We went to Club Med Turkoise on Provo, Turks & Caicos Feb.1-12. We went with 2 other couples. 3 of us are divers, 3 are not. So it was a vacation with diving on the side, not a dive trip. However, I was still pretty intent on diving with another dive op, mainly to ensure we got out to the better sites. But my hubby and our diver friend couldn't resist the convenience, not to mention the unbeatable 3 day package deal.
So we dove with them for 3 days. Unfortunately, after we had gone out for 1 day the weather turned and very high winds came up with that cold front from Miami. All water sports were shut down for 3 entire days as the red flag flew. There was no way it was safe to bring the cat to the pier, and besides, the seas were very rough and choppy. We considered going out with Caicos adventures, since they leave from the marina. But a report back from someone who did said that even they weren't going to the best sites, it was still rough, and the viz. horrible. Not much point. We decided to wait it out. Oh...and I do have to mention we walked into Dive Provo and were totally and completely ignored. We felt like we were intruding, in fact. So much for customer service there. I don't get when shops don't realize the importance of first impressions.... Anyway....
The sites we did were still awesome, even if not West Caicos or French Cay. The reefs are in fantastic shape, with lots of hard and soft corals and vibrant colours. Shows that there are no cruise ships dragging their anchors about like GC. We dove some dramatic walls with nice undercuts. We heard humpbacks constantly, but didn't see any. Besides lots of fish life, we did see a few reef sharks, eels, a couple of small rays and only 1 turtle (which some idiot couple decided to manhandle and grab while we were all watching, and it freaked out and swam hurridly for the surface.) Every time we went out we were the only boat around. Seriously, not 1 single other dive boat.
There were a ton of pluses about diving with CM. The boat went out at 8:00am sharp, Club Med time (7:00 am island time... don't ask... it's a weird thing I know). So even with going out to Northwest point, we still managed to get 2 dives in and back to the resort before lunch. Their operation is incredibly organized, right down to their gear (included, although we brought ours) room and the sized bins for fins. There was a seperate locker room for drying our gear, which was locked up when staff weren't present, and another repair room. The boat was great. It's a nice big, fast cat with everything all organized to a T. We did the "buddy diver" program, so we were geared up and in the water first, and could dive our own profile unrestricted except for a 130' max. So even on days when the boat was quite full, it was so spacious, and the sites were large enough that we weren't bumping into other divers at all. Between dives we made buns with meats and cheeses and the fixings, and plenty of fruit.
I can't say enough good things about the current dive staff there. (must be since they are almost all Canadian... lol
Seriously, they run an organized, safe, professional dive op, headed up by Juanita now (replacing someone who didn't exactly work out too well with both GOs and GMs alike (KWIM?)) She was great, as were Elliot, Dan, Jeffersen, Kaleb, Michael and the captain, Michel. Very nice, friendly bunch. We often chatted with them in the evenings, and went to their scuba BBQ for the only truly BBQ'd food. Very tasty.
All in all, the only down side is that they do not dive sites beyond Grace Bay and Northwest point. (Yes, they used to, but not any more. It's just too far)
Oh...and as for the rest of Club Med... meh... very average resort, but we had a great time anyway... and that beach!!! OMG! It is hands down THE nicest beach I have ever seen......
So we dove with them for 3 days. Unfortunately, after we had gone out for 1 day the weather turned and very high winds came up with that cold front from Miami. All water sports were shut down for 3 entire days as the red flag flew. There was no way it was safe to bring the cat to the pier, and besides, the seas were very rough and choppy. We considered going out with Caicos adventures, since they leave from the marina. But a report back from someone who did said that even they weren't going to the best sites, it was still rough, and the viz. horrible. Not much point. We decided to wait it out. Oh...and I do have to mention we walked into Dive Provo and were totally and completely ignored. We felt like we were intruding, in fact. So much for customer service there. I don't get when shops don't realize the importance of first impressions.... Anyway....
The sites we did were still awesome, even if not West Caicos or French Cay. The reefs are in fantastic shape, with lots of hard and soft corals and vibrant colours. Shows that there are no cruise ships dragging their anchors about like GC. We dove some dramatic walls with nice undercuts. We heard humpbacks constantly, but didn't see any. Besides lots of fish life, we did see a few reef sharks, eels, a couple of small rays and only 1 turtle (which some idiot couple decided to manhandle and grab while we were all watching, and it freaked out and swam hurridly for the surface.) Every time we went out we were the only boat around. Seriously, not 1 single other dive boat.
There were a ton of pluses about diving with CM. The boat went out at 8:00am sharp, Club Med time (7:00 am island time... don't ask... it's a weird thing I know). So even with going out to Northwest point, we still managed to get 2 dives in and back to the resort before lunch. Their operation is incredibly organized, right down to their gear (included, although we brought ours) room and the sized bins for fins. There was a seperate locker room for drying our gear, which was locked up when staff weren't present, and another repair room. The boat was great. It's a nice big, fast cat with everything all organized to a T. We did the "buddy diver" program, so we were geared up and in the water first, and could dive our own profile unrestricted except for a 130' max. So even on days when the boat was quite full, it was so spacious, and the sites were large enough that we weren't bumping into other divers at all. Between dives we made buns with meats and cheeses and the fixings, and plenty of fruit.
I can't say enough good things about the current dive staff there. (must be since they are almost all Canadian... lol
Seriously, they run an organized, safe, professional dive op, headed up by Juanita now (replacing someone who didn't exactly work out too well with both GOs and GMs alike (KWIM?)) She was great, as were Elliot, Dan, Jeffersen, Kaleb, Michael and the captain, Michel. Very nice, friendly bunch. We often chatted with them in the evenings, and went to their scuba BBQ for the only truly BBQ'd food. Very tasty. All in all, the only down side is that they do not dive sites beyond Grace Bay and Northwest point. (Yes, they used to, but not any more. It's just too far)
Oh...and as for the rest of Club Med... meh... very average resort, but we had a great time anyway... and that beach!!! OMG! It is hands down THE nicest beach I have ever seen......
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