Dive Ops in Turks and Caicos?

[CC1020]

Hi everybody,
I will be going to Turks and Caicos in March, staying at Beaches resort. I was hoping that someone might be able to recommend good dives and/or dive ops from that end of the island. I know that there is some diving from the resort itself, but was hoping to get some information about off-site diving as well. Any thoughts or tips would be greatly appreciated. Also, any info about on-shore activities that are "not-to-be-missed" would be welcome as well.

 

[ScubaAddictedLisa]

I don't know too much, but I say that you MUST get to the Ampitheater dive site. The first time I went there, I felt like the little kids in Finding Nemo when they saw the "big butt" and the little octopus says "You made me ink!" Very cool site.

If you want, PM me your email address, and I'll get it to my friend Adrienne, who is a scuba instructor in Turks and Caicos right now. She'll definitely have suggestions.

You're going to LOVE LOVE LOVE Turks! I've been there 11 times! It's just beautiful!!!

 

[Damselfish]

Caicos Adventures is a good op and popular with folks around here, it will probably be recommended a bunch of times. There's a number of other ops and most have their fans, you can probably find reviews of them all on this board. CA will pick you up and take you to a dock on the other side of the island as will some of the others; their boats leave from there because it's closer to where the better diving is - West Caicos and some other places to the south. The good diving is not for the most part on the side where Beaches and most of the hotels/condos are.

I can't think of much to do there aside from the typical beach and water related activities. There's really not much there. Some pretty good restaurants (which being at an AI you probably don't care about) and a very modest amount of shopping scattered around. There's the conch farm, but I haven't been there so have no idea if it's worth seeing.

 

[CC1020]

Thank you so much for the helpful insight

 

[parrotheaddiver]

We used Provo Turtle Divers Provo Turtle Divers - Home Page last May before we boarded the Aggressor....they were awesome....even rinsed our gear and took it to the Aggressor for us...great pre dive orientation...Dm's found lots of critters and great snacks on the SI....

 

[dashark]

don't plan on doing anything topside exept chilling on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. You will love it there..

Enjoy

 

[ScubaAddictedLisa]

You can get a day pass or a night pass at Club Med. It is just down the beach from Beaches. Then you can join in on all the activities there. They have everything, even the flying trapeze (classes both in the morning and the afternoon). Not sure how expensive the day or night passes are, but probably an arm and a leg. But, it's ALL inclusive (meaning food and drinks too). However the "ALL" doesn't apply to diving. That is extra.

 

[dashark]

You can get a day pass or a night pass at Club Med. It is just down the beach from Beaches. Then you can join in on all the activities there. They have everything, even the flying trapeze (classes both in the morning and the afternoon). Not sure how expensive the day or night passes are, but probably an arm and a leg. But, it's ALL inclusive (meaning food and drinks too). However the "ALL" doesn't apply to diving. That is extra.

That Club med is fun. We stayed ther a few years ago. We actualy really enjoyed the dive op there as well. They have big , fast catamarans. Very stable for the longer range trips. of course a bigger boat means more divers. Although we never felt crowded while we were there, they probably put an average of 20 divers on the boats.

 

[ScubaAddictedLisa]

Yeah, the only time the boat seems crowded is when everyone's getting their gear together and when everyone's getting into the water. Otherwise, people will sit up front, up top, or in the gear area, so they spread out. The only negative is the time it takes to get from the Club to the dive spots. And if the seas are rough, it can be .... well, not pleasant!

 

[dashark]

Actually, i thought the trips were pretty short, for the most part. And as far a rough water, nothing is better than a nice wide powercat in rough seas.
we would go back there anytime.....