Sporty Adventures in St. Barth's: Jet Skiing, Scuba Diving, Deep-Sea Fishing & more

"Jet skiing is one of those activities to be prepared for ... goggles are a must, and the waters just outside Gustavia Harbor can have some pretty significant seas," warns Deb Ryley of Boston, one of Suzanne's Insiders and a frequent visitor to St. Barth's. "It's not for the faint of heart but so much fun!" NB: Marine Service in Gustavia also offers all sorts of nautical and water sports activities, including scuba diving trips, snorkeling tours, motoryacht charters, and sailing trips.

For a day of scuba diving and exploring coral reefs, caves and inlets teeming with exotic fish, Christiane Celle of Clic photo gallery recommends Splash Diving Center. Ask them to take you to the two boat wrecks. Splash offers all levels of PADI classes with bi-lingual instructors, and they offer snorkeling and fishing excursions too.

"Driving seems to be a sport on the island, with people driving everything from SMART cars to scooters to ATVs and Jeeps," says Deb Ryley, who warns that driving in St. Barth's is not for the faint of heart: "The narrow roads there make roads in Ireland look like highways! There are warnings there about about how hazardous driving is—that's an understatement. Everyone tailgates; watch out for the scooters, motorcycles and ATVs as they will pass you at anytime and place. Many of the roads require one driver to pull to the side and let the other go by. Adjust your side view mirrors, ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS pull them in while driving along the roads and when parking in those tight spots in Gustavia."

"But I have to say the driving there is rather entertaining, and of course there is much natural beauty to be seen. One recommendation is to drive mostly back roads, they may be narrow but there's congestion and fewer tailgaters. The views are beautiful from all the hilltops, but my favorite spot to pull off the road and enjoy is Grand Fond. The road is very close to the ocean and the area is secluded, with farmland on one side and a rocky shore on the other—really a gorgeous spot. There are a couple of tiny beaches that you can hike to, but beware of the footing."

"The key to a car rental on St Barth's is the car itself. You need something small and powerful, small for parking in some of the smallest places you've ever seen, and powerful to get up some of the steepest hills you've ever seen. My tip: rent a Mini Cooper, automatic transmission convertible, or a SMART car, which is the smallest vehicle on the island. AVIS  is on the island for those that are Avis Preferred Members. I've used Turbé and TopLoc. In general the rental agencies are all pretty good."

There's not much in the way of golf on hilly St. Barth's, but golfers who simply can't take a holiday without a day on the links can hop a private plane and do a round at a top course in nearby St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Croix, Anguilla, St. Thomas, St. Martin, or St. Croix. Your F.A.A. certified pilot and guide is PGA pro and former champion Emmanuel Dussart, who has partnerships with several top clubs in the region and can secure tee times for you. Three people max per excursion.

Explore the northwestern part of the island and  Flamands Beach with St. Barth Equitation, run by French equestrian Coralie Fournier. Based at Ranch des Flamands, the center has a dressage ring and ponies for kids, and they offer guided rides down the hill to Flamands Beach.