Rehoboth Bay, on the western side of Dewey Beach, is ideal for wind-powered watersports. The bay is shallow, the water is calm compared to the ocean, and the prevailing southwest wind that builds through the afternoon is reliable enough to make this a genuine windsurfing and kiteboarding destination. Several outfitters in and around Dewey Beach rent boards and offer lessons; if you have your own gear, access points along the bay side of Coastal Highway put you on the water quickly.
Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding work well in the same waters. The bay is large enough to paddle for hours without repeating yourself, and the marshes at its edges shelter herons, ospreys, and in summer, ospreys nesting on channel markers. Crabbing is also popular — drop a line or a trap from the public fishing area near the bridge and you have a decent chance of a meal.