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THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS Year:2005 A tranquil and unspoilt Caribbean paradise Season: Year-round diving Visibility: 30-50 metes Water temperature: 25-29°C In the Turks Island Passage, which links the turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean to the warm, tropical Caribbean Sea, a string of small islands trails off the end of the Bahamas. These are the Turks and Caicos Islands. To the west lies Cuba, to the south lies Hispaniola. Only eight of these 30 islands and small coral cays are inhabited. Several hundred years of salt producing industry have left their mark. Vegetation is sparse on these low-lying islands as, in the past, almost every tree and palm was chopped down in an attempt to discourage rain, as year-round desiccating winds and low humidity converted trapped sea water into natural salt. Gin clear water shading from deepest cobalt to pale turquoise surrounds the islands with their many largely-undiscovered diving sites that have, as a consequence, sustained very little damage by divers. The government are making every effort to conserve and protect their wonderful natural resource and have established several marine national parks. A fascinating parade of interesting marine life passes through the waters of these islands, including the awesome sight of the Humpback Whale migration. Between February and April the humpbacks migrate through the Turks Island Passage to reach their breeding grounds on the Mouchoir and Silvers Banks on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. Divers frequently hear the beautiful and eerie sounds of calling whales (and Turks & Caicos Aggressor offers special whale charters to snorkel with these fantastic creatures). In the summer months these blue tropical waters hold Manta Rays. As the Great Blue Herons come to feed at the pools, wild dolphins leap and dance offshore amongst the waves. The Turks and Caicos Islands are nature lover's islands, where the adventurer and the escapist will find peace and tranquillity.
THE CAICOS ISLANDS If you elect to take a cruise on Turks & Caicos Explorer or Turks & Caicos Aggressor you will have the chance to explore a wide range of dive sites around the northern and western Caicos Islands. Vertical walls are found off the coast of many islands and it is here that unusual and magnificent corals and sponges thrive. A huge 3-metre diameter Orange Elephant Ear Sponge growing on the reef wall gives its name to Elephant Ear Canyon . Three species of the rare and highly prized black coral can be found overhanging the hollow cut in the reef wall at Amphitheatre . A school of Horse-eye Trevally cruises through the corals searching for food. A 5-metre column of coral grows vertically from the ocean bed dwarfing the usual 2-metre formations at Driveway . Fascinating growths of corals and sponges occur here and there is always a healthy population of Yellowtail Snappers, Yellow Goatfish, Queen Angelfish and surgeonfish. Many lucky divers will experience the joys of encountering Bottle-nosed or Spotted Dolphins, either above or below the water. These playful characters sometimes stay with the boat for a long time and there can be few more gloriously spontaneous diving delights than leaping into the water with them and allowing the dolphins to show off like children in a playground. Squeals of delight fill the water as the dolphins exhibit their skills, leaping above the waves or diving suddenly into the deeps, or merely besport themselves to show their sleek undersides and graceful movements in the water. Southern Stingrays and beautiful Spotted Eagle Rays fly' in these waters and there are frequent meetings with eerie large barracuda that lurk in cuts in the reef or in the shadow of the boat. Large, friendly, dark-banded Nassau Groupers often come to greet the divers and hang around watching these unusual visitors to their watery world. Hawksbill Turtles flap serenely by on many of the dive sites and have even been known to follow divers on occasions! During the late summer months Nurse Sharks gather to mate in the shallows of French Cay. If the weather is right there may be opportunity to snorkel here and witness this wonder of nature.
GRAND TURK Grand Turk, six miles long and just over a mile wide, is the administrative centre of the Turks and Caicos archipelago. Delightful Cockburn Town, where the main street runs along the shore, is Grand Turk's capital city'. The colonial elegance and character of the town is reflected in the old timber buildings, with wooden shutters and weathered balconies, built along the beach road. Cockburn Town has a colourful past as pirates such as Calico Jack Rackman made Grand Turk their home and a centre for their buccaneering escapades! Visiting the Grand Turk museum, under the direction of the curator, is a vital part of the holiday. It will give you a glimpse into history as you learn about the original settlers. The ground floor of this beautiful waterfront museum is devoted to the famous Molasses Reef wreck. Now known to have sunk before 1513, this is the earliest recorded European wreck in the New World. There are numerous wrecks round the island, very many of which have not yet been discovered. On Grand Turk there really is the chance of finding sunken treasure! All diving is conducted within the waters of the Turks and Caicos National Park. As with diving in any national park, you are asked to observe certain rules simply in order to conserve the beauty of the reef. Because these laws prevent any form of fishing or anchoring in the marine park, it is delightfully refreshing to see that the fish show no fear of divers and you can feel a true closeness to nature. Grand Turk is famous for its wonderfully quiet, white, soft, sandy coral beaches and the spectacular and famous Grand Turk Wall. Teeming with aquatic life, this wall on the western (leeward) side of the reef is very close to the shore, so that boat trips are short, with the farthest dive site being only 20 minutes away. The reef begins at depths of only 7 metres in some areas. The wall itself consists of a tumbling series of sheer rock faces, cracks, crevices and ledges plunging away dramatically to over 2,000m. There is ample opportunity to explore these canyons, caves and overhangs and become familiar with the staggering variety of sealife that occurs in these habitats. Keep looking above and behind you at all times pelagic encounters are common here and there are almost always going to be impressive fish stories to tell back on the boat! If you have had the misfortune to be on overcrowded boats and over-dived sites and want a change, the Turks and Caicos Islands are the delightful and perfect antidote undeveloped diving, a special treat! At Black Forest , one of the prime dive sites on Grand Turk, the wall begins at 20 metres and drops almost vertically but with a severely undercut section over 30 metres wide. A dive light, to reveal the true beauty of the natural colours, proves very handy as much of the area is in shade until late in the afternoon. Here, because the undercut is sheltered from surge or summer storm damage, all five varieties of black coral, tube sponges and rope sponges grow in profusion. The top of the wall is home to the Great Barracuda. If you have never been the subject of the eerie, silent watch of the hovering barracuda, now is the time to try! An ancient anchor, encrusted with years of coral and sponge growth, marks The Anchor, another remarkably fine wall dive where Spotted Eagle Rays may be seen cruising beyond the lip of the wall. The arch at McDonald's is at 20 metres, and from there it is a straight drop into the depths. The reef fish in this area are exceptionally friendly and allow divers to come very close. Under the cloak of darkness, many invertebrates awakening from their sleep come out to feed, making this dive site an interesting choice for a night dive. The Tunnels , one large and one small, cut through the prolific coral growth of a wall at a depth of 15 metres. For those with experience of deeper diving, keep finning through the tunnels and pop out of the other end at a depth of 30 metres! A visit to South Dock should provide good views of some more unusual fish. Although there is little coral and sponge growth here, the shallow sea bed is home to Flying Gurnards, Frogfish, delightful little seahorses and several varieties of batfish, including the rare and bizarre Pancake Batfish.
SALT CAY Remote Salt Cay can be reached by shore-based operators on Grand Turk on days when the weather permits. At Kelly's Folly the top of the reef is at about 12 metres and is decorated with both hard and soft corals. A sand-bottomed canyon, falling at a gentle angle, leads out onto the wall. You can search here for interesting invertebrates, such as anemones and urchins, or look outwards into the blue for great views of Queen Triggerfish, Queen Angelfish, Blue Tangs and Blue Parrotfish. Sometimes washed with a fairly strong tidal current, Point Pleasant is a shallow dive of only 5 metres. Huge coral heads and stands of Elkhorn coral rise to the surface and it is possible to see a surprisingly varied collection of fish in the swim-throughs and overhangs. Tiger Groupers, schools of Blue Tangs and African Pompano can be found here with the occasional Nurse Shark making its way round the reef.
OSPREY BEACH HOTEL, GRAND TURK For many years we have been sending divers to enjoy the hospitality provided by Jenny Smith who managed the Salt Raker Inn on Grand Turk. When Jenny informed us that she had bought her own hotel, the 28-room Osprey Beach Hotel right on the beach and just up the road from Salt Raker Inn, and that she was moving all her staff, we knew that it would be best to move our clients with her! All the comfortable and pleasant rooms are equipped with private bathrooms, ceiling fans, air-conditioning, refrigerator, cable TV, telephone, computer linking facilities, refrigerators and private balconies or patios. All rooms face the ocean. Perched right on the beach and with its own freshwater swimming pool, Osprey Beach Hotel's schedule is run to match the diver's routine, rather than the diver matching his or her routine to that of the hotel (late dinner is available to accommodate night divers). The four Deluxe Suites and eight Deluxe Rooms have a king-sized bed (many are four-posters) and are newly renovated throughout, having all-white fittings and tiled floors. The suites have the addition of a microwave oven, toaster and coffee-making facilities. They do not have cooking facilities. The four Standard Rooms each have a king-sized bed. The twelve Standard Suites each have two queen-sized beds and also have cooking facilities, including a 4-burner hob. However, due to the spasmodic supply of provisions on the island we do not recommend relying entirely on self-catering! Fittings in the standard rooms are of a floral design. With a well-stocked pool bar, The Birdcage, you can enjoy a cool drink while soaking in the warm Caribbean sun. A full range of cocktails, wine, soft drinks and beverages is available. There are plenty of sun loungers in shady areas where you can relax when the sun gets too much, or just slip into the swimming pool and dry off in the sunshine. The Birdcage is open from 1000 until guests leave in the evenings (which can be anytime up to midnight). The Tapas Bar serves lunch and dinner daily. For those who enjoy deserts, don't miss Annamae's Key Lime Pie. The atmosphere is very relaxed and informal and on Wednesday evenings live entertainment is provided, along with a barbecue. You might well recognize the entertainer especially when you hear the words he sings he'll take you diving all day ... then you drink some rum and listen to him play' yes, it's Mitch Rolling from the dive centre! Mitch has already cut a couple of CDs and will happily sell you one to take home and remind you of your sunny Caribbean days. Barbecues are also held around the pool on Saturdays. The Courtyard Café is very conveniently located on Duke Street, right across the road from the hotel. The café is open from 0630 until 1500 and offers a unique menu. Choose from fresh waffles with fruit and whipped cream with cappuccino or espresso coffee, or a full breakfast at any time of the day! There are a couple of alternative restaurants within 10 minutes walk of the Osprey Beach Hotel. Our chosen dive centre on Grand Turk is the exceptionally friendly and caring Blue Water Divers . The owner, Mitch Rolling, personally supervises the diving and the tuition, working very hard to make sure that each diver gets the type of diving experience they are looking for. Blue Water divers offers a full range of PADI courses, which are taught in small groups, often one to one! Dive boats take small groups of 10 divers maximum. Shore diving is available at any time, day or night. Simply request a tank and make sure you have a buddy! Our dive operators are very keen and enthusiastic to share their knowledge of the beautiful Grand Turk Wall with visitors. Whichever dive site is chosen for the day's activities, each morning you will be collected from the beach right by the hotel and taken out to dive. Since the dive sites are usually no more than five or ten minutes boat ride away, the usual schedule is to depart in the morning for a two-tank dive and return to the hotel at lunch time. Extra dives can be arranged locally, in which case you will be returned to the hotel for lunch and picked up at the beach again for the next dive. Night diving can also be arranged locally. Standard Room £565 (non-divers: £325) from 1 July-20 December £614 (non-divers: £374) from 6 January-30 June £649 (non-divers: £409) from 1-5 January, 21-31 December Deluxe Room and Standard Suite £649 (non-divers: £409) from 1 July-20 December £684 (non-divers: £444) from 6 January-30 June £698 (non-divers: £458) from 1-5 January, 21-31 December Deluxe Suite £698 (non-divers: £458) from 1 July-20 December £733 (non-divers: £493) from 6 January-30 June £754 (non-divers: £514) from 1-5 January, 21-31 December
Includes: " Airport transfers. " 7 nights room-only accommodation on a twin/share basis at Osprey Beach Hotel. " 6 days diving (2 boat dives a day and unlimited shore diving tanks), dive guide on boat dives, cylinders and weights.
Additional Nights: Standard Room £85 (without diving: £45) from 1 July-20 December £92 (without diving: £52) from 6 January-30 June £97 (without diving: £57) from 1-5 January, 21-31 December Deluxe Room and Standard Suite £97 (without diving: £57) from 1 July-20 December. £102 (without diving: £62) from 6 January-30 June £104 (without diving: £64) from 1-5 January, 21-31 December Deluxe Suite £104 (without diving: £64) from 1 July-20 December. £109 (without diving: £69) from 6 January-30 June £112 (without diving: £72) from 1-5 January, 21-31 December
Single Occupancy Supplement: Standard Room £27 per night from 1 July-20 December £37 per night from 6 January-30 June £38 per night from 1-5 January, 21-31 December Deluxe Room and Standard Suite £32 per night from 1 July-20 December. £47 per night from 6 January-30 June £48 per night from 1-5 January, 21-31 December Deluxe Suite £41 per night from 1 July-20 December. £49 per night from 6 January-30 June £50 per night from 1-5 January, 21-31 December
Deposit: £200
TURKS & CAICOS EXPLORER The 106-foot MV Turks & Caicos Explorer accommodates up to 16 passengers in eight cabins. Of the four upper deck cabins, two have queen-sized beds and two have a lower queen-sized bed and a single upper bed. On the lower deck are four cabins with double lower and single upper beds. Each has a private bathroom with shower. The crew of Turks & Caicos Explorer really take the effort out of diving. Once you have set up your gear on the first day they will look after it for the rest of the week, leaving divers free to enjoy what they have come for diving! The main deck (with the diving deck aft) features a comfortable air-conditioned salon which is used for dining, slide shows or simply relaxing after a good day's diving. From the upper deck's open area passengers can marvel at the beautiful scenery, soak up the sun or, when the diving is over for the day, select a drink from the well-stocked bar and watch the warm sun disappear into the Caribbean Sea. There is also a shaded seating area and an entertainment centre with stereo system, VCR and TV. All enclosed areas are air-conditioned. Diving takes place directly from the boat by giant stride into the water (a drop of just over a metre); at the end of the dive you simply climb aboard by one of the ladders. Underwater photographers have special facilities on board Turks & Caicos Explorer . There is daily E-6 processing, two light tables in the salon and plenty of film and batteries for sale. The dive deck has a large multi-level photography table for storage and servicing and there is a special stabilised charging station. Two separate rinse tanks are designated as camera-exclusive. Thorough briefings with site descriptions are given at each new dive site and, although divers are given a great deal of freedom, the buddy system is maintained at all times. Computer diving is encouraged to get the maximum profile from each dive. Turks & Caicos Explorer anchors at specific sites in the morning or the afternoon for divers to enter the water when they wish (rather than have to dive with the whole group). Divers can expect up to 5 dives each day, including night dives. Meals on the Turks & Caicos Explorer are freshly prepared every day. There is a choice of eggs, cereal, toast, tea and coffee for breakfast each day. Lunch and dinner are served buffet-style, with the occasional barbecue on the top deck. On Fridays dinner is not included in the holiday price and is usually taken on the town'. A selection of beverages is always available, including soft drinks and beer. Alcoholic drinks are included in the package price. Turks & Caicos Explorer operates from Turtle Cove Marina in Providenciales for 7 nights cruises, departing every Saturday throughout the year. Turks & Caicos Explorer , in her previous incarnation as Caribbean Explorer, consistently received very high ratings in Rodale's Scuba Diving magazine. Cruises departing between September-December £861 All other cruises £985 Includes: " 7 nights cruise on Turks & Caicos Explorer on a twin/share basis with full board (except dinner on Friday evening), including soft drinks and house wine with dinner. " 5 full days of diving (up to 4 or 5 dives daily, including night dives) plus one or two dives on the last day, cylinders and weights. Please note: A hotel tax of US$55 is not included in the package price and will be collected on board. Dinner on the last night is not included, but guests will go as a group to one of the local restaurants. Important: If your log book shows that you have not dived for over a year you will have to take a short scuba review course on the first day which costs US$75, payable on board. Non-divers/snorkelers: A 10% reduction applies. Additional Week: A 10% discount applies. Single Occupancy Supplement: If you are travelling alone and are willing to share a twin cabin with a fellow passenger of the same sex you can avoid paying any supplement. If you prefer to have a cabin to yourself a 50% supplement applies. Deposit: £300
TURKS & CAICOS AGGRESSOR Turks & Caicos Aggressor II is a very comfortable liveaboard that carries a maximum of 20 passengers in 9 staterooms. The Master Suite has a double bed and private head and shower, five Deluxe Staterooms each have a lower double and a single upper bed and private head and shower, two Twin Staterooms each have two single beds and share a head and shower between them, while the Quad Stateroom has four single beds and a private head, plus a private head and shower located next door. Each stateroom has TV/VCR units and individually controlled air-conditioning. Six crew provide superb service throughout the cruise and make sure your diving holiday runs smoothly. Between dives guests can relax on the sundeck (either in or out of the shade) or try the amazing hot tub!. The salon has an excellent collection of books, videos and music to enjoy. A personal computer station provides e-mail facilities (for a small charge) along with a colour printer and slide scanner. The dive deck covers the aft third of the main deck. Large gear lockers double as seats and line the rails and centre. Two tanks are mounted at the back of each locker, so it is easy to don your equipment at your seat or ask for the tank to be taken to the dive platform. Dive information is displayed on a large board which shows depth and marine life information. A large three-tiered camera table has plenty of space for camera assembly or preparation and separate rinse tanks are kept for cameras and videos. The photography department provides rental cameras and accessories as well as the services of the photo pro if you require a model or expert advice. E-6 processing is available daily. Light tables are always available for slide viewing. A range of PADI and NAUI speciality courses are offered on Turks & Caicos Aggressor including Nitrox training and facilities. A full range of diving equipment is available for rental by pre-arrangement. For after the dive there is a freshwater shower and clean towels awaiting, as well as the chef's freshly prepared snacks to appease the after-dive hunger pangs! Delicious barbecues, American-style and local dishes are served; breads, biscuits and baked snacks come strait from the oven. Most meals are served buffet-style. Turks & Caicos Aggresso r operates out of the harbour at Turtle Cove Marina, Providenciales for 7 nights cruises in the northern and western Caicos Islands, departing every Saturday between April and January. A Turks & Caicos Aggressor brochure is available from our office on request. £861 in a Quad Stateroom £1170 in a Twin Stateroom £1355 in a Deluxe Stateroom £1478 in a Master Suite Includes: " Airport transfers on Providenciales, if arriving/departing on Saturdays. " 7 nights cruise on Turks and Caicos Aggresso r on a twin/share or quad/share basis with full board (except dinner on the last night), including non-alcoholic and local alcoholic beverages. " 5 full days of diving (up to 4 or 5 dives per day, including night dives) plus one or two dives on the last day, cylinders and weights. Please note : A local bed tax, currently US$45 per person, will be collected on board. Dinner on the last night is not included, but guests will be provided with guidance about good local restaurants. Non-divers: A £123 reduction applies. Additional Week: A £123 discount applies. Single Occupancy Supplement: If you are travelling alone and are willing to share a twin cabin with a fellow passenger of the same sex you can avoid paying any supplement. If you prefer to have a cabin to yourself a 50% supplement applies. Special Humpback Whale Charters: These are operated during late January-March to the Silver Banks area between the Turks & Caicos and the Dominican Republic (see that entry for more details). Deposit: £500
FLIGHTS Turks & Caicos Explorer and Turks & Caicos Aggressor packages run from Saturday to Saturday, which means leaving London on Saturday morning by American Airlines. Those bound for Osprey Beach Hotel on Grand Turk, or taking a combination Grand Turk and liveaboard holiday, can depart from, or return to, London on any day of the week by American Airlines, or use the British Airways flights on Sundays. (If flying with British Airways, you will need an overnight in Providenciales after the end of the cruise, which we can arrange for you.) The airfares shown are the least expensive fare category available at the time of going to press. We will quote you the airfare applicable, based on current fare levels and booking class availability, at the time of booking. The usual airfare deposit is £100. AMERICAN AIRLINES Daily morning departures by American Airlines from London (Heathrow) to Providenciales via Miami, arriving in the early evening. Those travelling to Grand Turk continue on Turks & Caicos Airways, arriving later in the evening. Return from Grand Turk or Providenciales on any afternoon via Miami, arriving at London (Heathrow) the following morning. Concessionary rates are available for connecting flights between Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. Please contact our office for details. £621 for departures 1 January-15 July (excluding Easter), 1 September-9 December £739 for departures 21-31 August, 10-17 December, 25-31 December £869 for departures 16 July-20 August £916 for departures at Easter £1034 for departures 18-24 December Weekend Supplement: £12 each way for departures from London or Providenciales on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. Includes: " Scheduled flights London (Heathrow)/Miami/Providenciales/Miami/London (Heathrow) by American Airlines. Grand Turk Supplement: £95 for scheduled flights Providenciales/Grand Turk/Providenciales by TCI Skyking.
BRITISH AIRWAYS British Airways flights depart from London (Heathrow) on Sunday morning, arriving at Providenciales in the afternoon. Return flights depart from Providenciales on Sunday evening, arriving at London (Heathrow) the following morning. Concessionary rates are available for connecting flights between Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. Please contact our office for details. £598 for departures 1 January-15 July (excluding Easter), 1 September-9 December £707 for departures 21-31 August, 10-16 December, 25-31 December £857 for departures 16 July-20 August £897 for departures at Easter £1012 for departures 17-24 December Includes: " Scheduled flights London (Heathrow)/Providenciales/London (Heathrow) by British Airways. Grand Turk Supplement: £95 for scheduled flights Providenciales/Grand Turk/Providenciales by TCI Skyking. Overnights in Providenciales: A wide variety of hotels are available and we can book these for you. Please contact our office.
COMBINING THE TURKS & CAICOS WITH WALKER'S CAY Providing you pass through Miami en route, it is very easy to combine a visit to Turks & Caicos with a visit to Walker's Cay in the Bahamas with its incredible Shark Rodeo'. There is an airline stopover charge in Miami. Other holidays in The Caribbean |