Caret Bay
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate to Expert
- Skill Level
- Swell
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Caret Bay is a fairly exposed reef break on the north side of St. Thomas, known for lefts and rights over a coral/reef bottom. The wave quality is commonly described as very good to excellent, with winter conditions favoring fast, powerful performance—often with hollow or peeling sections depending on the swell angle. Surfing is best during the cooler-season swell window, with multiple sources pointing to a November to May surf season (and one also noting October as a best month). Performance is tied to north to north-northwest to west/northwest swell directions, while the key wind setup is south winds turning offshore for this site, which helps groom the wave faces and keep them clean. Access is a major part of the experience: reaching the beach requires a steep neighborhood road and then descending a steep trail. Parking is extremely limited, so early arrival is important. Several safety notes emphasize that the approach is over reef with sharp hazards—shallow reef sections, sharp rocks/coral, submerged rocks, and sea urchins—plus additional risk from currents such as rip currents on larger north-swell days. Overall, conditions are described as “usually a safe bet” in terms of surf reliability, but the spot is still not appropriate for everyone: reef complexity and changing current make it more suited to intermediate-to-expert surfers. The spot is also described as hidden/overlooked, with locally protective behavior—so sessions should be respectful, particularly during peak swell events.
- Winter reef-break consistency with offshore south wind grooming
- Lefts and rights over a coral/reef bottom
- Secluded access with limited parking
- Currents and shallow-reef hazards require careful entry/exit
- Consistent winter reef surfing with offshore south winds
- Lefts and rights over a reef break, working at all tide stages
- Secluded with rarely crowded conditions
- Warm tropical water temperatures year-round
- Reef hazards: shallow reef, sharp rocks/coral, and submerged rocks
- Steep, slippery access trail (especially after rain)
- No on-site lifeguards and rescue not indicated at the spot
- Currents/rip-current risk increases during larger north swells
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S
- Offshore directions
- S
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — South winds are associated with trade-wind patterns across the area; spot wind is described as offshore from the south for better surf face/grooming.
- Reliability
- fair (spot-level) / 150+ days per year (reported reliability)
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Providers disagree slightly: one describes moderate gusts, while another describes steadier wind. Treated here as moderate gustiness.
- Best Months
- November, December, January, February, March, April, May
- Shadow Zones
- The bay is somewhat sheltered by high terrain to the east and south, creating wind shadows near the shore.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach with reef/coral bottom underneath.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Flat — One provider rates it flat most of the year; another describes medium wave size. Overall the spot varies seasonally with winter swell.
- Launch
- Small — Narrow sandy beach, but water entry becomes rocky/reef sections quickly.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Moderate difficulty due to reef entry and steep access.
Through the year
Rarely crowded year-round; locals may show up during peak swell events.
June to November (hurricane risk and highest rainfall typically around September and October)
By sport
What to expect for each.
A fairly exposed reef break with lefts and rights over coral/reef sections. Best performance aligns with winter north swells and offshore south winds.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- N, NNE, NE, ENE, W, WNW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — Works at all tide stages.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Described as exposed with an overall open north-coast feel.
- Wind Effect
- South winds are offshore for this north-shore reef break, helping groom/clean the wave faces.
- Bigger Swell
- Can hold significant size but may become heavy and challenging with strong current; may also increase rip-current risk during larger north swells.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Also described as good by another provider; treat as excellent overall.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Also described as moderate by one provider; overall best represented as powerful winter reef performance.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — One provider calls it hollow; another calls it peeling. Treated as hollow/hollow-peeling.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — One source says fast; another describes medium peel speed. Kept as fast with note of variability.
- Ride Length
- Long — Ride length reported as long (150–300 meters) and also as typical ~75 meters depending on swell angle.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–300 m
- Ride Length Details
- Reported ranges include 50–100 meters and 150–300 meters depending on swell angle and conditions.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Caret Bay in the full forecast view.
Caret Bay wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 9–16 ktsGusts 20 kts
- Direction
- ESE118°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 2616 kts
- Windy days
- 6/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.8–1.6 m9s period
- Temperature
- 28–30 °C
Over the next 7 days, Caret Bay is forecast for daytime winds of 9–16 kts, peaking around 16 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 20 kts. The prevailing direction is ESE. Waves run 0.8–1.6 m with a period of about 9s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Shallow reef running most of the length of the beach
- Sharp rocks / sharp coral bottom
- Sea urchins
- Isolated location
- Steep trail access
- Occasional rip currents can form during large north swells
- Strong currents during high swell
- Submerged rocks / coral heads
- A distinctive large rock sitting in the water
- Water entry is quickly rocky/reef sections
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards indicated.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Providers indicate no rescue available specifically at the spot.
- Emergency Info
- No on-site rescue is indicated. Emergency services are available in Charlotte Amalie, but response times to this side of the island can be slow. The area emergency number is 911.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Described as locally protective; one source characterizes it as mild localism. Combined as moderate with community-protective behavior.
Rules of the spot
Be respectful to locals.
- Be respectful to locals.
- Access involves a steep path/trail that can be slippery after rain.
- Watch out for sea urchins when entering or exiting over the reef.
- Locals are protective of the beach—be respectful, especially when surfing.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Charlotte Amalie
- Nearest Town
- Charlotte Amalie
- Parking
- Small parking spot for just a couple cars at the trailhead after driving down a steep neighborhood road.
- Access
- Drive down a steep neighborhood road to a trailhead with parking for just a couple cars, then descend a steep trail to the beach.
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Various villas and rentals are available on the north side of the island, though not directly on the beach.
- Food & Drink
- No facilities on-site; bring your own water and supplies.
- Equipment Rental:
- No rentals at the beach; surf shops in town/near major marinas.
- Gear Storage
- Limited storage available via specific water-sports centers and private accommodations.
- Gear Repair
- Basic board repairs are available via local surf shops; technical kite/wing repairs are more limited (if needed).
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Charlotte Amalie and the surrounding area serve as the central hub of St. Thomas, combining active water sports with historic Danish-era architecture and strong tourism/dining offerings.
A long crescent of white sand with calm, beautiful swimming waters.
An 18th-century Danish watchtower overlooking the harbor, linked to colonial and pirate history.
Historical step-streets built by the Danes to navigate the hilly terrain.
Aquarium and marine park with underwater observatory views and animal encounters.
A neighborhood known for seafood and fine dining.
An aerial tramway with panoramic views over the Charlotte Amalie harbor and surrounding islands.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Caret Bay?
The best overall months at Caret Bay are November, December, January, February, March, April, May.
Which wind directions work at Caret Bay?
Caret Bay works with S winds. Offshore directions are S.
What skill level is Caret Bay suitable for?
Caret Bay suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Expert.