The beauty of Grenada – and yes, the island does get waves!

When surfers mention the waves and surfing beaches of the Caribbean chatter generally favours the more well known islands of Barbados, Puerto Rico and the BVI’s.

And yet it stands to reason that the whole of this island chain receives its fair share of waves – after all, every island has coastlines that are open to swells no matter how short lived these waves may be.

None of the more popular islands in the chain is more under the radar when it comes to surfing as that of Grenada.

Mention idyllic beaches and the famous products of nutmeg, mace or rum and Grenada is usually at the very forefront, but talk about surfing in Grenada and most people don’t have a clue – or at least very limited information.

*** Note – this is not an attempt to expose secret surf spots in Grenada. There are no secret spots as no one really surfs here. This post is to hopefully shed some light on the surfing and SUP opportunities that can be found in a stunning part of the world – The Spice Isle – Grenada – West Indies ***

Yep! That’s a wave…in Grenada – Prickly Point, Lance aux Epines

With its popular American university, Grenada does have a small number of surfers who know what the island can deliver, but this group tends to stick to the visible waves that can be found near to their accommodation in the Lance aux Epines area – mostly.

Grenada offers a wealth of possibilities for the exploring surfer. It will however take some dedication and commitment to find all of what is available.

Below is a small guide as to what is currently known about waves on Grenada – from personal experience. Some breaks are applicable to traditional surfing while some are more suited to SUP (standup paddle) surfing.

Some of Grenada’s waves are very fickle and some work more frequently. All though, deserve to be checked every so often as you never quite know what you’re potentially missing.

Grand Anse area

Grand Anse south (in front of Dive Grenada/Flamboyant Hotel)

The inside southern section of the world famous Grand Anse Beach has a shore break that offers short sharp waves breaking right on the beach. Even with a small wind swell it’s possible to snag some quick rides – so long as you don’t mind drilling your board up the beach – inflatable SUPs are good here as are skimboards.

Grand Anse shorebreak action – SUP surfing Grenada

The main peak starts to form just outside where the Dive Grenada boat is usually moored. With bigger swells another peak breaks  just in front of the levee run off to the right and a further peak can be found nestled in the southern corner of the bay.

This needs a moderate pulse to get going but can serve up some decent lefts – although the end section closes out in a relatively heavy shore dump.

You will need to watch out for the rocks off the point and in front of the levee as well as the Dive Grenada boat and associated dive guests.

At the end of your session you can always grab an ice cold Carib beer in the Owl Bar right beside the waters edge.

SUP surfing – Grand Anse, Grenada

Quarantine Point

At the end of Quarantine Point, a good half mile paddle offshore, is a left and a right peak breaking either side of the headland.

The right breaks into Morne Rouge Bay (also known as BBC) with the left peeling into Grand Anse.

It’s impossible to check these waves from the beach as the shape of the coastline obscures your view. It’s simply a case of paddling out to find out. You can walk to the end of Quarantine Point and look below but then there is no way down.

The inside section of Quarantine Point – the best waves are round the furthest rocks you can see in the pic – a long way out!

If there is some form of white water bouncing along the point then it could be worth a look.

The right hand wave that peels into Morne Rouge is the pick of the pair and can get quite hollow on take off.

Fi paddling round Quarantine Point into Morne Rouge Bay – the point bends away and you can’t actually see the take off point. 

Extremely shallow with big rocks and coral heads make this an advanced spot. Also, if it goes awry then chances are no one will see you!

The left into Grand Anse can be fun and if the waves turn out to be rubbish then you could always just marvel at the stunning marine life swimming around the reef below you…

Cherry Hill (next to the Cruise Ship dock)

Cherry Hill is a hidden gem in the Caribbean. A fierce right hander that breaks over a rocky point and along a coral shelf next to the cruise ship dock to the east of Grenada’s capital – St. George’s.

Cherry Hill, Grenada – flat on this day but you can still get an idea of the set-up

A fast wave that peels and offers a meaty hollow take off section, Cherry Hill can throw you onto the sharp sea bed without a moments notice.

As fickle as Cherry Hill can be, it’s always worth checking if there’s even a tiny hint of a wave at the south of Grand Anse. You could be forgiven that as a south facing break, Cherry Hill doesn’t receive much swell but for some unknown reason it gets more surf than you would think.

Take a SUP and a surfboard and you may score.

Watch out for hazards in the water such as twisted bits of discarded metal and other assorted obstacles. Apparently sharks are also ever present.

Read about the 2010 Cherry Hill surf competition here –

http://www.allatsea.net/caribbean/first-surfing-contest-in-grenada-in-spring-2010/

Dr. Grooms Beach/The Beach House

The Beach House Restaurant is famed as being the best on the island and offers a fantastic al fresco dining experience right on the beach.

To the north is a lumpy right hand wave that wedges slightly off the cliffs. It needs a moderate to large swell to start breaking but can get quite good when it’s on.

Looking north towards the Beach House with the Rex Grenadian also in shot

Breaking over reef and pushing you into the corner it will pay to be aware of your position and not get too close to the rocks here.

Finish your session with a delicious meal at the Beach House.

Magazine Beach (in front of the Aquarium Restaurant)

The Aquarium Restaurant is another popular eatery on the island offering visitors a fantastic vista to gaze upon while quaffing a Carib or munching on some deliciously cooked food.

Right out front is a left point that can throw up some meaty faces.

Magazine Beach, Grenada – the point set up in front of the Aquarium Restaurant

Even on the smallest of wind swells this spot can have a wave. You will have enough room to get in two or three turns on a good day before the wave closes out on the beach.

Longboards and SUPs are best for this spot although bigger days will allow shortboards to be ridden.

Round off proceedings with a meal and/or rum punch in the Aquarium.

True Blue area

Head over to the west coast of Grenada and you’re presented with a multitude of tiny peninsulas that stick out into the Atlantic Ocean. It’s these jutting pieces of land that you should be searching along while in Grenada.

There are a couple of beaches right at the southern tip of the island but the airport pretty much puts paid to exploring these as they are inaccessible by land – you could try a boat though!

From the Maurice Bishop Memorial Highway, head south and take the True Blue turning before following the road all the way to the end. Here you will find limited parking in a residential area.

A small gap allows access to a quiet beach that has a right hand point wrapping into the lee of the wind.

This wave is well inside the sheltered waters of True Blue Bay and as such needs a pumping swell to set it off. Still, it’s always worth checking when there’s any stiff breeze around as wind swell wraps onto the point as well.

Shallow water with urchin infested rocks add to the fun and games.

Across the other side of the harbour are two islands. There is potential here for some rides although these spots remain unknown as yet.

Lance aux Epines area

Prickly Point

Prickly Point is by far the most (known) consistent and used spot in Grenada. This is due in part to American university having its accommodation only a stones throw from the wave so any visiting surfing students tend to use the break as their local.

The wave is a left hand point break that peels over coral reef which is relatively flat – although in places coral heads do still poke up. On bigger days you can snag some rights but these usually close out.

Turn up at Prickly Point and you may be confronted with this type of sight…

If there’s a strong breeze then usually a wave of some description will wrap around the point and due to the refraction of the wave will be cleaner on the southern side than the more onshore north facing coast.

With a decent ground swell the place turns on and offers relatively steep and fast carve-able faces that are super fun.

A surfer bashes the left at Prickly Point – Grenada

Prickly never gets that busy as there just aren’t that many surfers on Grenada – in fact on weekdays, you may get it all to yourself as many of the students will undoubtedly have classes.

Access can be found from the main road just before an accommodation complex on the right. An open expanse of grass can used for parking before making your way through the hotel to the waters edge. It’s then a 5 minute paddle out to the take off zone.

If all else fails during your wave search on the island then Prickly Point could be your saviour.

Riding round the point – end of the left at Prickly Point, Grenada W.I.

Mount Hartman

Mount Hartman Bay is another typical Grenadian spot where the wave bends around the point onto a reef and creates a fun left.

This is not surfed as much as Prickly Point as it’s the next peninsular up but it’s always worth a look.

Woburn

Woburn has a few offshore reefs that are quite exposed to the ever present Trade Winds. They do hold bigger swells than some of the inner reefs on Grenada and on lighter wind days with swell are worth checking out.

You will need a boat, ski or SUP to access them though.

Grenville area

Hope Bay

Hope Bay is a horse shoe shaped sandy bay that features an inner left and an offshore bombie that breaks off a little island in the lee of the wind.

It’s a long paddle over to the island and would be worth getting hold of a ski or boat – although it’s probably doable on a SUP if you haven’t got any motorised craft access.

Offshore left in Hope Bay – Grenada

Beach access is tricky as it’s down a muddy track that isn’t sign posted which is just after you turn along the Hope Bay Road. Keep your eyes peeled on the right.

Grenville Bay

Grenville is the second largest town on Grenada and is flanked by a huge bay that offers a variety of different off shore reef set ups.

The ever present Trade Winds could present problems in terms of scoring clean waves but the whole area most likely has some undiscovered secrets just waiting to be unearthed.

Grenville Bay – wave hunting in Grenada W.I.

These are just some of the surfing breaks that can be found on Grenada – there are undoubtedly many more. All you need is a boat and/or a 4X4 Jeep and a keen nose for surf. Who know’s what is waiting to be discovered…

*** Note – this is not an attempt to expose secret surf spots in Grenada. There are no secret spots as no one really surfs here. This post is to hopefully shed some light on the surfing and SUP opportunities that can be found in a stunning part of the world – The Spice Isle – Grenada – West Indies ***