Here's a guide to help you plan your first (or next) Turks and Caicos scuba diving trip.
Lay of the Land: Turks and Caicos consists of 40 different islands and cayes, 8 of which are inhabited. There are two group of islands. On the West side are the Caicos group and on the east are the Turks group. The two groups are separated by the 22 mile Columbus Passage.
Unlike some other Caribbean islands, the Turks and Caicos are fairly flat with marshes and mangrove swamps.
We have only stayed on Providenciales ("Provo"), which is the most developed of the island group. As a result, it offers many hotels, restaurants, attractions, etc. Provo covers 38 square miles and is fringed by white sand beaches. This is where most of the tourists head. We are working on getting to the other islands, hopefully soon!
Provo is where you will find the absolutely gorgeous Grace Bay Beach, voted the Best Beach by Conde Naste. Most people stay on Grace Bay Beach and do their diving off its shore.
Location: The Turks and Caicos are located just south (30 miles) of the Bahamas and 575 miles southeast of Miami. It is only a 1 1/2 hour plane ride from Miami. It is easy to get to with many direct flights from the states, especially during the high season (mid-December through April).
Weather: Winter temperatures average a pleasant 75-80 degrees during the day and cool down to the mid-60's in the evening. Daytime temperatures warm up to 90-95 degrees in the summer with nighttime in the cooler 73-77 degree range. Summer can get hot and humid, like the rest of the Caribbean.
The rainy season goes from late May through November. Hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30. The most active period is usually September and October.
Water Temperature: Water temperatures range from 74F to 78F in the winter and around 80F to 84F in the summer. Most divers wear at least a shorty in the winter during their Turks and Caicos scuba diving trips.
Reefs and Rides: There are lots of great dive sites to explore during your Turks and Caicos scuba diving trip. The reef system here is 200 miles long and about 65 miles wide. Wall diving starts fairly shallow so it is also good for beginners. Some drop offs start as shallow as 35-40 feet. If you are a beginner, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these islands as great place to start your diving career.
The government is also protecting the waters off the Turks and Caicos. Marine parks and fishing reserves have been set up in the islands. The Princess Alexandra National Park is off the coast of Provo and most diving off of Grace Bay is done within the boundaries of the park. Mooring balls have also been set up at most of the sights throughout the islands to protect the coral.
Since the reef is right off the shore of Grace Bay, you will have short boat rides to the dive sites. Our rides to the sites off of Grace bay were about 15-20 minutes.
So if you get a chance to go on a Turks and Caicos scuba diving trip, go and enjoy it. It's a trip you will alway remember.
Dianne Rein has traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean to find the best dive sites for her guide to scuba diving website: www.scuba-diving-smiles.com. You can read her reviews of dive sites in the Turks and Caicos at http://www.scuba-diving-smiles.com/turks-and-caicos-diving.html
