long taster session – just make sure you’ve got someone on the beach filming your heroic feat for posterity.
Bridgetown, www.jetbladebarbados.com
‘Darling it’s better, down where it’s wetter’ sang Sebastian the crab in ‘The Little Mermaid’. For proof, try this offbeat experience, which sees visitors don a fish tail and make a splash in a picturesque rocky lagoon. 45-minute sessions are split between swim time and a photoshoot, and there are costumes to fit those of all ages and sizes, with shark fins and pirate costumes for those who don’t see themselves as a mer-person.
Hastings, www.mermaidbarbados.com
The Caribbean Sea’s coral reefs are home to all manner of amazing marine life. If you’ve done snorkelling, get a deeper, darker perspective with a night-time submarine tour. Atlantis’s 50-person vessel packs a powerful spotlight to help you spot nocturnal predators, and the 90-minute tour is followed by a cocktail reception where you can learn more from the crew.
Bridgetown, barbados.atlantissubmarines.com
With locations in St Tropez, Monte Carlo and Dubai, swanky beach club Nikki Beach is sort of a big deal. The Barbados outpost opened earlier this year and occupies an acre and a half of the island’s gorgeous Gold Coast. Food, drink and facilities are all first class. Don’t pass up on the opportunity for a mojito – made with local Mount Gay rum – from the swim-up bar.
Colleton, www.nikkibeach.com
A great place to take the pulse of the island, ‘the Gap’, as locals know it, is a 1.5km stretch of shops, bars and restaurants on the island’s south coast. Try the Old Jamm Inn for DJ-led hedonism or for a more chilled-out vibe, drop into The Cove Barbados to catch live bands playing reggae and calypso tunes.
Oistins
