Providenciales Turks and Caicos Trip report 4/1/05-4/8/05
I have uploaded my photos to my Scuba Board Member Gallery Rescue Diver68
Getting There:
My husband and I booked a direct flight from Philadelphia to Provo on US Airways. The flight boarded and the doors were closed 10 minutes early only to wait on the tarmac for 50 minutes for our turn on the runway. No big deal though, after an adult beverage and a quick nap we were there in no time. Flight time was about 2 hrs & 50 minutes.
The cab ride to the hotel was $10. No matter how many passengers the cost was the same.
Much of the Provo is under construction with new resorts and condominiums. There are a few main roads, but most of the roads to the resorts remain unpaved. Its a fairly flat island with many cactus and miles of amazing powdery white sandy beaches.
The hotel:
We chose to stay at the Comfort Suites since it was one of the less expensive hotels on the Island. We had read mixed reviews and thought wed give it a try.
Rather than go in to long details (so we can get to the diving portion of this report) Ill just give an abbreviated review of why we would not recommend this hotel (we would not stay at Comfort Suites TCI again).
Rating:
Condition of the Hotel- 3 Stars
Cleanliness- 3 Stars
Housekeeping- 4 Stars
Front desk Staff- 0 Stars
Bar Staff- 0 Stars
(Staff was rude and unhelpful)
Good things about Comfort Suites:
The Hotel is right next to Caicos Adventures Dive shop and the Dive Provo shop.
Close proximity to 4 restaurants within walking distance, Calico Jacks, Caicos Café, Barefoot Café, and 21 North. Also, there are many other shops nearby, and internet access by bmobile at the Ports of Call shopping centers.
Transportation around the Island
We found that there is a small bus called the Gecko that runs from 10 am until late at night. Walking isnt really an option since the resorts and restaurants are very spread out. The traffic on the main road is a little crazy and there are few sidewalks. We wanted to see all we could of the Island. Between the Gecko bus and the Caicos Adventures dive bus we saw most of the resorts and restaurants. You can buy tokens or a pass for the Gecko bus and it runs to all of the resorts/restaurants on its route including Turtle Cove Marina. It was a great way to see a lot of the island and get to various places for dinner for less than taking a cab.
Food:
We had had dinner at the following restaurants:
(If you are visiting Provo in the future, remember to look at your check as many of the restaurants added gratuity in to the total bill)
Calico Jacks, Ports of Call- Good food, $$
Mango Reef, Royal West Indies Resort- Good food, $$$
Magnolia, Turtle Cove Marina Great atmosphere, waaay overpriced for the food $$$$
Shark Bite Grill, Turtle Cove Marina- Good food $$
Hemingways, Sands Resort-Excellent food (favorite of everyone we talked to as well)$$$
Coyaba, Coral Gardens Resort- Good food, very expensive, nice atmosphere $$$$
Barefoot Café, Ports of Call- Fajita night, good food $$
Finally the Diving:
We chose Caicos Adventures as our dive operator and they did not disappoint.
Each morning we boarded the Caicos Adventures bus and picked up divers from various resorts before heading for the Marina.
The staff was wonderful (Andy, Asa, Rich, Fifi) and really made the diving so much fun. Lunch each day was sandwiches from IGA with plenty water and something labeled Gatorade (I dont know what it really was).
We left our gear on the boat each day and it was well taken care of by the CA staff. It was rinsed and all set up each day. CA switched tanks for us between dives as well. I cannot say enough about the stellar service provided by Caicos Adventures.
Since the Caicos Cat was still being repaired and the new Catamaran not delivered yet, our trips were aboard the Caicos Adventures Hercules if there was a small group (10 or less). Hercules is a very fast boat and got to the sites quickly (warning, hold on tight if Fifi drives). We knew about the boat situation prior to going to Provo thanks to the message board.
On days that there were more than 10 divers, Caicos Adventures rented boats from other Dive OPs. One day we used the Provo Turtle Divers Boat Chucks Honey (caution, no bananas allowed on this vessel). It was a 42 Newton and was quite spacious. The only drawback was that the engines were very loud and the diesel fumes were overwhelming.
They also used a boat from Dive Provo Provo Crusader on two days and it was great. It appears as though all three of these dive ops are quite friendly with one another. We would recommend either Caicos Adventures or Dive Provo to anyone.
Caicos Adventures has guided dives, but you are free to go on your own if you prefer. They allow you to dive your computer and do their best to see some sharks on each dive.
All of the dives were as follows.
Anchor in the sand near the wall drop off.
Giant stride in and fin to the wall.
Go over the wall and down to about 80 or so and swim against the current (mild if any at all).
When someone's gas gets down to 1500 psi the group will turn around and go to the top of the wall back towards the boat at a leisurely pace. The top of walls had tons of reef and critters. The walls themselves could be fairly void of life if no sharks appear.
Most had plenty of air and bottom time to finish their dives searching for critters around where the boat is anchored up to about 50 minutes total bottom time.
The walls were very dramatic and covered in assorted sheet corals and gorgonians.
Visibility was always about 50- 80 feet.
The Coral looked healthy but did not have the brilliant color like Cozumel. There was plenty of fish life and things to see.
The dives:
West Caicos
Magic Mushroom:
Max Depth 116 feet (only because we were watching several reef sharks)
Reef Sharks, Puffer Fish, Barracuda, Indigo Hamlets and the usual tropical critters.
Boat Cove:
Max Depth 77 feet
Reef Sharks, Flying Gunards, Southern Stingrays, Peacock Flounder, Eels, Jaw fish.
Driveway:
Max Depth 90 feet
Awesome Spawning barrel sponges, Large Spotted Drum, Reef Sharks, Groupers
Rock Garden:
Max Depth 71 feet
Atlantic Spade Fish, Reef Sharks, Lobsters, Groupers
Rivera Reef:
Max Depth 77 feet
Awesome walls, Reef Sharks, Groupers
The Gulley:
Max Depth 87 feet
Giant Barrel Sponges, Pillar Coral, Reef Sharks, Groupers
Spanish Anchor:
Max Depth 88 feet
Large Anchor wedged in wall of Swim through from the 1600s,
Thousands of Fairy Basslets along wall.
French Cay
G Spot:
Max Depth 86 feet
Giant Elephant Ear Sponges, Black Coral, Reef Sharks, Spotted Drum, Groupers
Rock n Roll:
Max Depth 77 feet
Southwest Reef
Southwest One:
Max Depth 77 feet
We briefly saw a Hammerhead Shark (10-12ft), Groupers
Eagle Ray Pass:
Max Depth 81 feet
School of Puffers, Burr Fish, Balloon Fish, Groupers
In summary, we enjoyed our trip and the diving in Provo . I now understand why when people ask how Providenciales compares to other dive destinations such as Cozumel that the answers vary. Diving in Provo is different than Cozumel, Fl Keys, Grand Cayman, etc and has its own appeal. While it does not have the color or stellar visibility of other destinations, it does have awesome walls and enormous dramatic corals. The shark encounters are worth the trip alone.
I have uploaded my photos to my Scuba Board Member Gallery Rescue Diver68
I have uploaded my photos to my Scuba Board Member Gallery Rescue Diver68
Getting There:
My husband and I booked a direct flight from Philadelphia to Provo on US Airways. The flight boarded and the doors were closed 10 minutes early only to wait on the tarmac for 50 minutes for our turn on the runway. No big deal though, after an adult beverage and a quick nap we were there in no time. Flight time was about 2 hrs & 50 minutes.
The cab ride to the hotel was $10. No matter how many passengers the cost was the same.
Much of the Provo is under construction with new resorts and condominiums. There are a few main roads, but most of the roads to the resorts remain unpaved. Its a fairly flat island with many cactus and miles of amazing powdery white sandy beaches.
The hotel:
We chose to stay at the Comfort Suites since it was one of the less expensive hotels on the Island. We had read mixed reviews and thought wed give it a try.
Rather than go in to long details (so we can get to the diving portion of this report) Ill just give an abbreviated review of why we would not recommend this hotel (we would not stay at Comfort Suites TCI again).
Rating:
Condition of the Hotel- 3 Stars
Cleanliness- 3 Stars
Housekeeping- 4 Stars
Front desk Staff- 0 Stars
Bar Staff- 0 Stars
(Staff was rude and unhelpful)
Good things about Comfort Suites:
The Hotel is right next to Caicos Adventures Dive shop and the Dive Provo shop.
Close proximity to 4 restaurants within walking distance, Calico Jacks, Caicos Café, Barefoot Café, and 21 North. Also, there are many other shops nearby, and internet access by bmobile at the Ports of Call shopping centers.
Transportation around the Island
We found that there is a small bus called the Gecko that runs from 10 am until late at night. Walking isnt really an option since the resorts and restaurants are very spread out. The traffic on the main road is a little crazy and there are few sidewalks. We wanted to see all we could of the Island. Between the Gecko bus and the Caicos Adventures dive bus we saw most of the resorts and restaurants. You can buy tokens or a pass for the Gecko bus and it runs to all of the resorts/restaurants on its route including Turtle Cove Marina. It was a great way to see a lot of the island and get to various places for dinner for less than taking a cab.
Food:
We had had dinner at the following restaurants:
(If you are visiting Provo in the future, remember to look at your check as many of the restaurants added gratuity in to the total bill)
Calico Jacks, Ports of Call- Good food, $$
Mango Reef, Royal West Indies Resort- Good food, $$$
Magnolia, Turtle Cove Marina Great atmosphere, waaay overpriced for the food $$$$
Shark Bite Grill, Turtle Cove Marina- Good food $$
Hemingways, Sands Resort-Excellent food (favorite of everyone we talked to as well)$$$
Coyaba, Coral Gardens Resort- Good food, very expensive, nice atmosphere $$$$
Barefoot Café, Ports of Call- Fajita night, good food $$
Finally the Diving:
We chose Caicos Adventures as our dive operator and they did not disappoint.
Each morning we boarded the Caicos Adventures bus and picked up divers from various resorts before heading for the Marina.
The staff was wonderful (Andy, Asa, Rich, Fifi) and really made the diving so much fun. Lunch each day was sandwiches from IGA with plenty water and something labeled Gatorade (I dont know what it really was).
We left our gear on the boat each day and it was well taken care of by the CA staff. It was rinsed and all set up each day. CA switched tanks for us between dives as well. I cannot say enough about the stellar service provided by Caicos Adventures.
Since the Caicos Cat was still being repaired and the new Catamaran not delivered yet, our trips were aboard the Caicos Adventures Hercules if there was a small group (10 or less). Hercules is a very fast boat and got to the sites quickly (warning, hold on tight if Fifi drives). We knew about the boat situation prior to going to Provo thanks to the message board.
On days that there were more than 10 divers, Caicos Adventures rented boats from other Dive OPs. One day we used the Provo Turtle Divers Boat Chucks Honey (caution, no bananas allowed on this vessel). It was a 42 Newton and was quite spacious. The only drawback was that the engines were very loud and the diesel fumes were overwhelming.
They also used a boat from Dive Provo Provo Crusader on two days and it was great. It appears as though all three of these dive ops are quite friendly with one another. We would recommend either Caicos Adventures or Dive Provo to anyone.
Caicos Adventures has guided dives, but you are free to go on your own if you prefer. They allow you to dive your computer and do their best to see some sharks on each dive.
All of the dives were as follows.
Anchor in the sand near the wall drop off.
Giant stride in and fin to the wall.
Go over the wall and down to about 80 or so and swim against the current (mild if any at all).
When someone's gas gets down to 1500 psi the group will turn around and go to the top of the wall back towards the boat at a leisurely pace. The top of walls had tons of reef and critters. The walls themselves could be fairly void of life if no sharks appear.
Most had plenty of air and bottom time to finish their dives searching for critters around where the boat is anchored up to about 50 minutes total bottom time.
The walls were very dramatic and covered in assorted sheet corals and gorgonians.
Visibility was always about 50- 80 feet.
The Coral looked healthy but did not have the brilliant color like Cozumel. There was plenty of fish life and things to see.
The dives:
West Caicos
Magic Mushroom:
Max Depth 116 feet (only because we were watching several reef sharks)
Reef Sharks, Puffer Fish, Barracuda, Indigo Hamlets and the usual tropical critters.
Boat Cove:
Max Depth 77 feet
Reef Sharks, Flying Gunards, Southern Stingrays, Peacock Flounder, Eels, Jaw fish.
Driveway:
Max Depth 90 feet
Awesome Spawning barrel sponges, Large Spotted Drum, Reef Sharks, Groupers
Rock Garden:
Max Depth 71 feet
Atlantic Spade Fish, Reef Sharks, Lobsters, Groupers
Rivera Reef:
Max Depth 77 feet
Awesome walls, Reef Sharks, Groupers
The Gulley:
Max Depth 87 feet
Giant Barrel Sponges, Pillar Coral, Reef Sharks, Groupers
Spanish Anchor:
Max Depth 88 feet
Large Anchor wedged in wall of Swim through from the 1600s,
Thousands of Fairy Basslets along wall.
French Cay
G Spot:
Max Depth 86 feet
Giant Elephant Ear Sponges, Black Coral, Reef Sharks, Spotted Drum, Groupers
Rock n Roll:
Max Depth 77 feet
Southwest Reef
Southwest One:
Max Depth 77 feet
We briefly saw a Hammerhead Shark (10-12ft), Groupers
Eagle Ray Pass:
Max Depth 81 feet
School of Puffers, Burr Fish, Balloon Fish, Groupers
In summary, we enjoyed our trip and the diving in Provo . I now understand why when people ask how Providenciales compares to other dive destinations such as Cozumel that the answers vary. Diving in Provo is different than Cozumel, Fl Keys, Grand Cayman, etc and has its own appeal. While it does not have the color or stellar visibility of other destinations, it does have awesome walls and enormous dramatic corals. The shark encounters are worth the trip alone.
I have uploaded my photos to my Scuba Board Member Gallery Rescue Diver68
