Grand Turk, home to 3,720 “Belongers” as the inhabitants like to be called, is one of the 30 islands covering 166 square miles that make up the Turks and Caicos Islands. Only eight of these islands are inhabited by people, but all are surrounded by marine life. Due east from Cuba and only 575 miles southeast of Miami, yachties and sport fishermen are quite familiar with this destination. Grand Turk is also considered one of the top five dive sites in the Caribbean Atlantic. I came to find out why.
Specifically, to dive “The Wall”, which drops off to over 7,000 feet deep along the third largest barrier reef in the world just 1000 feet offshore. Dive spots in Grand Turk are known for deep drop offs populated by a kaleidoscope of undersea creatures both large and small. Giant Manta Rays are frequently seen along the wall during the summer and Humpback whales in the winter. The clear water is filled with green turtles, stingrays, spotted eagle rays, groupers, puffers, trumpetfish, snappers, sharks and much more. Colorful tube sponges, plate coral, soft coral and even black corral cover the wall.
Arriving by cruise ship made our dive day easy. My son and I were escorted from the cruise ship to the shore across a crowded beach and onto a dive boat. After a quick ride to the dive shop to get outfitted with gear, we were on our way along with ten other divers to our first dive site, aptly named “The Tunnels”. After a brief but thorough safety briefing, one by one we took our giant stride off the dive boat and into the abyss. Actually, since we planned a two-tank dive day with Oasis Divers, we met at the anchor and kept our maximum depth to 80 feet.
The Tunnels boasts two irresistible swim-throughs formed by arching coral which makes it a favorite dive site for underwater photographers. The great visibility made it easy to peek into the nooks and crannies inside the tunnels and spot inhabitants like moray eels and lionfish. Abundant angelfish and butterflyfish frolicked while divers searched for rays. I startled a sting ray or “sea puppy” nestling in the sand and was rewarded with a photo taken by our dive guide.
Before long, it was time to resurface and share stories with other divers. Several shark tales and just missed photo opportunities but mostly just joy and gratitude for breathing underwater and experiencing life below the surface. For my son and me, the best memory of this dive was that it was out first dive together in near perfect conditions. Mother-son bonding doesn’t always require words, just shared experiences.
Our second dive was at Coral Garden, a site known for rugged coral formations and sponges. We stayed shallow to enjoy the colors of the creatures and make our tanks last longer. The sandy reef at 30 feet gives way to a wide shelf nearly 100 feet deep which hosts a variety of fish. The dive felt like swimming in an aquarium and all too soon it was time to return to our dive boat then cruise ship.
Liveaboard diving is the best way to explore the archipelago’s many dive sites over multiple days. Turks & Caicos Aggressor II offers 7-night vacations with up to five dives per day. For those looking to spend less time underwater, several resorts offer diving and most cruise ships offer a SCUBA shore excursion.
Grand Turk has hosted both explorers and astronauts. Christopher Columbus discovered the New World when he landed on Grand Turk in 1492 during his initial voyage. Nearly 500 years later astronaut John Glenn landed just off the coast of Grand Turk in his voyage to become the first American to orbit the Earth. Since I spent most of my day in Grand Turk underwater, I look forward to returning soon to explore more of this beautiful archipelago.
When to go? Grand Turk is known for its near-perfect climate year-round. From June through October, temperatures average from 85°-90° and 80°-85° November through May. Visibility averages 100 feet and the water temperature ranges from 82°-84° in the summer to 74°-78° in the winter.
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