Turks And Caicos (provo) Dive Spot Review

[Jeff85248]

Hi all,

Just got back from diving T&C October 15-22 2016 ( two tank dives on October 17,18,19 2016). I stayed at Club Med and used the info from scubaboard to decide who to dive with. the two big winners was Caicos Adventures and Dive Provo.

Here is my 2 cents on the subject:

When I called Caicos Adventures they said they will not guarantee my dives even if I pay in advance and travel thousands of miles to get there. (turns out my friend used them years ago and was not impressed) they said if they don't have enough sign up they don't go.

Dive Provo said if I'm the only one that shows up then it is me and the dive master for a private dive. (they had so many people they had two boats going out on each of my three days of diving and it's off season in October)

IMPORTANT: from shore, all dive sites are about 1 hours boat ride from dock to reef. This is obviously why live aboards are so popular and it makes sense to book a live aboard if you want a lot of diving. I think the beaches and the land are beautiful and I will probably go back for a live aboard on a future trip but it would be a successful trip if you stay on land. When staying at Club Med and waiting for my pick up ride there was a couple waiting to be picked up by their dive shop, Provo Turtle Divers, the couple dove with them before and was on their way to dive with them again. (i think if you are repeat customer you are saying a lot)

AND HERE'S WHAT I FOUND OUT THAT WILL HOPEFULLY HELP YOU: While riding the hour to and from the reef, I picked the brain of our captain and dive masters. Here's what they said. Club Med's dive shop is a third party company and not Club Med owned as mentioned in posts from years ago. BUT.... they only visit close by reefs. North Point. and closer. they do not go to French Cay and West Caicos (some of my best dives) Possibly why Caicos Adventures only takes large groups is because they have a beautiful dive catamaran and it wouldn't make sense to take out such a large boat for a few people. There are several small operations that have very small boats and can't operate off season. The captain said these are small dive boats that take 6-8 people out. (sounds like fun) Dive Provo has been in operation for a long time and by the experience of the dive masters and the quality of the boats they have a great operation. I'm glad I went with them. I could safely say if I go back and don't use a live aboard I would use them again.

I hope this helps someone like you guys helped me.

Jeff

I just realized where Club Med goes. they don't go as far as North Point. they just go out to Grace Bay. That's what I was told.

 

[hammet]

going back to beaches again in less then 2 weeks....can't wait!

 

[Thook]

I don't have sea legs and don't think I could handle a live aboard.... are there ANY dive ops in Turks that offer more that 2 dives a day??? This seems to be the norm for what I'm finding. Thanks

 

[Joneill]

I don't have sea legs and don't think I could handle a live aboard.... are there ANY dive ops in Turks that offer more that 2 dives a day??? This seems to be the norm for what I'm finding. Thanks

AQUA TCI offered 3 tanks dives on Thursdays when I was there last May. They were great to dive with! Dive Provo's site shows that they also typically do 3 tank safaris on Wednesdays.

 

[diversteve]

Caicos Adventures does a 3 tank also - maybe Thursday? Since your concerned with stability, Caicos Cat is a decent sized powered catamaran.

The logistics of why there aren't more - the best diving is about 30-45mins. away at West Caicos/French Cay - both uninhabited. Usually they leave from a mrina on the south but most of their customers are around Grace Bay north. So they also provide a shuttle from resorts - which adds another 1/2 or so to the trip. 2 tanks, lunch is provided and you're back at your resort maybe 2:30? Add a 3rd tank and it's 4:30.

It is sort of an open water crossing so if sickness is a concern, maybe look for an operator who dives off Grace Bay or NW Point instead. A couple do both. Also they don't seem to leave too early - IDK why. I've seen 9am mentioned.

 

[Jeff85248]

I was just in T&C and signed up for the three tanks safari (Wednesdays) at Dive Provo. They told me that when I prepaid they guarantee your dives. Even if it's just you and the dive master. (That's what I was told by the sales crew in Florida) what I was told by the dive shop when I got there was different. They told me they have to cancel the third dive because they didn't have enough signed up.

Now when I inquired at Caicos Adventures. They said all their dives are not guaranteed. So that's why I went with dive Provo.

Bottom line. Third dive or three tanks days are never guaranteed unless you have a big group.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

 

[Jeff85248]

I don't have sea legs and don't think I could handle a live aboard.... are there ANY dive ops in Turks that offer more that 2 dives a day??? This seems to be the norm for what I'm finding. Thanks

I just dove in Oct 2016. Dove. North point. French Cay. And west Caicos. All one hour boat rides one way. Sea was good. On the day it rained and stormed the seas were rough enough to get one or two people sick. If the weather is good like my other two days of diving you will have no problem. I don't mean to make a confusing report and I know you book your trip so far in advance it is hard to predict the weather. My suggestion to you would be sure to book the time of the year that has the least storms and best seas. You will be on the boat for a while. But it emerald you wasn't bad at it's worse.

 

[Thook]

Overall how are dive conditions there? What shape is the reef in?? Thanks

 

[scubastephb]

Hi all,

Just got back from diving T&C October 15-22 2016 ( two tank dives on October 17,18,19 2016). I stayed at Club Med and used the info from scubaboard to decide who to dive with. the two big winners was Caicos Adventures and Dive Provo.

Here is my 2 cents on the subject:

When I called Caicos Adventures they said they will not guarantee my dives even if I pay in advance and travel thousands of miles to get there. (turns out my friend used them years ago and was not impressed) they said if they don't have enough sign up they don't go.

Dive Provo said if I'm the only one that shows up then it is me and the dive master for a private dive. (they had so many people they had two boats going out on each of my three days of diving and it's off season in October)

IMPORTANT: from shore, all dive sites are about 1 hours boat ride from dock to reef. This is obviously why live aboards are so popular and it makes sense to book a live aboard if you want a lot of diving. I think the beaches and the land are beautiful and I will probably go back for a live aboard on a future trip but it would be a successful trip if you stay on land. When staying at Club Med and waiting for my pick up ride there was a couple waiting to be picked up by their dive shop, Provo Turtle Divers, the couple dove with them before and was on their way to dive with them again. (i think if you are repeat customer you are saying a lot)

AND HERE'S WHAT I FOUND OUT THAT WILL HOPEFULLY HELP YOU: While riding the hour to and from the reef, I picked the brain of our captain and dive masters. Here's what they said. Club Med's dive shop is a third party company and not Club Med owned as mentioned in posts from years ago. BUT.... they only visit close by reefs. North Point. and closer. they do not go to French Cay and West Caicos (some of my best dives) Possibly why Caicos Adventures only takes large groups is because they have a beautiful dive catamaran and it wouldn't make sense to take out such a large boat for a few people. There are several small operations that have very small boats and can't operate off season. The captain said these are small dive boats that take 6-8 people out. (sounds like fun) Dive Provo has been in operation for a long time and by the experience of the dive masters and the quality of the boats they have a great operation. I'm glad I went with them. I could safely say if I go back and don't use a live aboard I would use them again.

I hope this helps someone like you guys helped me.

Jeff

 

[scubastephb]

Hi Jeff,

Just to clarify something you said.... There are 2 small dive operators on island - Aqua Tci and Flamingo divers and they operate all year round ( except for when they are on vacation - it is not that they cannot operate in the close season but sometimes they chose not to as they are away!

Both operators are excellent and well worth a visit!