What did I miss in Grand Turk?

[Scuba Do]

I just got back from a cruise in the Caribbean. The first two dives I did were in Grand Turk, about which I had heard really good things. All of us on the dives were greatly disappointed. Very mundane, little color, and not much variety of marine life. The second two dives were off of St. Thomas, which does not seem to have the same reputation as Grand Turk. It was BEAUTIFUL!!! Lots of color, tremendous variety of marine life, spectacular dives. Did we just go to an uncharacteristically poor location in Grand Turk? What am I missing?

 

[opalobsidian]

I will keep an eye on this thread because I dove there 5 days in October and I MISSED IT TOO!

We did see some nice wildlife, like quite a few big turtles (two of which were in a battle far below us) some honkin' big kick but crabs (two of which were in a kung foo standoff) and a pod o dolphins closely pursued by a pod o divers (one tried to bop my husband) (a dolphin, not a diver) and a huge wriggling green eel...

So we got to witness some exciting nature drama

BUT-
The coral landscape was SAD! that stuff is so bleached and oozing green goo- such a tragedy! looks like it once was spectacular, wish I could have seen it 20 years ago!

In fact
The other couple we were diving with blew off their last day of diving cause they were just that unimpressed with what they were seeing.

Glad I went once but I ain't hurryin' back!
Pamela

 

[mikerault]

What dive sites did you visit? Without knowing the dive sites it is difficult to say whay you had a bad experience.

Mike

 

[Scuba Do]

What dive sites did you visit? Without knowing the dive sites it is difficult to say whay you had a bad experience

We did the Tunnel and the Coral Garden.

 

[pilot fish]

I just got back from a cruise in the Caribbean. The first two dives I did were in Grand Turk, about which I had heard really good things. All of us on the dives were greatly disappointed. Very mundane, little color, and not much variety of marine life. The second two dives were off of St. Thomas, which does not seem to have the same reputation as Grand Turk. It was BEAUTIFUL!!! Lots of color, tremendous variety of marine life, spectacular dives. Did we just go to an uncharacteristically poor location in Grand Turk? What am I missing?

Diving from a crusie ship is not the way to see any place that is known for good diving. The Dive Ops do not take you to the better sites, or even mix you with divers staying on the isalnd.

 

[TheHobster]

that is ahrd to belive as in 03 I was there and found the diving to be extraordinary and the coral to be vibrant, and the critters awesome!! Coral Garden was an excellent site and we had some black coral at depth at the Tunnel I think.

I was an awesome week, with dynamite diving, and is certainly a major memory of mine. That said, who knows what 3 1/2 years has done. ESpecially now that cruise ships stop there. What op were you with?

 

[SCUBAJENNIFER]

I think Grand Turk has changed a bit...I was there for a week in 2003 and was blown away...couldn't say enough about the conditions there...I went back in 2006 and I didn't feel as though it was as good. It may be where I've been in between times was clouding my vision, but I don't think so. I didn't see nearly as much life this time around. I would still go back as It's one of my all time favorite locals. The island is quiet and the people are awesome. It has definitely become more popular over the last few years, so maybe we're to blame.

 

[pilot fish]

Just looked at my log. I was there in May 06 for a week and really liked it and thought the diving was good. I read in my log that Coral Gardens was drab and not a lot of color. Tunnels had a nice swim through but not a lot of fish. I liked all the other sites. See, you were not taken to good dive sites from the cruise ships.

We also got a chance to swim with wild porpose on the way to a dive site. We all jumed in with fins and snorkel and swam around with them for several minutes- that happend twice, It was a great encounter. I also wrote in my log that I liked these reefs better, more color, more vibrant, than the reefs off Ambergris Belize.

You might want to go back and stay on the island next time. I think you'll like the diving more.

 

[all4scuba05]

Did he/she book through the cruise ship? Or did he/she book through a dive shop? He/she hasn't stated it yet.

 

[mikerault]

Probably with Oasis if it was a cruise dive. They do not take the "POD" people to the best sites because usually they have poor skills and end up trashing the site...sorry if I offend anyone but it is the truth. I have dove many sites in Grand Turk in 05 and 06 and found them all nice. I have not dove the tunnels or the garden since the invasion of the POD people...those are the only sites they take them to however. I have posted bunches of pictures from Grand Turk...you can see the life there...

Mike