Josh Burke
offers a wide range of supervised hikes with knowledgeable Guides throughout the year and the Hash Harriers offer a combination of walking, running and socializing through visionary and previously unchartered terrain. The Hash is extremely popular and can be as energetic as you want it to be and as social! As with all Hash Clubs, there is always a friendly welcome for visitors.
IN AND OUT OF THE WATER Swimming is part and parcel of life on a tropical island and many local swimmers took their first strokes at the Aquatic Centre in the Sir Garfield Sobers Complex at Wildey. The Aquatic Centre is a hive of activity most days and several swimming clubs provide tuition for the beginners and hone the skills of the best performers. Like any sport dedication and focus separates the best from the rest and Barbados has been fortunate to produce many excellent swimmers down the years, who have distinguished themselves at the highest level at Pan-Am, Commonwealth and Olympic Games. The Aquatic Centre has also hosted regional competitions and provided excellent facilities for warm weather training for overseas swimmers. Only the best swimmers graduate to Diving, although Snorkelling can be a lot of fun in shallow waters. The island is surrounded by coral reef and that means both disciplines can easily be accommodated. The West Coast is ideal for Snorkelling as many of the reefs are close to the shore
and within easy reach of the beach. Diving requires a lot more skill and supervision and many visitors have taken the opportunity to qualify as PADI divers with tuition and classes at several local diving clubs. Dive Hightide (www.divehightide.com) is strongly recommended for their expertise, safety and all round efficiency. Barbados has several outstanding wrecks and Carlisle Bay holds particular importance as many of them lie in shallow water 20-30 feet below the surface. Scuba Diving skills can be acquired quickly through the Hightide classes where the instructors claim they can have novices diving within a few hours tuition. At a less energetic level most of the catamaran cruises offer swimming with the turtles as part of their idyllic trips along the West Coast and this allows swimmers to get into the water and feed the turtles and swim around them. They only eat fish so don’t be afraid! The Water Polo Club is always keen to widen and expand its membership and holds exhibition games throughout the year. Small in numbers but huge in passion for their sport, the water polo players usually play at the Aquatic Centre. In the old days we are told they played in the open sea at the Yacht Club. For those who enjoy game fishing there are a number of charter boats available for hire or simply join some other visitors and enjoy a relaxing 163