Half Moon Bay is the main beach on Antigua's East Coast, set inside a National Park that doubles as a relaxed family day out with good snorkelling reefs close by. The reef off the northern headland shapes the surf here, feeding a sucky take-off that runs into fast, punchy walls with a bit of speed and power. Waves peel both left and right, and swell can wrap into the bay and clean up a little. Just offshore, Smith Island hides a few extra waves for anyone exploring by boat.
When It Works
The bank favours swell from the northeast (NE), though anything from northeast through southeast (NE-SE) will find the reef, which is fairly reliable at pulling in an east swell. It breaks over sand and works from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft, so it needs a bit of size to clear the reef and will happily handle overhead swell. Consistency is moderate, so it pays to watch for the days when it lines up.
Wind and Tide
Look for northwest (NW) offshore wind to keep the walls clean. It can work through low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
The lineup stays fairly quiet, and the mellow setting gives beginners plenty of room to find their feet.
