Surf Guide

This is basically the reason you came to Barbados. To sit within eyeshot of the Bowl, watch its every mood, and choose the most opportune times to take her on with all your might. Bathsheba is the kind of place that can be blown out at sunrise and glass off at 11:00 a.m., so going on a vigil is required with Soup Bowl. Many a nap has been ruined by the news that the Bowl went ballistic during the midday hours. When it is on and sizeable Soup Bowl is something to be reckoned with. Deep, thick, and grinding, this wave has lots of water behind it, and slowing down enough for the barrel is sometimes the challenge. And if you catch it offshore, which is less rare than most people think, you are in for a real surprise.While north swells produce the heaviest barrels and are coveted by top locals and traveling surfers alike, the summer season can produce fun, glassy easterly swells when tropical lows pass to the north of the island. Soup Bowl can also produce fun, rideable waves from the ever-present trade winds. Locals usually ignore the spot when it's windy and peaky, so you can often find yourself surfing alone at these times, having a good time catching waves by yourself.

Ability Level

Intermediate - Advanced

BegIntAdv

Intermediate to advanced

Local Vibe

Doable

WelcomingIntimidating

Locals are aggressive when it's on, but if it's your turn, you go. As always, humility and respect go a long way.

Crowd Factor

Moderate

MellowHeavy

Can get crowded on weekends or on the arrival of any swell.

Spot Rating

Fun

PoorPerfect

When it is good it is really good -- turns and barrels.

Shoulder Burn

Medium

LightExhausting

Can we lots of work on bigger swells, like hurricanes.

Water Quality

Clean

CleanDirty

Pretty good.

Ideal Surf Conditions

Swell Direction

N, NE

Wind

South, Southwest

Surf Height

Head high-double overhead+

Tide

Mid, incoming