Water Activities on the Outer Banks

Try surf fishing, cast from a pier, head offshore on a deep sea trip, kayak through the Outer Banks, or dive into water sports that bring you close to the Atlantic.

Outer Banks Water Activities

The Outer Banks were shaped by wind, water, and weather. The same natural forces that create the classic beach-day setting are what make it possible. Offshore, two major ocean currents meet: the cool Labrador arriving from the North and the warm Gulf Stream moving up from the South. That convergence fills local waters with fish, giving visitors plenty of ways to spend time with a line in the water, whether from shore, offshore, in the sound, or out in the open blue. You can also bring a snorkel, fins, or floats for time in the water, climb aboard a boat, rent the water sport equipment you like best, or book a water tour to see the OBX from another angle.

Over vast stretches of time, the islands were formed and refined beneath the water, shaped by the steady influence of the breeze. The result is more than 100 miles of beaches across islands one mile wide, with much of the landscape protected from development and set aside for recreation and wildlife. With water always nearby, every spot feels close to the experience.