our shop here in Indy dives with Oasis on a regular basis - Dale and her staff are excellent and if you get Phil as a DM, you're in tall cotton!
Questions about Bohio and Grand Turk
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After reading your post and the reponses I want to say I don't think you should worry one bit. Your trip planning job is secure.
It is the most wonderful little island. My husband picked GT last December and we went in March 2006. After having all of our reservations booked, we did what you did, and researched it. Based on most of the stuff we read, we almost changed our trip. That would have been a huge mistake!
We did stay 2 nights on Provo (just o.k.), and shortened our overall trip from 14 days to 10 based on the negative comments we read on the "boards". Well, I could have stayed 14 days plus on GT. The water is the most beautiful blue and the topography of the shore to the wall is incredible. The flight from Provo to GT is so unique. We met great people. What more could you ask for?
My husband and I were looking for similar things, a laid back island, reasonable diving, relaxation, and an off-the-beaten-path kind of vacation. This island was so safe. We met the greatest couple and we can't wait to hook up with them again for another dive vacation.
We stayed at Manta House, which is in the hub-bub of all the dive shops and little restaurants. Deb (the mom of the owners) escorted us around at times and really helped us find restaurants and such to try. She recommened Bohio as one of the best restaurants on the island. We rented a scooter and tried it. It was awesome. But we thought all of the food was awesome, and really, the prices are not that bad. Service is slow though, so don't wait until you are all really hungry. It is slow most everywhere. But that is the CHARM of being on a remote little island and feeling the pace of the locals.
We didn't rent a car, only that scooter on our last full day. We would have rented it longer knowing what we know now. There are all these little places to check out, snorkel, relax, etc...
We dove with Smitty at SeaEye divers. He was a good guy, it was a fun little operation. Nothing fancy. Oasis is a little fancier. But honestly, they all seem to be good acquaintances - no big competition. The ocean is big, but it seems like you see them all as you head out to sites. Dale @ Oasis has fancier equipment, more boats, a little fancier dive shop and such. But boat diving is boat diving, you need a good dive master, air, and what else? They all seem to do the job.
The Bohio looked like a nice place to stay. The cracked walls would be something I would myself find charming. The food was excellent. Cows walked by on the land between the resort and the beach at near dark. I mean, where else can you experience that? The only drawback to the Bohio is that it is a hike to "town". The grocery, liquor, restaurants, etc... That makes it a little more secluded feeling, which I'm sure adds to the resort feel they are trying to portray. There was a complex near SeaEye that could house that many people. It is at the end of the street they call barefoot alley. It is within walking distance to the grocery, liquor, restaurants, etc... If you have vehicles like you said, it wouldn't be a priority to change just b/c of that but that would be your only other option.
There is trash, mostly on the other side of the island. It washes up. Seems like an endless battle. Islanders don't seem to be those pride of ownership people like Americans seem to be with their homes and such. Plus, there is no doubt their funds are limited. I found most times we could ignore it. It does not impede on having a great dive vacation. Everyone we met in passing was nice. I never felt scared.
The reefs are experiencing bleaching. That is going on in various places around the caribbean. We did see turtles almost every dive. We saw whales from shore. The other people we met did encounter dolphins on a dive. I have not dove in that many places, only Bonaire, the Keys, West Palm. The diving was nice, but not exceptional. But the friends we made and enjoyed topside made it all worth it. This was their 4th trip to GT.
Mookie Pookie is supposed to be awesome. Be sure to have grouper at the Water's Edge. Beer is about $2.50 a bottle from the little liqour store. No one will starve, there is plenty to eat. Things are not that hard to find. Everyone knows someone that can find something. It's all good.
I know people that would hate a vacation like this. But your key words were laid-back. This is the island for you. It is not 3rd world, but it is exactly what you expect when you envision island life.
I hope you have a great time in GT. I can't wait to go back!
p.s. the cruise ship thing hardly affects the island. those tight-*** lazy traveler's will rarely get off the ship to go spend some money in town. It's a joke. It will be a long time before it adds anything to the economy which I'm sure was the bill of sale they were sold.
It is the most wonderful little island. My husband picked GT last December and we went in March 2006. After having all of our reservations booked, we did what you did, and researched it. Based on most of the stuff we read, we almost changed our trip. That would have been a huge mistake!
We did stay 2 nights on Provo (just o.k.), and shortened our overall trip from 14 days to 10 based on the negative comments we read on the "boards". Well, I could have stayed 14 days plus on GT. The water is the most beautiful blue and the topography of the shore to the wall is incredible. The flight from Provo to GT is so unique. We met great people. What more could you ask for?
My husband and I were looking for similar things, a laid back island, reasonable diving, relaxation, and an off-the-beaten-path kind of vacation. This island was so safe. We met the greatest couple and we can't wait to hook up with them again for another dive vacation.
We stayed at Manta House, which is in the hub-bub of all the dive shops and little restaurants. Deb (the mom of the owners) escorted us around at times and really helped us find restaurants and such to try. She recommened Bohio as one of the best restaurants on the island. We rented a scooter and tried it. It was awesome. But we thought all of the food was awesome, and really, the prices are not that bad. Service is slow though, so don't wait until you are all really hungry. It is slow most everywhere. But that is the CHARM of being on a remote little island and feeling the pace of the locals.
We didn't rent a car, only that scooter on our last full day. We would have rented it longer knowing what we know now. There are all these little places to check out, snorkel, relax, etc...
We dove with Smitty at SeaEye divers. He was a good guy, it was a fun little operation. Nothing fancy. Oasis is a little fancier. But honestly, they all seem to be good acquaintances - no big competition. The ocean is big, but it seems like you see them all as you head out to sites. Dale @ Oasis has fancier equipment, more boats, a little fancier dive shop and such. But boat diving is boat diving, you need a good dive master, air, and what else? They all seem to do the job.
The Bohio looked like a nice place to stay. The cracked walls would be something I would myself find charming. The food was excellent. Cows walked by on the land between the resort and the beach at near dark. I mean, where else can you experience that? The only drawback to the Bohio is that it is a hike to "town". The grocery, liquor, restaurants, etc... That makes it a little more secluded feeling, which I'm sure adds to the resort feel they are trying to portray. There was a complex near SeaEye that could house that many people. It is at the end of the street they call barefoot alley. It is within walking distance to the grocery, liquor, restaurants, etc... If you have vehicles like you said, it wouldn't be a priority to change just b/c of that but that would be your only other option.
There is trash, mostly on the other side of the island. It washes up. Seems like an endless battle. Islanders don't seem to be those pride of ownership people like Americans seem to be with their homes and such. Plus, there is no doubt their funds are limited. I found most times we could ignore it. It does not impede on having a great dive vacation. Everyone we met in passing was nice. I never felt scared.
The reefs are experiencing bleaching. That is going on in various places around the caribbean. We did see turtles almost every dive. We saw whales from shore. The other people we met did encounter dolphins on a dive. I have not dove in that many places, only Bonaire, the Keys, West Palm. The diving was nice, but not exceptional. But the friends we made and enjoyed topside made it all worth it. This was their 4th trip to GT.
Mookie Pookie is supposed to be awesome. Be sure to have grouper at the Water's Edge. Beer is about $2.50 a bottle from the little liqour store. No one will starve, there is plenty to eat. Things are not that hard to find. Everyone knows someone that can find something. It's all good.
I know people that would hate a vacation like this. But your key words were laid-back. This is the island for you. It is not 3rd world, but it is exactly what you expect when you envision island life.
I hope you have a great time in GT. I can't wait to go back!
p.s. the cruise ship thing hardly affects the island. those tight-*** lazy traveler's will rarely get off the ship to go spend some money in town. It's a joke. It will be a long time before it adds anything to the economy which I'm sure was the bill of sale they were sold.
Thank you for taking the time to write that review of your recent trip. It makes me feel a little better now. You're right in concluding that our little group is not looking for fancy hotels or glitzy night life. Our idea of night life is walking along the water's edge with lights looking for fish.
We're all experienced Caribbean travelers and like to avoid the crowds in our search for something off the beaten path. Little Cayman and Grand Turk were both on our lists of places to go but, since we've been to Cayman Brac fairly recently and did take trips to Bloody Bay Wall, Grand Turk won out. A few of us visited Provo some years back and did enjoy the diving, but the long boat rides and potentially rough seas kept us from a return trip.
All my earlier research about the Bohio was very positive. It's only recently that some negative posts have cropped up. They do apparently have a problem with their boat, which is out of service. In the interim, Oasis is picking up their divers at the Bohio beach, which doesn't seem to be a major problem at all. I'm sure the Bohio has its own issues, especially since its management team is fairly new to the hospitality business. Overall though, it appears they are doing a very good job with the majority of their guests. The complaints I'm seeing on TripAdvisor about a crack in a wall, small bars of soap in the bathrooms, a lack of washcloths, and trash around the island, are simply not the type of issues that would have any impact on the kind of vacation our group is looking for or expect.
Like you, I see these slight inconveniences as just part of the experience. You either accept these things on a small island in a foreign country, or you don't. Having traveled to places like Roatan, Cayman Brac, Cozumel, Provo, Virgin Gorda, Curacao, Bonaire, etc., we've seen a variety of cultures and conditions. As long as the diving is good and the beach has a warm sun above it, we all cope pretty well.
Kelly, at the Bohio, has been totally honest in all her email with me, and has addressed all of my concerns. Right now, I'm very comfortable with my choice of Grand Turk and the Bohio. We will have a couple of rental cars, so the distance from town should not be an issue at all. As long as the water is clear and the skies are blue, we should be fine. Hopefully, certainly by next February, their dive operation will be back in full operation. If not, it sounds like Oasis is a great alternative.
Thanks again.
We're all experienced Caribbean travelers and like to avoid the crowds in our search for something off the beaten path. Little Cayman and Grand Turk were both on our lists of places to go but, since we've been to Cayman Brac fairly recently and did take trips to Bloody Bay Wall, Grand Turk won out. A few of us visited Provo some years back and did enjoy the diving, but the long boat rides and potentially rough seas kept us from a return trip.
All my earlier research about the Bohio was very positive. It's only recently that some negative posts have cropped up. They do apparently have a problem with their boat, which is out of service. In the interim, Oasis is picking up their divers at the Bohio beach, which doesn't seem to be a major problem at all. I'm sure the Bohio has its own issues, especially since its management team is fairly new to the hospitality business. Overall though, it appears they are doing a very good job with the majority of their guests. The complaints I'm seeing on TripAdvisor about a crack in a wall, small bars of soap in the bathrooms, a lack of washcloths, and trash around the island, are simply not the type of issues that would have any impact on the kind of vacation our group is looking for or expect.
Like you, I see these slight inconveniences as just part of the experience. You either accept these things on a small island in a foreign country, or you don't. Having traveled to places like Roatan, Cayman Brac, Cozumel, Provo, Virgin Gorda, Curacao, Bonaire, etc., we've seen a variety of cultures and conditions. As long as the diving is good and the beach has a warm sun above it, we all cope pretty well.
Kelly, at the Bohio, has been totally honest in all her email with me, and has addressed all of my concerns. Right now, I'm very comfortable with my choice of Grand Turk and the Bohio. We will have a couple of rental cars, so the distance from town should not be an issue at all. As long as the water is clear and the skies are blue, we should be fine. Hopefully, certainly by next February, their dive operation will be back in full operation. If not, it sounds like Oasis is a great alternative.
Thanks again.
mtinrunner
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Yea, I think Oasis might be a good alternative for your whole stay. At least maybe after you travel 3000 miles and spend $3000 they might pretend they are happy you are there. Maybe when more than two of you show up at the same time they could at least figure out which room you paid for and put you in the right room. Maybe they would provide you at least the basic services without seeming like you are imposing on them. Maybe if something went amiss they would care. Maybe the folks there wouldn't have their faces jammed into the computer screens 24/7, and would be willing to help you out whether it be driving 4 miles to the airport to get your luggage or providing you with nasty water. Maybe their dive boat is working so they wouldn't have to send you with an unsafe, disorganized dive outfit. Maybe they would at least make some effort to clean up all the garbage and trash around the resort and make it look like they care about their property and what their guests think. Maybe their air conditioners are from this century and don't wake you every time they turn on. Maybe their water smells a liitle better so you don't have to gag when you run the water or take a shower. NO, it wasn't any better in Provo. Maybe their accomodations are such that when someone upstairs shuts the dresser draw it doesn't wake you up. Maybe they have made some effort to upgrade the rooms so that the walls aren't cracked and putting out a nasty odor. Are you starting to get the picture why someone would leave after three days? 4 star? Maybe they won't lie to you either? Maybe they would refund the rest of your trip after you bust them for false advertising, and decide to spend the rest of your vacation somewhere a lot nicer. You don't even need a rental car, there is nothing to see unless you want to see more trash and broken down cars . You can easily walk and see those. You can also easily walk into town too but there's nothing there either except more trash and garbage. Believe me.. I ran from one end of the island to the other more than once. We found the diving so unsafe and marginal ( yes the sites are close but so what) that I chose to exercise instead. If you want to lay on a nice beach and fertilize your melanomas go to Provo. They are a LOT nicer than anything in Grand Turd.
Wow. Quite a rant. I'm not planning on going back any time soon, but I certainly didn't find it that awful.
BTW, Oasis is a dive operator, they don't have a hotel. Most of their divers seem to stay at Osprey if they insist on a beachfront hotel or Island House otherwise.
As to the dive operators... Disorganized I could certainly agree with. But unsafe? This is easy, close warm water diving. Even if they heaved you in and left you there (which they don't) you could make it back with an easy swim.
What places have you found that meet your approval? Just so we have a standard of comparison?
BTW, Oasis is a dive operator, they don't have a hotel. Most of their divers seem to stay at Osprey if they insist on a beachfront hotel or Island House otherwise.
As to the dive operators... Disorganized I could certainly agree with. But unsafe? This is easy, close warm water diving. Even if they heaved you in and left you there (which they don't) you could make it back with an easy swim.
What places have you found that meet your approval? Just so we have a standard of comparison?
EZ Diver
Registered
Different people, different expectations, different experiences I guess. I just got back from Grand Turk (stayed at Bohio for 4 nights) two days ago and couldn't disagree with mtinrunner more. My girlfriend and I spend 4 nights in Grand Turk and 4 nights in Provo and liked Grand Turk (and Bohio) much better.
I agree with lowwall, Oasis was a little unorganized due to the copius amounts of people they deal with from cruise ships, etc, but unless you are a beginner diver who is in need of special attention from the Dive Master, I'm not sure how unsafe they can be. You can see the boat from 90ft down, you swim down the wall one way and follow it back. Stay close to your buddy, watch your air and depth and that's about it.
Saholz, look for my entire trip report on Bohio and Grand Turk on the board. It should be posted today.
I agree with lowwall, Oasis was a little unorganized due to the copius amounts of people they deal with from cruise ships, etc, but unless you are a beginner diver who is in need of special attention from the Dive Master, I'm not sure how unsafe they can be. You can see the boat from 90ft down, you swim down the wall one way and follow it back. Stay close to your buddy, watch your air and depth and that's about it.
Saholz, look for my entire trip report on Bohio and Grand Turk on the board. It should be posted today.
mtinrunner
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Having one person as the Boat Master and the Dive Master is VERY unsafe. I don't care how close the dive site is. Too many things can go wrong. What if the grossly overweight out of shape Dive/Boat Master has a heart attack. Are you really expecting all the overweight out of shape divers on board to swim 1/2 mile to shore and drag his carcass with them? Ya right. I realize this is the practice at as few resorts that are basically too cheap to provide a minimum level of safety. These are supposedly PADI facilities and PADI strongly frowns on this unsafe practice. This is only one of many things about the resort that if we would have known beforehand we wouldn't have gone. They suely aren't going to tell you till you're stuck there and thats WRONG!!! There's so many spectacular dive site around the world where you can dive SAFELY and the natives and resort owners take pride in showing the best of what they have to offer, why go to a place with mediocre diving that has to misrepresent everything about the so called resort to get you there and then force you to dive in unsafe conditions. Yes, the dive travel agency is just as at fault for not being upfront with everything and misrepresenting the rest. Their name shall remain anonymous for now pending litigation.
mtinrunner:
If the DM has a heart attack it's not really a safety problem for you. And I'm reasonably sure even out of shape divers could manage to safely beach a carolina skiff, especially as there's no navigation hazards between the dive sites and the shore.
It really looks to me like GT isn't guilty of anything other than not meeting your very high expectations. I have no idea what your travel agent told you to justify those expectations, but it appears you could have saved youself a whole bunch of aggravation by being explicit about your requirements (and perhaps even doing a little bit of research on your own). After all, the agency had no reason to send you to a place you were not going to enjoy.
EZ Diver
Registered
Mtinrunner - yes, I agree , having one person as the Boat Master and Dive Master is extremely unsafe and should not be tolerated. Fortunately, we did not see this happen while we were there. I am sorry your trip to Grand Turk was very unpleasant as our diving experience with Bohio was very safe and was with a very knowledgeable and pleasant Dive Master. We also enjoyed Grand Turk and Bohio greatly. I guess that is what makes the world-go-round, one man's treasure is another man's trash.
CaribQueen
Guest
I really, really enjoyed staying @ Island House on Grand Turk while diving with Oasis Divers. Colin, owner of Island House gives you transportation to use, at no charge, while you are on island. (golf carts - SUV's) Loved the diving! Short boat trips (5 min) to wall. Free dive/snorkel the east side of island if you get a chance. It's pristine, or was. I haven't been back since the Cruise Ships have made there appearance. Not much to do on island if you are there for extended stay. Check out the "B" movie "Paradise Virus" if you get a chance before you go. It was filmed entirely on Grand Turk and used all locals in the film. It is a corny movie but will show you lay of the land.
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