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6 Best Dive Sites in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Scuba diving in the Turks & Caicos Islands is hugely popular among the liveaboard diving community due to its electrifying walls and almost unlimited visibility. Surrounded by the third largest coral reef system in the world only 1,000 feet from shore, divers praise the widespread number of diving opportunities. Every week on liveaboard Turks & Caicos Explorer II, guests visit multiple locations diving up to 5 times daily, logging countless hours underwater. We asked these experts to put forward their favorite dive sites in the Turks & Caicos Islands and 16 incredible areas were nominated. The votes are tallied, and here are the six highest rated!
“I really enjoyed the walls. The Amphitheater, and Spanish Anchor. The Gully.”
Quote by Guest Jeff
Spanish Anchor | West Caicos
This famous spot pays homage to an antique anchor embedded in the reef. The only remains of a centuries-old Spanish galleon, it is encrusted in brightly colored corals and sponges easily missed without the knowledgeable eye of our dive guides. Divers will pass the anchor as they navigate a swim through on route to the wall. Keep an eye out for macro life; frogfishes, seahorses, and spotted drums have been glimpsed hiding in the coral gardens. Also commonly seen are hawksbill turtles and reef sharks.
“Really hard to choose, but G-Spot makes a great day dive.”
Quote by Guest Gerry
G Spot | French Cay
Presumably named after a small dip of the reef, this site resembles the letter G. Divers sometimes report that the groove is difficult to locate summoning some good-humored dive guides to joke “it’s hard to find, but well worth it when you do!” The reef ridge sits at roughly 50ft then quickly descends over the edge of the world into the abyss. Nutrients and cold water are drawn up from the depths encouraging large black corals and Gorgonian fans to adorn the wall. Divers can spot plenty of amazing animals including resident nurse sharks, reef sharks, and groupers.
“French Cay! The dolphins came out for us. It was the most incredible dive of my life.”
Quote by Guest Eugene
Amphitheater | Northwest Point
At Northwest Point, divers follow the wall to around 80’ where the amphitheater comes dramatically into view. A 30’ large bowl is carved out of the reef with a sandy bottom and three sloping sides, allowing divers a place to view the ‘orchestra’ of marine life buzzing by. Divers can head North or South from the cove for impressive sections of the wall covered in black coral. Blue parrotfish, vast schools of jacks, and queen triggerfish are abundant at this site.
Thunderdome | Northwest Point
A shallow site with an interesting history, the metal dome structure aka ‘Thunderdome’ was built for a 1980s French tv game show. Contestants would compete by freediving to retrieve pearls (and a breath of air) from mermaids positioned around the dome. The gameshow wasn’t a big hit and didn’t last long as contestants were frequently hurt, not being correctly briefed on exhaling when surfacing. After the show ended, the Thunderdome was discarded creating an artificial reef that has been remodeled by subsequent hurricanes. An interesting debris field remains surrounded by sand, attracting a variety of schooling grunts, snappers and other colorful reef fish seeking refuge and offering great photo opportunities. Don’t forget to glance toward the blue to check for spotted eagle rays!
“The Dome! I loved swimming around and seeing all the creatures hanging out in the Dome”
Quote by Guest Leigh
Double D | French Cay
Mention French Cay to divers, and you’ll hear many reasons why this location is one of the favorites. A rich playground for pelagics, two large peaks (or pinnacles), sit side by side rising from the ocean floor. Frequently enveloped in a strong current, there is lots of shark and dolphin action, as well as schools of spade fish. Turks & Caicos Explorer II moors atop the drop off, allowing divers the option to discover the site in multiple directions. Divers can visit a nearby sandy area where stingrays forage, stay near the reef ridge carpeted with vivid corals, or meander to the edge of the abyss where a vertical wall disappears into nothingness. In January and April, listen carefully for whale song from the migrating humpbacks as they pass nearby!
Magic Mushroom | West Caicos
Nearly visible at low tide, a giant mushroom-shaped rock pokes out from the shallows identifying the site. Divers will head West through a shoal of coral heads speckling the sand to a vibrant reef at around 50ft. From here, sand chutes over the edge of a dramatic wall covered in an extensive array of barrel sponges, rope sponges and soft corals. Ledges and little alcoves hide handfuls of lobsters and crabs. Caribbean reef sharks are as plentiful as they are curious and grant many opportunities for classic shark photos.
“Magic Mushroom which was our last two dives. The first was at dawn, hitting the water at 6:00am and watch the incredible wall and reef come alive. The second dive of the day (and our last of the trip) included several cheeky Caribbean Reef Sharks which allowed for several great close up shots.” Quote by Guest Larry
MORE ABOUT THE TURKS & CAICOS EXPLORER II:
A beautiful liveaboard, the Turks & Caicos Explorer II, is designed to be a noteworthy yacht, perfect for cruising the picturesque Turks & Caicos Islands. It comfortably accommodates 20 passengers in 10 double staterooms, each of which has private bathroom facilities and air conditioning. The yacht also offers a large climate-controlled salon for dining, a spacious sundeck with lounge chairs, and an awning-covered flybridge with wet bar – guests’ favorite hangout. Customized for divers, the dive deck is equipped with a bathroom, individual gear bins, camera table, recharging station, air and nitrox filling stations, freshwater showers, and separate freshwater rinse for both scuba and underwater camera equipment. There are two large stairways accessing the dive platform, where two in-water ladders hang making it easy to enter and exit the water. This vessel is designed with divers’ comfort in mind.
Experience the incredible Turks & Caicos Explorer II today!
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Email: info@explorerventures.com
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