FT
Contributor
A happy, undemanding return to diving, though the Caribbean still does not compare to Asia.
Southern sites were notably not very fishy. Cloudy weather didn't help the coral look its best, but there did seem to be a lot of tunicate and subdued colours, as well as a few definite spots of stony coral tissue loss disease.
Hawksbill turtles on several dives, and numerous reef sharks including one that shadowed us hopefully for half the dive. It was past whale migration season, but two people were sure they heard whale calls on one dive.
Nice variety of fish on the northern dives. The coral was better too. All the dives were wall dives, usually with some nice heads on sand at about 10 metres to finish. Good swim throughs and other topography.
Valet treatment, with one divemaster who also captained the boat. We could puddle around beneath the mooring if we had air left when the first folks went up, but nobody pushed much beyond 50-55 minutes. Max 7 divers. My instabuddy on two dives was great; the other days I "buddied" with the divemaster. Of course he kept an eye on all of us equally.
I didn't see a water bucket for cameras.
Two tank morning dives. Surface interval would be at a handy beach. Afternoon or night dives may have been possible but no one was clamouring. Keeping warm was a challenge - - my computer read 24C (75-76F) though actual may have been a touch warmer.
Topside activities were quite limited as islanders seemed ready for a rest after Easter and a busy winter. No bike rentals, sad. No kayaks. Staying at Bohio would have remedied both lacks, I think. Oh well. Non diving hubby does d a lot of walking and bird watching. Shore based snorkelling was underwhelming.
Service, facilities and restaurant at the Osprey were fine. Don't miss the Saturday BBQ night.
All the restaurants we visited offered friendly but s.l.o.w service. Go sit down well before you are starving.
Do yourself a favour and book with Caicos Express. The other domestic airline was stressfully unreliable. Some folks overnighted in Provo before their home flight just to be sure of making the connection.
As of May 1, the Turks and Caicos will drop their complicated preapproval process. Visitors will still need proof of vaccination.
Rental equipment was in decent shape. Full foot fins only.
Southern sites were notably not very fishy. Cloudy weather didn't help the coral look its best, but there did seem to be a lot of tunicate and subdued colours, as well as a few definite spots of stony coral tissue loss disease.
Hawksbill turtles on several dives, and numerous reef sharks including one that shadowed us hopefully for half the dive. It was past whale migration season, but two people were sure they heard whale calls on one dive.
Nice variety of fish on the northern dives. The coral was better too. All the dives were wall dives, usually with some nice heads on sand at about 10 metres to finish. Good swim throughs and other topography.
Valet treatment, with one divemaster who also captained the boat. We could puddle around beneath the mooring if we had air left when the first folks went up, but nobody pushed much beyond 50-55 minutes. Max 7 divers. My instabuddy on two dives was great; the other days I "buddied" with the divemaster. Of course he kept an eye on all of us equally.
I didn't see a water bucket for cameras.
Two tank morning dives. Surface interval would be at a handy beach. Afternoon or night dives may have been possible but no one was clamouring. Keeping warm was a challenge - - my computer read 24C (75-76F) though actual may have been a touch warmer.
Topside activities were quite limited as islanders seemed ready for a rest after Easter and a busy winter. No bike rentals, sad. No kayaks. Staying at Bohio would have remedied both lacks, I think. Oh well. Non diving hubby does d a lot of walking and bird watching. Shore based snorkelling was underwhelming.
Service, facilities and restaurant at the Osprey were fine. Don't miss the Saturday BBQ night.
All the restaurants we visited offered friendly but s.l.o.w service. Go sit down well before you are starving.
Do yourself a favour and book with Caicos Express. The other domestic airline was stressfully unreliable. Some folks overnighted in Provo before their home flight just to be sure of making the connection.
As of May 1, the Turks and Caicos will drop their complicated preapproval process. Visitors will still need proof of vaccination.
Rental equipment was in decent shape. Full foot fins only.