T&C Trip Next Week

[maxroc]

Hello. Just registered after combing the board for info every now and then over the past few months. Lot of well informed, experienced people here.

My wife and I are certified divers without a ton of experience- 5 days diving total.

We have a chance to take a last minute trip to T&C next week. Never been there before. We would be staying at the Ocean Club and would probably dive with Caicos Adventures for two days.

Since we have no experience with the island, the hotel or the dive operator, maybe some folks here who have some experience with any or all of them might share some thoughts and advice.

Much appreciated.

[Damselfish]

advice? - if you're going for a week, dive for more than 2 days! :)

[Tim Ingersoll]

Do a search on the board for TCI information. Consider asking Fifi at Caicos Adventures to hire Asa or Cunard as a private DM for the first day. You will be more comfortable.

[colby]

When I stayed at Ocean Club, as a brand new diver, I had a great experience with Provo Turtle Divers who are based right out of the resort.

[maxroc]

When I stayed at Ocean Club, as a brand new diver, I had a great experience with Provo Turtle Divers who are based right out of the resort.

Thanks for the info, very interesting.

I looked at both operation's web sites and CA struck me as slightly more official/professional, but we all know how hard it can be to discern that sort of thing from a website.

Can you tell me a little about your experience with PTD? How many people were on your boat? How many dive masters? Anything else important you think we should know.

Thanks in advance.

As for only diving two days, we're going next week, but the trip is only for four days;)

[allistoy]

Stick with Caicos Adventures you will not be disappointed. I have dove with them for the past few years and have never had or heard of anyone having a bad outing with them. I was not impressed (I don't want to bad moputh them)with PTD so I would not consider diving with that operator.
You don't need to hire a DM privately just tell the crew your reasonably new and would like to go with the newer divers as they usually break the groups up by experience levels.
Have fun and if your lucky you might get to see a Humpback whale as they are migrating past the sites FiFi dives on at West Caicos and French Cay or Sandborne Channel area.
PM me if you would like more imfo.

[Tim Ingersoll]

I have dove with both CA and PTD. They are both very professional ops. The big difference IMHO is the dive platform. Fifi's boat is simply the best.

[colby]

Thanks for the info, very interesting.

I looked at both operation's web sites and CA struck me as slightly more official/professional, but we all know how hard it can be to discern that sort of thing from a website.

Can you tell me a little about your experience with PTD? How many people were on your boat? How many dive masters? Anything else important you think we should know.

Thanks in advance.

As for only diving two days, we're going next week, but the trip is only for four days;)

Sure,

The three days I dove with PTD, I was on the smaller of their boats, there was no more than 6-8 divers and there were 2-3 DM. Natalie did my checkout dives while I was down there, and I was extremely pleased with how well she put me at ease as a new diver. The sites we went to were well suited for both new and experienced divers, and I would gladly go back and use them again.

[THX1138]

Agree. Please search my prior posting in 9/05 and answers regarding Fifi under my ID. Enjoy

[maxroc]

Thank you all for your input, much appreciated. Seems like they're both quality operations. Think I'll stick with CA for this trip. I'll be sure to let you know how things go. Thanks again.

[colby]

I'm sure you will really enjoy it. Have a good trip. I'm jealous sitting here with all this white crap around. I wish I was headed back to T&C!

[Bieszczat]

Thank you all for your input, much appreciated. Seems like they're both quality operations. Think I'll stick with CA for this trip. I'll be sure to let you know how things go. Thanks again.
I have had very good experiences with Wayne and Ocean Vibes over the last five years. If Fifi is booked or does not work out, I would give him a chance. www.oceanvibes.com. Small outfit. Small groups. Great personalty and very knowledgable about the island and dive sites. It helps that he is a native!

Peace.

Tony

[maxroc]

Just got back from the trip. Man, what a good time.

T&C is now my favorite Caribbean island, and I've been to a bunch. We got lucky with the weather- blue skies and sunshine the whole time.

Even with all the development going on, Grace Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. Wasn't blown away by the Ocean Club, but I scouted a few spots for the next time, which I hope is very soon.

Most importantly- The Diving! The absolute best of my limited experience. I'm sure the other operators folks have mentioned are great, but Fifi and CA really impressed me. Loved the boat, the staff, everything.

We dove with Oli the whole time and he was great. We were in West Caicos the whole time. We hit Elephant Ear, The Driveway, Old Anchor and Devil's Horn. All amazing sites.

Old Anchor was my absolute favorite. No sooner did we descend than a big old reef shark came tooling by to check us out. Before long we were checking out some huge lobsters, a big *** stingray and a really cool sea turtle just lounging under some corral, all in one dive. Swimming through the little corral passage right before the anchor itself is sweet and exiting right out over the wall is a trip. You could almost get vertigo if you were afraid of heights!

Also saw a ton of lobster, some really big grouper and a moray at Devil's Horn later that day.

All in all, really amazing. I would strongly recommend T&C to anyone looking for a dive destination in the Caribbean and stronly recommend Caicos Adventures as an operator.

I can't wait to go back.

[THX1138]

They are a great group. If we stay in a rental, The Sands is good, and cheap off season. I believe Fifi has a condo there. What restaurants did you get to and like if I might ask? John

[maxroc]

We ate at Coco Bistro and Caicos Cafe and liked them both.

Also ate at the Ocean Club's Gecko Grill, but were unerwhelmed.

For the future, I think we'll stay at the Sands if the trip is all about diving and possibly check out Grace Bay Club or the Palms if we want something a little more luxe.

[TCP]

Hi Maxroc,

can you tell about your experience with the Ocean Club Resort? I am headed there this coming July for a week and would love to hear the good/bad about the place.

Also, I am doing a week on Grand Turk at the Aquahouse. Anyone stay there recently?

2 weeks in T&C, I can hardly wait!

[maxroc]

Well, the Ocean Club is a condo style "resort." Really just a bunch of condo style apartments (kitchens, washer/dryer, etc.) with a pool and tennis court. There is a bar/snack bar by the beach and a restaurant/convenience store adjacent. Seemed to be very popular with families traveling with young kids. I was a little disappointed, only because their website and my conversations with them left me with the impression that it was more of a conventional resort. Maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention.

The good news is that they are located on an absolutely beautiful strectch of beach. If you're a golfer, you'll be happy to know that there is a really good golf course right across the street.

If you are going primarily to dive and don't care too much about ambience or "1st-class" service, you should be absolutely fine. The rates are reasonable and having your own kitchen can be a great way to save some money.

Personally, I may opt to spend a little more next time to have somewhere a little more stylish to eat and drink after we dive. As I mentioned, The Grace Bay and The Palms seemed great, if pricey.

For more reasonable accomodations on trips geared solely around diving, I think I will go with The Sands next time for one main reason- it is a lot closer to Caicos Adventures' marina, which means less time spent on the bus in the morning and afternoon.

[TCP]

Thanks for the information Maxroc. I am a diver, but my soon-to-be-wife is not. (not yet, anyway!) So I picked Ocean Club for the fitness center, beach, tennis courts and all the other top side stuff. Hopefully, we will enjoy it.

Thanks again for the info.

[colby]

TCP,

My non-diving wife and myself stayed at Ocean Club last October, and depending on what she wants to do is important. The fitness center was ok, she spent a lot of time on the beach, in the ocean, or in the pool which was fine for her. There is a golf course almost across the street, the tennis court is in good shape, and Club Med is next door, and you can get in to see some of the shows, etc that are going on there.

[TCP]

Thanks Colby. Do you know if there is any good snorkeling in the area? (From shore) We are most likely going to be taking a few snorkel trips but I wasn't sure if there was anything close to shore or the resort that would be suitable.

[laurendell]

Thanks Colby. Do you know if there is any good snorkeling in the area? (From shore) We are most likely going to be taking a few snorkel trips but I wasn't sure if there was anything close to shore or the resort that would be suitable.

TCP, There is supposedly very good snorkeling right in front of Coral Gardens resort. Another couple I spoke to there had done some snorkeling and saw tons of fish, nurse sharks, and lobsters. It's about a 5-10 minute drive from Ocean Club, at the western end of Grace Bay (Ocean Club is pretty much the easternmost resort on Grace Bay).

[TCP]

Great! I will have to make it down there and check this out firsthand!

[colby]

Thanks Colby. Do you know if there is any good snorkeling in the area? (From shore) We are most likely going to be taking a few snorkel trips but I wasn't sure if there was anything close to shore or the resort that would be suitable.

TCP,

We never did any snorkeling, although I cruised around the Club Med pier to test my underwater camera housing. My brother and sister-in-law were there in January and did some shore-based snorkeling somewhere, but I don't know exactly where.

[mbs]

TCP,

We never did any snorkeling, although I cruised around the Club Med pier to test my underwater camera housing. My brother and sister-in-law were there in January and did some shore-based snorkeling somewhere, but I don't know exactly where.

There used to be a self guided marked snorkel tour from the shore in Grace bay! But I didn't notice it the last time I was there about a year ago. Anyone know if it still exists?

[mikerault]

I haven't dove in Provo or the Caicos group but I have dove Grand Turk. Great dive sites, great wall. I usually use Blue Water or Oasis. Sea Eye is ok in a pinch as well. I usually stay at the Salt Raker or the Osprey so I can't address the Aquahouse. The Manta House looks good though and the Ladies that run it are top notch.

In Grand Turk you can snorkel right from any beach. There are several lines of minor reef structures parallel to the shore and the wall which is about 400 - 500 yards out from the beach. Up at Bohio you can rent a DPV like I did last week, it was great! However watch the charge as they only last about 45 minutes. I suggest kicking with them to reduce the load on the battery. My dive partner kicked all the way and I did not. Mine made it to the wall, about 50 yards along the wall, then started sputtering. Luckily I was able to use the trigger...wait...trigger...wait method to pulse back to shore (most of the way).

I don't believe I have had a dive there were I didn't see turtles, sharks, grouper, baracuda, you name it. My wife has dove twice there and both times saw sharks.

Just hope its new popularity doesn't kill it. There was a report already of toilet paper waste found on the reefs attributed to the cruise ship.

Mike

[THX1138]

TCP, There is supposedly very good snorkeling right in front of Coral Gardens resort. Another couple I spoke to there had done some snorkeling and saw tons of fish, nurse sharks, and lobsters. It's about a 5-10 minute drive from Ocean Club, at the western end of Grace Bay (Ocean Club is pretty much the easternmost resort on Grace Bay).


Agree. I didn't do any snorkeling, but a local friend indcated the some of the best easy access snorkeling was just of the Coral Gardens. Another location is Smith's Reef off of Turtle cove, but I am not sure how far out it is. Both are listed on local maps often found in real estate guides you can pick up when you arrive at the island. Hope this helps. John.

[TCP]

Thanks for all the great information! This board has been a great help.