Turks and Caicos Diving - Bluewater Dive Travel

Turks and Caicos Diving

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Diving Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos diving
Scuba diving Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos scuba diving

Scuba Diving in Turks and Caicos

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Turks and Caicos Diving Highlights

With a thriving underwater ecosystem, Turks and Caicos diving boasts some of the best of Caribbean walls. Scuba divers can see a variety of marine life including many different shark species, sea turtles, humpback whales, various colorful and healthy corals. The dives in Turks and Caicos are also known to offer typically stellar visibility and little to no current, making it an ideal location for scuba divers and underwater photographers of all levels. 

Interested in diving Tuks and Caicos?  View the live availability of some of the best liveaboards in Turks & Caicos and book online at the best price or check out our sidebar for land-based options! 


 

Intro to Turks & Caicos

Turks and Caicos is a group of 40 islands and cays located just 550 miles southeast of Miami, Florida. With its close vicinity to North America and the allure of white sand beaches, warm Caribbean waters, and colorful marine life, the Turks and Caicos group is a popular dive travel destination. The islands are surrounded by crystal clear turquoise waters and 1000 square miles (2600 square km) of gorgeous healthy reefs.

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Turks & Caicos Liveaboards and Dive resorts 

Turks and Caicos has just a few dive liveaboards that can introduce you to the best dive sites of the destination. During the winter season, the liveaboards have a special itinerary to have amazing encounters with humpback whales. If you are interested to see these big beautiful creatures, then a liveaboard trip is a great way to enjoy it. Dive resort is another way to experience the great dive sites of Turks and Caicos. There are many options for different that can show you the best dive sites in specific Turks and Caicos areas. 

Interested in whales? Check out our article on The World's Best Places to Swim with Whales.

 

Turks and Caicos diving information

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Turks and Caicos Marine Life

Turks & Caicos is known to have a wide range of marine life. One of the islands' main attractions are the sea turtles. Other sea creatures you can find here include orange elephant ear sponges, gray reef sharks, angelfish, eagle rays, horse-eye jacks, lobster, snapper, garden eels, nurse sharks and a lot of macro life. Another great attraction during the winter months are the humpback whales. Moreover, even hammerheads can be spotted. as wel as dolphins, manta rays, and beautiful eagle rays. 

Check out our 2019 Turks and Caicos trip report and photos to get a sense of what it's like to dive there!

 

Diving Conditions in Turks and Caicos 

  • Water Temperatures: Water temperatures range in the mid-70s to 80s year long
  • Visibility: Ranges from 50 to - 150ft.
  • Recommended wetsuit: 3mm wetsuit

 

Turks And Caicos Dive Areas

8 of the 40 cays and islands in Turks and Caicos are inhabited, but each offers its own unique character. These are some of the best dive areas favored by scuba divers:

1. Providenciales 

The most well-known, developed, and populated of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Providenciales, often referred to as simply "Provo," serves as the center of tourism. The dive sites are abundant with marine life as part of the area has been protected. 

2. Salt Cay 

Boasting wrecks, caverns, and wall dives, not to mention humpback whales, Salt Cay offers a varied range of dive sites. It is one of the most remote areas of Turks & Caicos, which is why it has some of the most beautiful dive sites with pristine coral reefs, rich in marine life and great wall dives. During the winter seasons this is the spot to see migrating humpback whales. 

3. Grand Turk 

Capitol of the territory, Grand Turk boasts topside history and cultural charm. Its turquoise waters and protected, plunging reefs make it a premier dive destination. The largest marine protected area of Turks & Caicos, the Columbus Landfall Marine National Park, is located in Grand Turk. There are plenty of dive sites accessible by both boats and from the shore. Scuba divers can find some very beautiful healthy reefs with a variety of sponges and deep drop-offs. 

4. West Caicos 

This area provides some of the best wall dive sites for all levels of divers. The 6 mile (9km) long wall is very close to the shore and has great reef dive sites with depths around 40ft (12m). Thus, it's a great opportunity for beginner divers to get acquainted with wall diving. Divers can spot many sharks, turtles, snappers and rays, as well as a variety of sponges. 

5. French Cay 

Not far from Provo, French Cay offers scuba divers some very healthy reefs. Due to getting maximum sunlight, the reefs are nutrient-rich and provide a suitable environment for growth. This also means lots of fish! You can even spot some bigger marine life like manta or eagle rays, various sharks and from January to March you can sometimes spot some humpback whales. If you are lucky, you'll even see some hammerhead sharks!

You might also want to check out another great destination to see humpback whales - Moorea, French Polynesia.

 

 

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Best dive sites in TURKS and CAICOS 

Amphitheatre - This large bowl with three slopes really makes you feel like you have arrived at an underwater amphitheater ready to see the play of colorful marine life. The dive site is located in the Landfill National Park in Grand Truk. Before you arrive at the amphitheater part, you'll follow an incredible wall covered with black coral. Schools of jacks, stingrays, nurse sharks, triggerfish, and blue parrotfish are among many fish you can spot there. Behind the drop-off, you might even see some whales, mantas, or dolphins!

McDonald's - Another amazing dive site located at Grand Truk is the McDonald's. Many scuba divers have said it's their favorite site due to its gorgeous arches. Between the bright coral and sponges, you can spot groupers, sharks, moray eels, parrotfish, cleaner shrimp, and eagle rays. Because fishing here is prohibited, marine life has really flourished and make the dives very enjoyable. 

Thunderdome - A metal dome structure that was originally built for a French game show, has now become the highlights of this dive site. Even though the dome has collapsed, it is still very interesting to see. The dome is now covered with Christmas three worms, clams, blennies and surrounded by other small colorful fish. You can also spot some lobsters, snappers, and grunts. It's a great site for some underwater photography.

Magic Mushroom - The name for this site comes from its rock formation shaped like a huge mushroom. The wall is supported by sand chutes and covered with black coral, soft coral, and sponges. Divers can even find a whole black coral tree at the site. Much colorful Caribbean fish, lobsters, crabs, sharks, and rays can be spotted at Magic Mushroom. 

Double D - Two large pinnacles rising from the ocean were an inspiration to this dive site's name. Located at the French Cay, it is a great place to see many large pelagics. Multiple sharks, dolphins, spadefish or scorpionfish come around the pinnacles. The main reason why many divers love this site is that it offers so many different ways to dive it. You can dive the sandy area where the stingrays like to hang around, choose to explore the reefs or see deep drop-offs to the endless bottom. Also, during the winter season, you might hear the sounds of migrating humpback whales passing by. 

Spanish Anchor - As its name suggests, the site displays the remains of a centuries-old anchor from a Spanish ship. Divers do need to pay attention not to miss it, as bright coral and sponges are covering the anchor so it matches the surrounding reef. This dive site is also great to see some macro life like seahorses or frogfish. From the larger animals, you can often see turtles and reef sharks. 

HMS Endymion - Turks and Caicos diving is mostly known for its great wall dives but can also surprise you with some amazing wreck dives. The HMS Endymion, an 18th-century British warship located in the Salt Cay, is one of the most famous wrecks at the destination. This wreck dive is also suitable for less experienced divers as the depth of the wreck is only 40ft (12m). Through the crystal clear water, you can see it's heavy chains, cannons, and huge anchors. The surrounding area has some arches, ledges, and beautiful coral where colorful Caribbean fish swims. 

 

Travel Information 

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How to Get to Turks & Caicos

Most international flights into the Turks and Caicos arrive at Providenciales International Airport (PLS). You can then take a commuter flight to the other islands.

 

How to Dive Turks & Caicos

While diving in this area is mostly land-based, there are also a few liveaboard departures from the islands such as the Turks and Caicos Explorer II and the Turks and Caicos Aggressor II.

Find out more about the Aggressor Fleet.

 

Best Time to DIVE Turks & Caicos

Diving is available year-round in Turks and Caicos. Topside weather is in the high 80s with an occasional shower between June and October, while November to May is in the lower 80s with no rain. If you wish to see the humpback whales, the season typically starts from late January to March. 

 

Topside & Non-Diving Activities

Visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities including kayaking, bird watching, snorkeling, whale watching, eco-tourism, golf, conch tasting, and cultural, historical exploration and even things to keep the kids entertained like Sesame Street Beaches. Several islands have unique characteristics and special attractions to explore:

 

  • North Caicos - Connected by a causeway to Middle Caicos, North Caicos features historical ruins and excellent beaches.
  • Middle Caicos - Sparsely populated, Middle Caicos features intriguing natural sights, including the Caribbean's largest cave network, Conch Bar Caves.
  • South Caicos - This island is the Turks and Caicos fishing epicenter, known for its conch and lobster.
  • French Cay - An island bird sanctuary, formerly a hideout for pirates.

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Turks & CAICOS LIVEABOARDS

Find a Turks & Caicos liveaboard trip with this online booking tool. Best price guaranteed! 

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Other Useful Information 

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Practical Information

  • Currency: US Dollar (USD)
  • Electricity: 120 V
  • Time Zone: UTC-5
  • Vaccines: Please check the CDC website for updated information on vaccines, health concerns, etc.
  • Visa: U.S. citizens do not need visas to enter the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCIS) as tourists for short periods, however, U.S. citizens must present a valid passport.
  • Language: English is the official language of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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Reviews (4)

  • Top Reviewer
Fountain Valley, CA
United States
4
5
5
4

We've traveled to Turks & Caicos many times; several visits to Providenciales (Provo, as the locals call it) and once to Grand Turk.
Provo is the most developed and highest populated of the islands. Each time we visited, we were traveling with a small group of friends and rented a villa to accommodate all of us. Being able to cook for ourselves and buy our own liquor and wine, helped defray part of the food and beverage costs. Each villa had a pool and ocean access, so we felt it was a more private experience. There are many to choose from and there are websites dedicated to T&C villa rentals. If this isn't an option for you, there are many hotel options.

We used rental cars as our transportation to get to the dive boat, restaurants, shopping areas, and exploring. Restaurants range from five star gourmet to small local food joints. One of our favorites is a local spot specializing in the conch taken directly from the ocean to the restaurant’s kitchen. In Provo, there's food available to please everyone.

This island has a lot of gorgeous beaches, and its most popular one is Grace Bay Beach, which makes every world's most beautiful beach list. The turquoise water of Chalk Sound is likely the most beautifully colored water anywhere on earth. Other topside activities are too numerous to list here. There is also a robust nightlife.

The scuba diving around Provo mostly concentrates around the great wall diving of Northwest Point. This area can be crowded with boats from several dive operators. The dive shop I used took us instead to West Caicos, French Caye, and Sandbore Channel. The wall diving at these sites was fantastic. I can't remember a single dive that sharks weren't spotted. These locations require a longer boat but are worth the trip.

Grand Turk is a smaller, quieter, and more laid back Island. We stayed at a beachfront dive resort with only 16 rooms. There are beautiful beaches here as well. Topside activities are limited to watersports, beach combing, and exploring the island, including Cockburn Town, the very small capital city of Turks & Caicos. We went beach combing and found a good collection of sea glass. Keep in mind that cruise ships come here and the town may be crowded when a ship is in port. Most of the passengers stay at the cruise center, an enormous facility with restaurants, shops, a simulated surfing machine, and one of the largest swimming pools in the Caribbean. I highly recommend staying away from this place, as it is mostly a tourist trap packed with people when a ship is in.

The dive sites here are much closer and require only a short boat ride. We did mostly wall diving with swim throughs, canyons, and coral arches. There's an abundance of corals (including black coral at easily diveable depths) and plenty of marine animals, including friendly groupers.

Bottom line: Turks & Caicos is not a budget destination. Prices here are higher than many other Caribbean locations. That being said, it is one of our favorites. The beauty, people, food, and spectacular diving are all top notch. Don't forget to drive on the left!

Visited on 09/2017 - Submitted on 04/26/2020
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5
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3

We were guests at Aggressor Boat. This was one of our best dives considering the weather, service, crew, food, other guests and harmony, and of course a lot of fun underwater with great visibility. Our captain Amanda was excellent in communicating with the guests as well as the crew; she was an amazing leader and manager. The crew were not only professional in managing daily operations on the boat and underwater, but also maintained joy and excitement throughout the trip, with huge sense of humor. We have awesome movies and shots of a variety of fish (including a lot of sharks!) and coral life. There are so many other destinations we haven't been yet and would like to go. But because of this very satisfying and pleasant experience, we seriously consider to go back, again.

Visited on 08/2014 - Submitted on 10/30/2014
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5
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4

Turks Caicos is a beautiful place - white sand beaches, gorgeous corals, sea fans, Grey Reef Sharks, and great dive centers! We stayed in a private condo on Providenciales. We There's some super fun dives sites like the Thunderdome (old French TV show set) and a couple natural tubes/caverns to explore!

Topside is quiet, the local cuisine specializes in Conch - a big marine snail that is farmed on island - it's great as ceviche or fried up! Quiet island of Providenciales was sweet and people are friendly. I really wanted to adopt a Potcake Pup (Potcake is the term for a street dog, eating the caked on rice and starches in the bottom of a pot) - there are dogs all around but none of them were aggressive. Wish I could have taken them all home!

On the dives I saw tons of flamingo tongue snails, sea fans, reef sharks, and big groupers - the sharks and gorgeous sponges were my favorite on the trip!

Visited on 09/2007 - Submitted on 08/04/2014
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4

TURKS AND CAICOS REVIEW

Quick review of a trip to TCI during the month of July 2014. Stayed at an all inclusive with the family for 10 days.

The dive shop at the resort required an orientation (in pool if you haven't dove for 6+ months, around a table if you have). I did the 20 minute topside orientation, and then they will allow you to sign up for as many dive days as you would like, with a limit of two-tanks per day. Other dives were available at an additional cost (night dives, private charters, etc.). I signed up for dives each day (all two tank dives).

I won't go into each site we dove, but I will say that if you have the good fortune to be on boats going to the North West Point, you won't be sorry. The boat ride is about 40 minutes each way, but well worth it. The alternative is diving in Grace Bay (a 5-10 minute boat ride). Grace Bay had some great sites (Arawak, Grouper Hole, Aquarium, Pinnacle and others), but the sites on the NW Point were amazing.

Highlights for me were Tiki Wall, Eel Garden, Land of Giants. These were wall dives, and it was amazing to swin over the ledge and then look down on blue water as far as you could see. There was not bottom, just blue. The DM's did make a point of warning the divers to check the depth gauging often. With no thermocline or dramatic change in the light levels, it was tough to know that you were at 100' depths. Coming from California diving, it was great to dive in no wetsuit and have 83 degree water at the surface and at 100'.

With regard to the dive operation. I would give the boat captains and all of the DMs I dove with 5 stars. They were eager to make sure we had safe and fun dives. By the end of the first day of diving, I felt like I knew them, and they knew me. All of them remembered and used my name for the rest of the 10 days, which was a nice touch.

My one observation about the operation, was that it had to cater to both novice and advanced divers at the same time. Each DM on the boat (up to 3) could have anywhere from 6-8 divers with them. What I found was that it would be a mix of advanced and novice divers. At first I was a bit let down thinking we would have to dive to the skills of the least experienced diver, but what I found was that the DM would watch them closely, and then allow the more advanced divers to do their own thing. I was able to buddy up with other divers of more advanced levels and then go off on our own and stretch our dives out to 60 minutes, while the less more novice divers were getting 35-40 minute dives. Overall, the diving turned out to be a real highlight for me, and the DMs and captains were GREAT.

Word of advice, if you have your own gear, bring it. I brought my own fins, mask, snorkel, dive computer, but left my regs/BCD at home thinking it would be a drag to carry the extra gear. While the regs/BCDs (Oceanic BCD and Scuba Pro regs) at the resort were fine (and included in the cost of the trip), they were not mine.

Dive gear is sort of like underwear...way better if you can wear your own and not someone else's.

Bottom line for me was that diving in Turks and Caicos was a real treat. I will have this on my list of places to return to, and look forward to more Carribean diving in the future.

Visited on 07/2014 - Submitted on 08/04/2014

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