The Turks and Caicos islands are most well-known for their beautiful white sand beaches, but it was the scuba diving that was the focus of my trip. Don’t worry, you won’t need to choose one or the other- you can have your cake and eat it too. I was lucky to experience both of these island treasures during my week long vacation.
I say I was lucky because I traveled during the COVID-19 pandemic, just before travel and the hospitality industry were essentially shut down. Here in the U.S. we were a little behind in realizing the seriousness of the virus. While some were cancelling their travel plans, I decided to take the risk because I was in desperate need of a vacation from work stress. At the time, mid-March, there were no travel restrictions and cruise ship access to ports was just beginning to be restricted. Hindsight is 20/20, but I look back now and think there was no way I should have traveled. I feel like during the week I spent on Grand Turk the U.S. completely changed. I came home to find stores and restaurants shuttered for the foreseeable future and grocery stores with completely empty paper goods aisles and a scarce amount of canned and frozen foods. At least the produce section was full!
Looking back, I’m so grateful to have enjoyed amazing diving, courtesy of Blue Water Divers, beautiful ocean views from my room at Osprey Beach Hotel and the opportunity to meet wonderful dive buddies. My trip was definitely worth the risk and the time spent planning my trip was time well spent. Next time you’re planning a scuba diving vacation to Turks and Caicos, consider the following planning tips.
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Choosing Your Turks and Caicos Dive Resort
What’s true in real estate is also true in choosing your vacation spot- location, location, location. When choosing your home base for a scuba diving vacation there are a few key points to consider. The below table outlines what they are and how Osprey Beach Hotel on the island of Grand Turk checked off all my boxes for a scuba diving vacation.
| Criteria | Osprey Beach Hotel |
| Easy access to dive sites | The wall surrounding Grand Turks sits just 1,000 feet off shore so there are nearly 50 dive sites within a 15-20 minute boat ride from the beach |
| Health of the reefs and quality of dives | The world’s third largest coral reef plunges over 7,000 feet to the ocean floor and is a healthy reef. Visibility is excellent for viewing varied sea life- turtles, rays, multiple types of coral, reef sharks, parrotfish, lobsters and, if you’re lucky, a humpback whale sighting |
| Onsite or nearby PADI certified dive shop | Blue Water Divers is a 5-star PADI dive shop that sits across the street from the hotel. Oh so conveniently, their dive trips leave from the Osprey’s beach. |
| Nearby restaurants (because who isn’t starving after they dive??) | An onsite restaurant serves 3 meals a day and has a delicious BBQ night twice a week. There are a few restaurants within walking distance, one of which is a beach bar- perfect for happy hour or post scuba diving lunch. |
| Property size, location and crowd factor | I prefer smaller, boutique hotels so this was right up my ally. Crowds are limited with only 34 rooms and you can’t beat the beachfront location and laid back island vibe. |
| Affordability and value | Turks and Caicos isn’t a budget friendly location but Grand Turk is much more affordable than Providenciales. Almost all the rooms are beachfront. You can’t get much closer to the sand and the large patios and balconies are the perfect spot to start and end your day. |
Getting to Grand Turk
Grand Turk is one of the lesser visited islands of the Turks and Caicos. The most popular is Providenciales which is where the large international airport is. To get to Grand Turk or the other islands (North, Middle, South Caicos and Salt Cay) you’ll need to take a short inter-island plane ride which leaves from the Providenciales airport, so there is no need to take a taxi to another airport.
Caicos Express and interCaribbean both offer domestic, inter-island flights. Check the schedules and prices of each and choose which is most convenient based on arrival in Providenciales. Allow enough time in between flights to clear customs and immigration and retrieve your bag. Don’t forget you’ll be on island time and your Global Entry won’t help you here. The line for immigration can be quite long. Don’t worry too much if you’re cutting it close. I checked in for my flight to Grand Turk about fifteen minutes before it was scheduled to leave and didn’t have a problem.
The island hopping can make for a long day of travel but it’s more than worth it. If you’re feeling a bit drained from the travel, re-hydrate with at least 16-32 oz of water (don’t forget that travel dehydrates you) and bang out a quick set of pushups and/or squats. And don’t forget to eat! A big salad with grilled, freshly caught fish and/or rice and beans will help recharge you and prepare you for the upcoming dives.
A Week at Osprey Beach Hotel
As I mentioned, I arrived on Grand Turk in need of a long, relaxing vacation, and that is exactly what I got. My room was as close to the beach as you can get with a completely unobstructed view of the ocean. Upon arrival, I stepped onto the patio and took in the panoramic views of the empty white sand beach and beautiful blue water. The waves rolled onto shore with that familiar whoosh while the scuba diving boats bobbed in the background. Breathing in the fresh salt air, I could tell it was going to be great week.
The Osprey Beach Hotel is perfect for those looking for relaxation. Nothing is hurried (especially the food) so reset your expectations from the American dining experience and enjoy the fact that you’re taking a break from your fast-paced life. Just be sure to leave enough time for breakfast before you dive.
Chill (Without Netflix)
There are limited things to do on Grand Turk which almost gives you permission to do very little. It’s strange, but sometimes I feel like if I’m not leaving the hotel to see the sights that I’m missing out and feel guilty for being lazy. But sometimes lazy is what you need. I was more than happy to spend my days diving, relaxing on the hotel’s nearly deserted white sand beach, walking on the beach to look for unique shells and reading a book on my patio before and after dinner with a cool beer in hand. What else do you need!?
You might have noticed I didn’t mention watching TV as something I did at the hotel. For those who might be wondering, my room had a TV and appeared to have a Roku since I saw the remote, but I have no idea if either worked. I typically don’t turn on the TV while on vacation. Try foregoing TV during your next trip and see if you even miss it. TV stimulates your brain and the blue light keeps your body from naturally “powering down” at night. If you skip watching TV before bed you’ll most likely find yourself going to sleep earlier and waking more refreshed.
Smart phones and laptops have the same effect on your body as TV, so even though the hotel has Wi-Fi, limit or stop the use of all devices for at least two hours before bedtime.
Turks and Caicos Scuba Diving
I’m a fairly new diver, having only been to Grand Cayman and Mexico prior to Grand Turk. In my limited experience, I found the diving in Grand Turk to be the best because of the diversity of sea life, visibility and health of the reefs. Plus, the staff at Blue Water Divers was friendly and knowledgeable when it came to choosing dive sites and helping to point out the fish that tend to hide themselves in the reef. I particularly enjoyed the lion fish hunting/spearing. I had never seen a lion fish, which is an invasive species that destroys reefs. On a few of our dives the dive masters brought along spears and were able to catch a few. I was amazed when I saw one of the dive masters feed a lion fish to a grouper. I couldn’t believe the grouper swallowed it in one little bite!
Dive Gear and Booking Your Dive Trip
As I mentioned, I used Blue Water Divers for my dive trip and I highly recommend them. You can call or email them directly to book a dive package for the week. They’re very flexible, so you can dive everyday or just a couple of days if you choose. Like most dive operators, the more dives you buy the less you pay per dive. All trips are two-tank dives that leave at 9:00 am and return around 12:30 pm. They also offer afternoon dives for an additional per dive fee.
If you don’t have your own gear you can rent all of it, except a dive computer, from Blue Water Divers. I have my own wetsuit, mask, snorkel and dive computer so I just needed fins, BCD and regulator. The rental gear was in good shape so no need to worry about getting second rate gear that isn’t properly maintained. The shop provides valet service which couldn’t be easier. Just hop on the boat and your gear will be waiting for you. Pick up a weight belt and off you go.
The Wall
Grand Turk makes for a perfect Turks and Caicos scuba diving location because of the wall that runs along the entire west side of the island. This is also the leeward (sheltered) side, which is great for diving because the water is calmer with lower surface current. You won’t need to worry about gulping sea water if you take your regulator out of your mouth before and/or after the dive.
The wall is part of the Columbus Landfall National Park, making it a protected conservation area. This reef is the world’s third largest barrier reef, so preserving its health is key for both the ocean life and diver enjoyment. Since it plunges to 7,000 feet you’ll find a vast array of marine life along the wall. What’s great is the reef starts out shallow (around 30 feet) so you’ll have plenty of bottom time and see everything from tropical fish to tiny invertebrates hiding in the wall. And keep towards the deep blue to look for sharks swimming back and forth along the wall.
Do your part of help protect the reef by using reef safe sunscreen or skip sunscreen altogether and where protective clothing between dives. After a New England winter I was a nice pasty white color so I would have definitely burned if I didn’t wear sunscreen or a shirt while on the boat. Stay away from traditional sunscreen containing Oxybenzone and Titanium Dioxide. Instead, opt for zinc oxide or natural mineral sunscreen. The zinc is a bit messy so use a thin layer and be careful not to get it on your clothes and bathing suit. I have Badger sunscreen but there are several other brands out there. Look for all natural, plant-based ingredients. Even if the bottle is labeled reef safe, if there are lots of ingredients you can’t pronounce it is likely not reef safe. (Like how food containing things you can’t pronounce isn’t as healthy as it claims to be.)
The Turtles
Let’s not forget the turtles! I consider my scuba diving vacation a success if I see a turtle. I’d be happy with one or two good sightings but in Grand Turk I saw so many I couldn’t keep track of the count. The turtles were definitely a highlight of the trip for me. Anchor was the dive site where we saw all the turtles, so try to put in a special request for that site when you dive.
Anchor starts out fairly shallow with a sandy bottom, so that’s why it’s a popular spot for sea turtles. I was expecting to see a couple of sea turtles at this site but was excited to see them swimming around wherever I looked. Several species inhabit Turks and Caicos- green, hawksbill and loggerhead, and I believe most of those I saw were either green or hawksbill sea turtles. Also keep an eye out for manta rays hiding in the sand. I also saw a couple of those during the dive.
If you’re a little leery of turtles because of their size, don’t worry. They swim around majestically but are more afraid of you and typically swim away from you. For those who want to get a little closer for a better view and that elusive perfect dive photo, try approaching from behind so the turtle can’t see you.
Staying Hydrated While Diving
Though at times it might seem like scuba diving is just swimming around looking at fish, your body is still working harder than if you were floating around in a pool. There are mild currents which you need to swim against and your body is in near constant motion during a 45-60 minute period. Turks and Caicos has warm weather and you’re wearing a wetsuit which helps increase your body temperature and sweat rate. Let’s not forget that scuba diving kicks your kidneys into gear and you need to pee far more than you normally would. For all these reasons, you lose water and electrolytes and can become dehydrated.
Be sure to stay hydrated before, during and after your dives. You’ll also need to replace electrolytes so consider adding salt to your post-dive meal and/or using an electrolyte supplement. I am particularly sensitive to sodium loss in warm weather, so I packed a bottle of Nuun tablets that I simply dissolve in a glass of water to replenish electrolytes. I also make sure I add plenty of salt to my food. Everyone has different nutritional needs but if you frequently feel the need for an afternoon nap, experience brain fog or feel weak after diving then you may want to consider an electrolyte supplement and/or adding salt to your food. In addition to salt, bananas and avocados are good natural options to replace potassium, which is another important electrolyte. (As always, consult your doctor for how to best handle your nutritional needs.)
Grand Turk Restaurants
Access to a few good restaurants is a key consideration when planning a scuba diving vacation. The following are at or within walking distance of Osprey Beach Resort. There are a few other restaurants on the island accessible by taxi or golf cart. Keep in mind that taxis charge per person (about $7) so it’s not the most economical way to navigate the island.
- Osprey Beach Hotel– The restaurant serves three meals a day and the outdoor, poolside bar is a popular spot for happy hour. Be sure to make reservations for their twice weekly BBQ night. The grill master serves up BBQ cooked to your liking. The lamb chops were awesome!
- Sandbar– A quintessential beach bar, just steps away from Osprey Beach Hotel. It’s the perfect spot for a post-dive lunch and happy hour for enjoying a local Turk’s Head beer or their signature (killer) rum punch. I loved the shrimp and avocado salad as well as the greek salad. You can’t beat the burger if you’re looking for a cheat meal!
- Secret Garden– Make your way to the back of the Salt Raker Inn to find this cozy outdoor restaurant tucked among the trees. There’s a bar and patio for dining at this popular local spot. You’ll find the menu on the wall and the dishes tend to be on the heartier side, so bring your appetite.
- Turk’s Head Inne– The restaurant is set in an outdoor courtyard with a large bar and dining area. It’s open for lunch and dinner and has some of the speedier service on the island. The spring rolls are a tasty appetizer. They have a varied menu and the food is consistently good, so on an island of limited choices this is a good choice for multiple visits.
Osprey Beach BBQ 
Osprey Beach- fresh catch 
Sandbar- shrimp & avocado salad 
Sandbar
Now that you have the keys to planning a Turks and Caicos scuba diving vacation and the perfect spot for it, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and start making your travel plans!
Bonus Tips
- Drinking water- Instead of buying individual 12 oz. bottles of water pick up a gallon from the Osprey’s bar. You’ll use less plastic and have the added convenience of not having to carry large cases of water back from the grocery store.
- Tipping- always a mystery. A small tip is included at restaurants. It’s up to you whether you would like to provide additional gratuity. Tips are not included in the price of diving, so please be sure to tip your dive masters for all the hard work they’ve done.
