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"Scuba
Diving Turks and Caicos Walls Since 1988"
Scuba
diving Turks and Caicos offers dramatic vertical wall diving, colorful
reef systems, and bountiful tropical fish habitats. Provo Diving
(short for Providenciales, TCI's largest island) truly boasts a
repertoire of amazing scuba diving sites. Our depiction of these
dive sites in text form only scratches the surface. If a picture
tells a thousand words, persons who have gone scuba diving Turks
and Caicos Islands now possess memories that speak volumes.
Introduction:
I have built our great reputation and quality upon my many years
of scuba diving experience, exploring different seas around the
world, with my profound love of diving. Fortunately, I have had
opportunities to work and dive, experiencing the total beauty of
underwater worlds. Since I started diving, I always had that need
and desire to go the extra mile, looking for new sites, unexplored
reefs and new walls. I have always tried something different and
unique from what others were doing, and to this date we still do
this. There are a lot of different techniques for searching and
exploring, but in the end, it take hours and miles of cruising the
waters and diving to achieve total knowledge of an area. That curiosity,
instinct and worldwide experience really helped me find some of
what are now the best-rated sites around Caribbean Islands! I remember
years ago, when I set up Caicos Adventures and started diving strictly
the South side, I knew that it was going to be successful. This
was because scuba diving here on the South side was far more superior
than anything that we can find around Grace Bay and North West point!
Now after all these years of diving and cruising the South side,
I know that we are, by far, the operation that is most knowledgeable
about these waters, and that we are the only ones that have explored
every inch of its tremendous walls. The customers that have been
scuba diving with us already know that our knowledge, years worked
in this business, and years on the water make a world of difference
in their scuba diving Turks and Caicos experience. Fifi Kunz
UnCharted
Proprietary Sites
Most
of our scuba diving is based on FiFi Kunz's
(owner) 21+ years of exploring outer reefs and walls of Turks
and Caicos since 1988. He has spent these years diving Turks and
Caicos' virgin dive sites, and privately mapping these pristine
and/or sometimes radical spots in his knowledge bank and sometimes
in his satellite GPS (with FiFi you really don't need a GPS, his
knowledge of TCI dive sites is surpassed by none). So, most of our
daily dive excursions involve pulling up to an intersection of a
turquoise reef and the deep blue ocean - with no visible land in
sight - and parking our boat. Now, a typical vacationing diver thinks
that there is no science to this choice in location, that we have
randomly dropped anchor at any old spot. To their chagrin however,
when they plunge under the waters, there will always be a "specially"
selected wall profile, reef formation, or unique site characteristic
that has been carefully depicted by FiFi during his pre-dive briefing.
It is not random; it is his knowledge from years of daily scuba
diving Turks and Caicos and exploring these waters that has ability
to share this unknown location with vacationing scuba divers.
West
Caicos - Walls & Walls (Now 35 to 40 minute
boat ride!!)
This
uninhabited island is situated on the west side of Providenciales,
about 35 minutes from our dock. There are six miles of protected
leeward side walls, approximately 100-150 yards from shore with
more than 2 dozen dive sites. The wall starts from 35-45 feet, dropping
to approximately 6,000 feet. You will see incredible sponges, coral
formations, large grouper, Caribbean reef fish and stingrays. There
are great spots to encounter large pelagic such as sharks, spotted
eagle rays and turtles. On some occasions you will see manta rays
and hammerheads.
Scuba diving
conditions are excellent for all levels, as visibility levesl are
rarely less than 100 feet. We offer 2 or 3 tank daily trips as well
as night dives.
During the interval
we always provide a tasty lunch, either served beachside or within
a beautiful coves.You can relax, enjoying the tranquility, or if
you are feeling energetic you can explore the island by visiting
an 1800's plantation ghost town or Lake Catherine. Snorkeling near
the shore, provides more opportunities to enjoy a variety of marine
life in the warm, clear water.
Sandbore
Channel
The
Sandbore Channel is the channel that opens up between the north
point of West Caicos to outer West Reef. The tops of the different
sites start as low as 28 ft to 30 ft, with some of the most pristine
diving available, from vertical drop offs, to sandy bottoms with
giant stingrays. We have many dive sites to choose from. These waters
are especially great for larger pelagic like eagle rays, sharks,
and occasionally Manta and Hammer Head. There are also very vibrant
reef lives, and we have sites where we see Octopus during day dives,
large lobster, large Nassau, grouper and Jewfish.
Lost
Reef
Somewhere south of Providenciales, about two miles of great reef
and walls are kept secret from most TCI divers. This place is where
we spot large groups of eagle rays and sharks. Beautifully abundant
coral, a very rich and dense formation from elephant ear sponges
to gorgonia. Visibility can be unpredictable due to wind or tide
conditions, but we analyze these conditions prior to departing to
be sure that it is up to our standards.
Southwest
Reef
1-1/2 miles of reef located on the east side of West Caicos. This
reef is exposed to tide winds most of the year, which makes the
top condition pretty bumpy. However, it is a perfect destination
when the weather turns around and winds blow from the North &
Northwest. The 1-1/2 mile reef protects these pristine vertical
walls, which are very vertical, with a hard bottom and sandy canyon.
At Southwest Reef, there are incredible barrel sponges and great
chances of seeing eagle ray, sharks and other large pelagic. We
normally dive these walls a dozen of time during winter months,
February and March. The reef protecting these walls is spectacular,
thus making it a great location to anchor for exploration in between
dives. There you will find some unspoiled elkhorn coral formations
with their abundant life.
French
Cay (Now, 45 minutes from our dock!)
We
arrange trips to this tiny Cay that was once used as a hideaway
for pirates. It is now a bird sanctuary, located 40 minutes from
our dock across the Caicos Bank. The wall runs in an East to West
direction and therefore gets the sunlight all day resulting in especially
large coral and sponges. Fish life is abundant, with frequent sightings
of eagle rays, sharks and occasionally manta rays and hammerheads.
During the first
three months of the year, French Cay is extremely exciting as this
is when Humpback whales visit. Sightings are frequent and you could
be lucky enough to dive with these massive yet graceful mammals.
Nurse sharks frequent the area during their mating season, normally
from July to September, providing another great reason to visit
these dive sites.
Visibility ranges
from 60 to 100+ and it is best to go on a fair day (tide & wind
conditions), ensuring good visibility. We offer 2 or 3 tank day
trips and as always lunch and refreshments are provided on every
trip. During the interval we moor our boat behind the island where
you will find great opportunities to snorkel and explore while enjoying
this peaceful serene location.
Molasses
Reef
Located a little west of French Cay, 1 mile of reef in open wall.
Great chance for eagle ray and larger shark, as it is uncharted.
The wall starts around 55 ft, and is totally vertical. Large gorgonia,
cracks, and canyons that become great housing for large Nassau groupers.
At the wall's top is a mixture of coral formations and sandy canyons
with a lot of large barrel sponges. The shallow reef is very pristine,
full of life as it is totally uncharted. We can even visit some
remnants of ancient shipwrecks during our surface interval. It is
exposed to trade wind, therefore making it an adventure for when
waters are calm or when winds shift direction.
West
Sand Spits
Located another 6 miles south east of French Cay. Great to visit
during whale season, but needs calm sea. The most spectacular sitting
is the small sandy bar popping out in the middle of nowhere. You
will find beautiful pristine coral formation, large pelagic and
sting ray. The wall starts around 60 ft, making it perfect for diving
in 45 to 50 feet deep.
South
Walls
These walls include an entirely uncharted area for diving Turks
and Caicos. We started to explore these walls years ago, and have
special sites where we find large pelagic, Jewfish, eagle rays,
sharks and large canyon! No boats anywhere around!
North
West Point
North West Point is made up of mooring sites, being visited frequently
by dive operators from island resorts. With walls starting from
30 to 45 feet, these walls provide good dive sites; however we prefer
diving less crowded walls. We dive there only with our smaller boat
"Hercules", departing from Turtle Cove Marina. Better
quality, less crowded walls include those of West Caicos, French
Cay and South Walls.
Grace
Bay, Pine Cay and the North Shore
Reef dive starting from 25 to 40 ft located in Alexandra National
Park. All mooring dives. Here you will find grouper, lobster, reef
life and occasionally turtles or nurse sharks. All sites located
about 1-1/2 miles directly offshore of Grace Bay resorts. We use
our smaller boat "Hercules" with beach or dock pick-ups
at resorts. It is only a 5 to 10 minute boat ride to these sites.
We also do our night dives here, as it is convenient for most divers,
being near resorts.
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