Too right! The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are world-renowned for spectacular wall diving, pristine coral reefs, and exceptional visibility (often 30m+/100 ft+). Key highlights include:
• The Caribbean's second largest reef - A healthy, vibrant ecosystem hosting tons of marine life.
• Dramatic wall dives - Famous sites like The Wall at Grace Bay drop to 2,000m+ (6,500 ft).
• Big marine encounters - Regular sightings of reef sharks, eagle rays, turtles, and humpback whales (seasonal).
• Wreck dives - Including the La Famille Express.
• Unique sites - Such as The Crack at West Caicos (a stunning coral canyon).

The Turks & Caicos dive sites are best for:
- Drift diving
- Macro and wide-angle photography
- Thrilling deep walls and swim-throughs
- Year-round warm waters (26-29°C / 79-84°F)

Diving in TCI is premium-priced (similar to Cayman Islands), but worth it for the world-class sites. The typical costs of single-tank walk-in dive is USD 90 (gear included), 2-tank dive: US$140. An introduction dive could cost USD 180.

Liveaboard prices are USD 3 295 (RRP) for 7-nights. Visit in May/June or October for lower prices.

In the summer the temperature can reach a high of 84F (29C) and 3 mm rental shorties are more than enough for most of those who want a wetsuit.

Water temperature in the summer is 82-84F (28-29C) and in winter about 74-78F (23-26C). A constant trade wind keeps the climate at a very comfortable level.

Many tourists prefer to avoid the hurricane season (June through the end of November). However, adventurous travelers can find many deals during this period. Turks and Caicos is a popular destination over the Christmas and New Year's holidays too; just be aware that prices may be at their highest during that period.

Note that there are no liveaboard cruises in the Turks & Caicos Islands from mid-Jan to end of April, since the boats relocate to Silver Bank in the Dominican Republic for the humpback whale season.

Sharks are a common sight throughout the Caribbean and a positive sign of the health of the marine environment. Grey reef sharks are a common sight around the TCI barrier reef, and you'll spot nurse sharks and young lemon sharks at play in the shallows. That doesn't mean you should get concerned about shark attacks, however - very few species of shark are dangerous to humans.

Yes, there are dolphins in Turks and Caicos. Specifically, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and Atlantic spotted dolphins are commonly seen in the waters surrounding the islands. Scuba divers can encounter these dolphins while on liveaboard charters.

The sea turtle is a fascinating creature that is a vital link to a healthy ecosystem and is much-loved by scuba divers. The waters surrounding the Turks and Caicos Islands has plenty of them.

On the archipelago's huge barrier reef, grey reef sharks are common, and nurse sharks and lemon sharks (often juveniles) can also be spotted. Tiger sharks, bull sharks, and hammerhead sharks are uncommon but can be seen in the islands.

Turks & Caicos liveaboards offer luxury diving experiences with access to remote walls, pristine reefs, and big marine encounters. Prices are around USD 3 300 for 7-nights during high season, but often there are special offers in the low season for as low as USD 2 300.

Most visitors (from more than 90 countries) are granted a stay of 90 days upon arrival. You will need a valid passport (with an expiry date at least 3 months validity prior to expiry), proof of an approved COVID vaccination, a travel authorization, and a round trip ticket.

You can check the latest entry requirements on the Turks and Caicos Tourism Official Website.

Being an island chain within the tropics, much of attractions of the Turks and Caicos are related to the beach and ocean. The country has some fantastic beaches, the most famous being the award-winning Grace Bay Beach on Providenciales. Other popular beaches here are Leeward Beach, Taylor Bay, Sapodilla Bay, Long Bay, Malcolm’s Road Beach and Bight Beach. Governor's Beach is the best on Grand Turk, Hollywood Beach and Horsestable Beach on North Caicos are great spots. On Middle Caicos Bambarra Beach, and Cedar Point are both incredible, and for beautiful scenic landscapes, Mudjin Harbour is worth a visit for its cliff and beach coastline, together with Conch Bar Caves and the blue hole. South Caicos has East Bay and Long Beach. Whereas the eastern coast of East Caicos is famous for its pink and peach sand beaches. Nearly all the sand in the Turks & Caicos Islands is of coral origin.

Apart from the magnificent wall and barrier reef liveaboard diving in Turks and Caicos which we have detailed elsewhere, there is a wide range of water sports, including flyboarding, kiteboarding, wakeboarding, parasailing, windsurfing, Hobiecat, as well as kayaking and paddle boarding ecotours in the nature reserves, such as at Chalk Sound, to catch a glimpse of the amazing sea life and birds found there. Sport fishing in Providenciales is also popular, and the bonefishing in the flats of Middle Caicos, South Caicos, East Caicos and the Ambergris Cays is world-class.

On Providenciales, the Provo Golf Club is recognized as one of the top 10 golf courses in the Caribbean. There is horseback riding on the beach at Long Bay, and tennis is often available at hotels and resorts. There is also a tour available at Turk’s Head Brewery, to sample some local craft beers.

On Grand Turk, you can take a step back in time to discover the old colonial architecture of Cockburn Town, and the ruins from the sea salt industry days of yesteryear. The Turks and Caicos National Museum is also located on Grand Turk. Exhibits include 1,000 year-old Lucayan artifacts, and the Molasses Reef Wreck collection, the oldest European shipwreck excavated in the Western Hemisphere.

Thousands of humpback whales pass through the Turks Island Passage in late winter every year, and Little Water Cay is the best place to see the endemic Turks and Caicos rock iguanas. Birds such as flamingos, egrets, herons, ospreys, and pelicans can be seen in the nature reserves and parks across the country. It’s possible to travel between the islands by passenger ferry or flight. Only North Caicos and Middle Caicos are connected by road.

For more information on what to do and see, visit the: Turks And Caicos Tourist Board website.

TCI uses Eastern Standard Time (EST): -5 hrs UTC (the same time zone as New York City), but switches to daylight saving -4 hrs UTC between March and November.

The standard voltage in the country is 120V / 60 Hz AC. Electrical plugs and wall sockets are for 2 flat prongs (as used in North America) or 2 flat prongs with an extra round prong for grounding. This is the type that the liveaboard yachts have too. It's a recommended to bring your own adapter if required.

Cellular coverage in the Turks and Caicos Islands is generally good, with both Flow and Digicel providing GSM coverage. The 4GLTE network boasts close to 100% coverage across Provo, Grand Turk and South Caicos; elsewhere it's patchy. You can roam from home or opt to buy a local SIM card (Digicel offers free data for limited Facebook use). Most hotels, villas, and some cafes and restaurants provide free wi-fi.

The international dialing code is +1 649. To make an international telephone call from Turks & Caicos the international dialing exit code is 011 (or “+”).

All of the main islands have a public post office to send mail and sell stamps. They are also able to hold mail for pick up but there is delivery service. Courier services such as FedEx and DHL are also available.

Daytime essentials include swimwear, t-shirts, camisoles, sarong and shorts, since most people spend their time on the beach. Rash guards are a great idea because they protect against sunburn and prevent chaffing. A mosquito repellent will also be useful. Generally speaking, jackets and sweaters will never be required.

Tips follow USA norms and you can expect a 10-15% service charge added to your bill for hotels and restaurants. Haggling or bargaining is not the norm in the Turks and Caicos.

The Turks and Caicos Islands were originally populated by the Taino and Lucayan Indians prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492. The culture now is a legacy of Taino, French, Spanish and African slave influences. The population is about 50,000 and around 75% live on Providenciales. The majority of the local population are Christian, friendly and easy-going. The national language is English, but most people also speak Creole. The economy is the fastest growing in the Caribbean and the government uses strict measures in order to try to control development to protect the islands for the future benefits of residents and tourists.

There are no endemic diseases or health risks in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and vaccinations are not required (apart from the COVID entry requirement). There is no industrial pollution, meaning the water is clean - both the sea and drinking water. The most common health issue experienced by visitors is sun burn.

Providenciales and Grand Turk both have hospitals. Local medical facilities should be able to handle most situations that arise. In case of emergency that cannot be handled locally, patients are flown by air ambulance to Miami or Nassau. Please dial 911 for emergency.

The Turks & Caicos ranks very low in terms of corruption, although the country has been identified for money-laundering and other types of financial crime. The police force management is the responsibility of the United Kingdom government and they have a professional reputation.

Statistically, TCI is one of the safest countries for visitors in the Caribbean. Outside of Providenciales, there is very little crime to worry liveaboard divers. Muggings are the most likely crime to occur - usually after dark in the Bight and the western Grace Bay areas, or along remote and little used walking trails. There are some vehicle and villa break-ins and theft too.

The general, sensible advice is to avoid the beach at night, don’t walk along remote trails alone, don’t leave valuables in your car - keep them in a safe, stay in a hotel or guarded private villa. The telephone number for calling the police is 999 or 911.

Note, there is no public transport system in the Turks and Caicos. Vehicle hire is recommended for tourists that plan to stay on land for some time. Taxis sometimes inflate prices for tourists, so make sure to agree a price beforehand. Most locals use unregistered minibuses or jitneys as their mode of transport, but these are not recommended as they are often uninsured, badly conditioned and poorly driven.