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Turks and Caicos Islands

© Shutterstock/jpbarcelos

Explore Turks and Caicos

In the pristine Caribbean waters, you’ll find 40 islands of which eight are inhabited. These islands, the Turks and Caicos, offer spectacular diving all year round in turquoise warm water, suitable for divers of all levels of experience.

The islands boast the third largest barrier reef on Earth, sheer walls and shipwrecks. Situated on an underwater plateau that rises 2100 meters/7000 feet from the ocean floor, the topography varies from flat sandy bottoms near the shore, to dramatic vertical walls. Much of the coastline is protected by the National Parks Ordinance, meaning dive sites are full of life.

The Columbus Passage, a 35 kilometer/22 mile wide channel that separates the Turks Islands from the Caicos Islands, is a highway for migrating rays, fish, turtles, dolphins and humpback whales.

There are plenty of dive centers and dive resorts on the islands, of which Providenciales, known as Provo, is the most inhabited. Grand Turk, the capital island, is also a great spot to visit, and is a stop off for cruises.

For dive courses, it’s recommended to take an enriched air certification, as most dive operators offer nitrox. A deep diver certification may also be useful.

Power Plug Type
A, B
Payment Method
AMEX, VISA, MC, DIS
Tipping
10–15% / Service Staff / Tipping is expected in restaurants and hotels unless a service charge is already added.
Currency
USD
Dial Code
+1-649
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Time
UTC−5

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

Expect to see a myriad of colorful reef fish, turtles, eels, lobsters, stingrays and eagle rays. Lucky divers can even spot dolphins. Schools of tropical fish, such as horse-eye jacks, blue chromis, bluehead wrasse, Atlantic spadefish and yellow goatfish can also be found among the reefs.

Sharks are also sighted, including Caribbean grey reef sharks and nurse sharks around Providenciales. Off the Northwest Point and southwest, lemon, bull and hammerhead sharks are occasionally spotted. In the winter, you can encounter humpback whales.

Coral life is also teeming, with soft and hard corals of all species and colors, such as elkhorn coral, star coral, rainbow coral, in addition to various sponges, sea fans and gorgonians.


Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

113 Sightings
J
9
F
7
M
16
A
10
M
15
J
4
J
18
A
15
S
4
O
0
N
6
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

42 Sightings
J
1
F
4
M
6
A
1
M
5
J
4
J
10
A
5
S
0
O
1
N
5
D
0
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

36 Sightings
J
4
F
1
M
8
A
1
M
4
J
7
J
7
A
0
S
0
O
3
N
0
D
1
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

25 Sightings
J
5
F
2
M
5
A
0
M
3
J
1
J
6
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

17 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
6
A
3
M
3
J
2
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

100 Sightings
J
8
F
5
M
11
A
7
M
15
J
15
J
16
A
12
S
0
O
2
N
4
D
5
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

96 Sightings
J
7
F
12
M
9
A
5
M
7
J
7
J
14
A
6
S
12
O
0
N
6
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

95 Sightings
J
9
F
0
M
11
A
10
M
13
J
11
J
12
A
12
S
4
O
6
N
7
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

87 Sightings
J
6
F
4
M
10
A
9
M
11
J
9
J
18
A
10
S
4
O
1
N
5
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

80 Sightings
J
11
F
4
M
9
A
4
M
13
J
1
J
20
A
5
S
0
O
1
N
12
D
0
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

59 Sightings
J
3
F
3
M
6
A
9
M
9
J
0
J
15
A
4
S
1
O
1
N
1
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

59 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
8
A
1
M
6
J
6
J
13
A
9
S
3
O
1
N
7
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

52 Sightings
J
7
F
7
M
0
A
5
M
8
J
3
J
10
A
6
S
0
O
3
N
3
D
0
Caribbean Reef Shark

Caribbean Reef Shark

52 Sightings
J
6
F
0
M
3
A
2
M
4
J
3
J
12
A
14
S
0
O
0
N
8
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

48 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
8
A
7
M
8
J
5
J
9
A
6
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

45 Sightings
J
4
F
2
M
6
A
1
M
12
J
5
J
4
A
8
S
0
O
0
N
3
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

43 Sightings
J
5
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
5
J
7
J
11
A
9
S
4
O
1
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

39 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
8
A
6
M
8
J
2
J
7
A
3
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

32 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
5
A
3
M
6
J
5
J
1
A
6
S
0
O
3
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

32 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
4
A
5
M
8
J
3
J
7
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
1
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

30 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
4
A
3
M
4
J
4
J
4
A
5
S
5
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

29 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
5
A
4
M
4
J
3
J
4
A
7
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark

28 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
0
A
4
M
2
J
10
J
3
A
4
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

26 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
6
A
3
M
7
J
3
J
5
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

25 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
3
A
3
M
2
J
2
J
9
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

24 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
3
A
0
M
6
J
2
J
2
A
5
S
0
O
0
N
4
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

24 Sightings
J
2
F
3
M
0
A
0
M
3
J
3
J
5
A
6
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

22 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
2
J
6
A
4
S
0
O
0
N
5
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

16 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
4
A
3
M
4
J
0
J
0
A
5
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Flounder

Flounder

16 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
5
A
0
M
3
J
0
J
4
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

12 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
4
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
4
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

12 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
3
A
3
M
3
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
3
D
0
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

7 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
3
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
1
N
1
D
0