| Aruba |
Providenciales, the largest of the Turks & Caicos Island chain has commercial jets arriving on a daily bases and as of October 1998 major renovations are well on their way to modernize the facilities to handle the anticipated influx of tourist into the 21st century. "Provo" is home to Club Med, condos and other hotels set on its longest beach, Grace Bay. This sugar white sandy beach was voted one of the top 15 beaches in the Caribbean by Caribbean Travel & Life Magazine ( Dec.’98) and deserves it. Uncrowded, and befitting any postcard, Grace Bay is home to "Jo-Jo" a wide dolphin that treats the guests to visits on a regular bases. The T&C Club Med is rapidly gaining a reputation for a "hot singles" environment. While there are other accommodations available, the center of attention is fixed to Grace Bay with it’s excellent restaurants, conch farm and very lush golf course adorning the north end. Walk the sandy beach, feel the tanning sun, put your toes in the warm crystal blue Caribbean water and watch all your cares melt away. |
| Bahamas | |
| Belize | |
| Bonaire | |
| Cayman Islands | |
| Cozumel | |
| Curacao | |
| Florida Keys | |
| Puerto Rico | |
| Roatan | |
| St. Lucia | |
| Tobago | |
| Trinadad |
Scuba:
There are a number of dive operators on Provo, all take advantage of Grace Bay’s coral reef. On-site hotel dive operations and the close proximity to the reef allows easy access for two-tank morning or one tank afternoon dives, which ever fits your pleasure. This is a very good place to use as an open water certification dive site, no current and varying depths allow people to become comfortable with their skill levels.
While Grace Bay provides a number of good dive locations, the real beauty is found on the dive sites off West Caicos. Dive operators shuttle divers to moored harbor boats that speeds off on a 30-40 minute ride to a world of fabulous diving. Once in the water, you drop 25’-35’to a sandy bottom, a short swim brings you to untouched vertical walls. Simply pick your depth and enjoy the unspoiled beauty of T&C!
Traditional Caribbean fish life abound on the top of the reef, but along the wall provides the very real possibility of reef sharks, turtles, and eagle rays encounters. There is nothing like a reef shark, turtle or eagle ray encounter and still being able to dine that evening in a linen clad restaurant! Huge barrel sponges, fields of fan coral, an elephant ear sponge 10’ high, brain coral, massive mushroom sponges surrounded with more exquisite fish that can be imagined, all waits for the T &C diver.
Weekly the dive operators arrange for a "Safari All-Day-Trip" to an outer Cayes. Often these are little more than the coral reef breaking the surface, but it puts you out where INCREDIBLE animals can be observed. This involves a two-tank morning dive, provided lunch, an afternoon dive, with arrival back to the hotel in time for "Happy Hour". Stories abound of whale sightings, I personally saw four giant eagle rays "flying information" and captured it on video tape. This trip must be done!
There is also the availability to dive with a "live-aboard" operation since the Turks & Caicos Aggressor and Peter Hughes Sea Dancer are operating out of Provo. I was on the Sea Dancer for a week and thoroughly loved it (video available)
Ratings: (4-1/2 Flags)
Highlights:
Excellent, Excellent diving
Beginner to Professional, there are dive sites to fit everyone
High quality dive boats with Professional staff
Flexible dive arrangements
World-class beach
Very friendly local people
Moderate Pricing
Very nice accommodations
Lessor Lights:
Taxi fares are rip-off
Not too much night-life (Best for divers or "Beach Gods/Goddess)
(
