need Turks + Caicos advice

[Tim Ingersoll]

You should remember that the Provo dive ops take you to West Caicos and French Cay as well as other sites around Provo itself. I have dived Provo many times and GT for a week several years ago. The biggest difference was the length of the boat trip. GT was fifteen minutes one way topes. Provo was up to an hour one way. Really stretches the day if you have non-divers waiting for you to return.

 

[lizardqueen]

good to know Tim, but my friends will get a kick out of tropical paradise, even the people who aren't diving...not like being in utah during february waiting for me to finish skiing - now that's a situation where you start building up a favor deficit!

I was wondering about getting to south caicos though - in one of the earlier posts I found, docvikingo said you have to make a special arrangement to get there, which only makes me really want to go !

 

[TheWizard]

My son & I did a 9-day combo trip back in late May. We took Sky King over to GT the first day and I monitored air pressure onboard the turboprop for use later.

We stayed at Osprey Beach on GT in one of their "atrium" rooms across the street. 2nd floor room was large and had outdoor walkway/balcony that was pleasant to sit out on, and wi-fi accessible.
We dove with Oasis which worked out fine except that we were unable to get a night dive in due to rain every afternoon Their dive shop was about 3 blocks up the street from Osprey, but we'd sometimes load the boats a mile further up if surf was strong. They'd truck us around as needed
Next trip to GT, I'd stay at OB again but dive with a different op just for variety.

After 4 dive days on GT, we flew back to Provo in the afternoon, just a few hours after 2-tank diving. This is safe on Sky King due to low, yet pressurized flights. My hand-held altimeter gave me what I needed to know on the flight over.

On Provo, we stayed at Turtle Cove Inn and dove Caicos Adventures. The hotel was fine, a nice pool area for lazy afternoons. CA was good, but 45 minute trip each way to West Caicos gets long after a few days. They pick you up each morning on a "short bus" in front of your hotel. I liked their freedom to dive with a DM or just with your buddy, but you need to be expert at U/W nav to do it alone. We went with DM after 1st day to allow focus on stuff other than nav.
Several divers on the CA boat were staying at Club Med on Provo. If I had a few extra bux, I might do it that way next time

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

There is an airstrip on South Caicos and the air shuttle stops there as part of their service. I believe the one resort has re-opened.

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

It has. . .http://www.southcaicosoceanbeachresort.com/

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

Here is the dive op. . . http://www.southcaicosdiver.com/

 

[lizardqueen]

hey Tim,

thanks for the lowdown on south caicos!

and Wizard, about this Sky King plane, I'm so curious about what the deal is on low flying right after you dive, I posted about it in the right section [Dr. Deco] :

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3094325#post3094325

My son & I did a 9-day combo trip back in late May. We took Sky King over to GT the first day and I monitored air pressure onboard the turboprop for use later...After 4 dive days on GT, we flew back to Provo in the afternoon, just a few hours after 2-tank diving. This is safe on Sky King due to low, yet pressurized flights. My hand-held altimeter gave me what I needed to know on the flight over.

I'm not inclined to push the no-fly limit, but would like to know how low it goes !
cheers.