Diving Turks & Caicos
The eight principal islands boast a living coral reef system that provides perfect diving conditions. Over 200 miles of pristine barrier reefs and sheer drop walls surround the islands. There are sharks, eagle rays, dolphins, whales and a bounty of tropical fish around. The Turks and Caicos offer great wall and reef diving. The primary diving areas are Grand Turk, Providenciales (Provo), Salt Cay, and South Caicos. Each area offers their own unique diving experiences. Grand Turk provides short boat rides to the reef dives and the entire west side has been designated a marine park. Grand Turk has great coral arch formations and sandy shoots leading to dramatic drop-offs. Provo is typically the choice for divers who want the comfort and convenience of a more popular, high volume dive destination. South Caicos dive sites are around 15 minutes from the dock and the entire eastern shore of South Caicos is protected by marine park status to a depth of 300 feet.
Best time to dive
Excellent diving year round, especially in the winter, November through March. Humpbacks are sighted typically in January through March.
Visibility
Visibility averages 60 to 100+ feet.
Water temperatures
The water temperature ranges from 72°F to 82°F.
Weather and climate
Turks and Caicos weather sees 350 sunny days a year, and the island of Provo is widely known as one of the drier spots on earth. Rain, when it does come, usually falls quickly. Turks and Caicos weather is also constant, a result of its tropical latitude, with averages hovering in the 80s F year-round. It is hot in the summer, but trade winds blowing off the water are a constant tempering feature of the weather. Even the coldest portion of weather – nighttime lows during January and February – are in the low 60s.
Language
English
Passport/Visa requirements
U.S. and Canadian citizens can enter with a valid passport or government-issued birth certificate. Citizens of all other nations need a valid passport. All travelers should have a round-trip or onward ticket.
Currency
U.S. Dollar – Get exchange rates at http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Electrical current
110 volts, 50 Hz, U.S. standard
Capital
Grand Turk
General information
The Turks and Caicos are a 40-island archipelago belonging to the Bahamian caicos – string of islands – but they are governed separately as a British Crown Colony. They are not quite a part of the Caribbean, lying 90 miles north of the Dominican Republic, but they are not entirely Atlantic either. The Turks and Caicos boast of 230 miles of beaches, most of them on Provo. Provo is the most developed of the islands with a wide variety of resorts, restaurants, and topside activity. Salt Cay is a serene and undeveloped with a population of less than 100 people. South Caicos is perhaps the most off-the-beaten-track of the British colony’s vacation spots.
Map
Get a map of Turks and Caicos from WorldAtlas.com