Check our list of hotels that are popular for the surfers who visit the island
Whether you are a beginner or advanced surfer there is something here for you, also available are surf lessons and surf tours.  Even the most advanced surfer know that there is nothing like local knowledge of a break.  Zed is the man to talk considered by many to be one of the top and most knowledgeable surfers on the island he can organize a surf tour for you to suit your skill level.

The premier Surf Spot in the island is the Soup Bowl, which is like a magnet, if there is swell out there the Soup Bowl will catch it.  The east coast boasts the most powerful and biggest waves. Sitting on the eastern coast of the island this is where the Atlantic unloads it’s power.  With an offshore wind this is the spot every surfer dreams of riding.  Careful this is an advanced spot and should not be taken lightly.

The north and west coasts of Barbados have some great spots as well, like Mullins, Sandy Lane, Batts Rock and Tropicana to name a few, but these only go off with a north swell.

On the South there are breaks like South Point, Freights, Brandons and Surfers Point.  Check our listings of Surf Breaks for more information on these and other beaks on the island.
The warm waters of the Caribbean and laid back lifestyle of the people coupled with the stunning tropical scenery make this a surf destination well worth your time.  Beware many who make the trip return again and again and again……..

While Barbados has swell all year the best time for solid ground swell is from October to March when waves can range anywhere from  2 to 12 ft in the north and east of the island and 2 to 8 ft for other breaks.  This is also the time for the West to cash in on north swells. From April to September the surf is between 2 to 6ft, coupled with lighter winds,  especially in the summer this can make for near perfect glassy conditions – ideal for a great surfing vacation.

In shallow water just a few meters offshore lies a band of eye-catching reefs, while further out, in the 60 to 120 foot zone another band of coral reefs teams with all sizes of fish, brilliant in hues and decoration, swimming around you in dizzying numbers, almost bouncing off your wetsuit.

In the thousands of little nooks along the wall you will spy delicate pencil-thin blue-ribbon eels, clear and reddish-striped coral shrimp, lurking lobsters and scuttling crabs. In deeper waters will really get your heart started, as if it wasn’t hammering with adrenal jazz already.

Bunaken Marine Park has become an important example of how Sulawesi, and the rest of Indonesia, can work to protect its natural resources.

All visitors to the Bunaken National Park (divers and non-divers) are required to pay an entrance fee, in accordance with North Sulawesi Provincial Government Provincial Law Number 9/2002. The entrance fee for locals is Rp2,500 a day and for foreign visitors is Rp 50,000 per daily ticket (approximately US$6), or Rp 150,000 (approximately US$17) for a waterproof plastic entrance tag (can be attached to your diving gear) valid for the full calendar year.
Bunaken is about 45-60 minutes by boat from Manado. Most resorts will arrange transfers from the airport for their guests. Alternatively, a public boat leaves daily except Sunday at 2PM, or you can charter a boat anytime.

Manado is well connected with most Indonesian cities. Daily flights arrive from Jakarta and Surabaya in Java, Ujung Pandang in South Sulawesi, Denpasar in Bali, Balikpapan in Kalimantan as well as Sorong in Irian Jaya. Connecting flights from other cities fly usually via Jakarta or Ujung Pandang.

Photographers will compete in 7 themed categories to win over $30,000 in prizes, including photo equipment, dive gear, and premium dive travel packages to some of the top photo destinations in Indonesia and beyond. Indonesia trips include Bali, Fak Fak, Komodo, Lembeh, Manado, and Raja Empat. Additional dive packages include Papua New Guinea and The Bahamas. The contest includes a category for images that focus on conservation and the marine environment, one specifically for entries taken by compact digital cameras, and one specifically for Indonesian entrants.

A panel of esteemed judges including leading professional underwater photographers, cinematographers and magazine editors will select winners after the Jan 15, 2008 deadline. Winners will be announced online, published by our media partners worldwide and exhibited during the DEEP Indonesia Expo in Jakarta, Indonesia (March 27 – 29, 2009).

As with all Underwatercompetition.com events, 15% of entry proceeds will be donated to marine conservation efforts.

Categories

Compact Cameras
Underwater images of all kinds, taken by point ‘n shoot, non-SLR digital cameras. In this category, no entries from scanned slides or digital SLRs will be accepted. Although there exist many great underwater images taken by point ‘n shoot cameras, it is often difficult for them to compete with SLRs when it comes to image quality. In this category, digital manipulation is allowed, but as we are not running a digital manipulation contest, you should exercise care in the decisions that you make.

Divers
Best image featuring a scuba diver underwater.

Animal Portrait
Best image featuring a portrait of an animal underwater.

Animal Behavior
Best image featuring underwater animal behavior.

Reefscapes
Best image featuring the rich reefs around the world.

Environment and Conservation
Topside and underwater images of all kinds, taken by any camera, with a focus on the marine or lake environment and conservation. Subject matter must address a marine or lake-related environmental issue. The goal in this category is to convey a real-world message.

Indonesia Residents
Open to Indonesian residents only

Competition Judges

- Jason Heller

- Eric Cheng

- Stephen Frink

- David Espinosa

For further informations, please visit DEEP Indonesia International Underwater Photo Competition 2009