Beaches Resort in Turks and Caicos Tips ?
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I can't tell when exactly you will be there (sounds soon) but I have been in the Bahamas in January. It will definitely be warmer than -20C but still could be chilly (not sure what you're used to though).
I can't tell when exactly you will be there (sounds soon) but I have been in the Bahamas in January. It will definitely be warmer than -20C but still could be chilly (not sure what you're used to though).
I was in Grand Turk a few weeks back. Water temp was 73F-75F (about 22-23C). Bit chilly on the 2nd dive, but not unbearable.
Love2Scuba4471
Guest
I was there Jan.15th-Jan21st last year. The Resort is amazing. Large, good food, good drinks. The diving was nice. Make sure you sign up as soon as you get there. Go to the dive shop immediately. You have to prove you have scuba dived in past 6 months or they will make you take refresher course(extra money). You will have to take a 20 min course about how they run things before they will let you sign up for your dives. When you do, sign up for the whole week because everything fills up fast. Bring your log book, c-card, and Dan card. You will either sign up for a 2 tank boat trip which leaves about 8:30 a.m. and returns about 1 p.m., or you will sign up for a single tank dive which leaves about 11 a.m. and gets back about 1:30.
The vis was about 80 feet. Temps around 78-82. Lots of sea life. big and small. We got to see humpback whales while on the boat, not in it, damn. Also a large pod of dolphins about 200 strong. The diving was better then the bahamas, but not as good as Bonaire if that helps. I am the only one of my family that dives so I was a single diver. They break the boat up into beginners, and advanced. You dive as a group and partner up within the group. Each dive was led by one or two of the DM's. Very professional and friendly. The dives were limited to air consumption of worst diver, half tank turn around and head back to boat if you had air left you can hang underneath boat and surface alittle later. Most dives were in the 48 minute range with plenty of air left. max depth of about 95 ft, reef was at about 30 feet.
This was my first time diving with a group of people that not familiar with. It was an eye opener. It makes me feel better about how I was trained and my own skills. There was a big range of skills in the advanced group. I have never dove were so many people ran out of air or came up with 50 psi in the tanks.
The vis was about 80 feet. Temps around 78-82. Lots of sea life. big and small. We got to see humpback whales while on the boat, not in it, damn. Also a large pod of dolphins about 200 strong. The diving was better then the bahamas, but not as good as Bonaire if that helps. I am the only one of my family that dives so I was a single diver. They break the boat up into beginners, and advanced. You dive as a group and partner up within the group. Each dive was led by one or two of the DM's. Very professional and friendly. The dives were limited to air consumption of worst diver, half tank turn around and head back to boat if you had air left you can hang underneath boat and surface alittle later. Most dives were in the 48 minute range with plenty of air left. max depth of about 95 ft, reef was at about 30 feet.
This was my first time diving with a group of people that not familiar with. It was an eye opener. It makes me feel better about how I was trained and my own skills. There was a big range of skills in the advanced group. I have never dove were so many people ran out of air or came up with 50 psi in the tanks.
First of Beaches Resort is Awesome, we went Jan.3 to 16th, 2011! Service is superb, food is superb, we got upgraded on accomadations due to a special indivdual we ran into so they where superb as well. Our room's bottom floor balcony was 50ft from the dive shop!
The diving part, well don't forget ANY paperwork, especially if you need to answer yes to any of the questions, they will want a physical. I was told you can get a pysical on the resort but that will take time.
It seems to be VERY important that you speak to the right people as some don't care and others give you whatever answer that is easiest?
I hadn't dived in 10 months so all I had to do was listen to the 15 min. talk, but they only do that once per day around 10, so depending on when you arrive get to the shop asap to get your orientation done, beg borrow or pay to get it done so you can dive the next day! I arrived late Monday so couldn't do it until Tuesday, then was told Wed. diving was booked up already and I would be placed on a waiting list. So I wasn't too happy about that, especially when I got there wednesday and saw the line up, went back to the room to pout.
All two tank dives are at 8:15 in the morning, if five or more people sign up they will do a night dive for $80.
Later I spoke to a supervisor and was told I should have waited as they would have put out another boat if need be, however several people do end up canceling even though the line up seemed enormous. They have 4 dive boats, so depending on training etc. they should be able to accomodate everyone.
10 people max. per dive master, and one day I did have to dive with the OW group instead of AOW, so check before your dive and ensure your going with the apporiate group as they will changes things for you, IF you speak up. One day I saw I was with a OW group, spoke up and she moved another AOW diver into the OW group, glad I didn't know that guy
Diving was great, although the large groups do tend to have it's problems, like stirring up the water while at the end of line taking pictures, or others at half tank while your sitting a 2k causing everyone to turn back. Although once near the boat most dive masters let you continue to dive around the boat area if you have air.
Saw lots of sealife and cool coral, most of the dives at Northwest Point have wall's so there is a little of everything to see. The reef is in good condition lending itself to a huge variety of living creatures. Grace Bay area is shallower for the most part, with a tonne of fish. Some liked Grace Bay better? I liked the walls of Northwest Point, although its an 18 mile boat ride, while grace bay is less than a mile.
Air temp. was 82-87f, with the lowest water temp. being 76f at depth plenty warm enough for a 3mil shorty, don't remember what it was near the surface.
I posted a few pics on Face Book
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Hope you have a great time as we did!
ShakaZulu
Contributor
EXTREMELY safe dove ops, the last time I was there. They have a hang-pole at 20ft for the safety stop and dive in a group with the dive master. First person out of air, and all go up...may have to do a pool session if you haven't dove in a while. The boat does not go out at the first sign of rough weather. Great resort...food was great.
highlandfarmwv
Contributor
doesnt sound like very independent diving Is there any shore diving without DM?
splitpea58
Registered
I don't know about Beaches but we stayed at Bohio on Grand Turk. Just got back. The water was 72 and vis was 50-75 feet. I needed a skin and a 3 ml to be comfortable.
Dr Wu
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They do ask for a short lesson and checkout dive but waved that for me.
They had no problem with me diving solo for the entire week I was there. No depth limit was placed on me.
They did want me out if the water in a reasonable amount of time. Any deco was up to me.
Watch your gear. Somebody on the boat swiped one of my SMB's.
There is no shore diving from the resort.
The place is beautiful. I thought the diving so, so. But I'm not the person to ask as I do very little resort type diving.
