Scuba Diving in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Located just an hour's plane ride from Miami, the Turks and Caicos Islands are a favorite destination among scuba divers looking for scuba diving locations that are not crammed packed with tourists. The Turks and Caicos Islands are made up of more than 40 islands and cays found in the North Atlantic Ocean southeast of the Bahamas. While the islands themselves are not renowned for awe-inspiring beauty like that which can be found in the Bahamas, the beauty that can be found underwater more than makes up for the lack of it above.

It is this beauty and the pristine condition of the marine environment surrounding the Fishing Turks and Caicos Islands that prompted the readers of Rodale's Scuba Diving magazine to recognize Grand Turk/Salt Cay as a top diving destination. In the year 2004, the Turks and Caicos were voted number one in the world for having the healthiest marine environment; number two for the best marine life; and number three for having the best wall diving. With more than 200 miles of coastline, the Turks and Caicos offer plenty of prime scuba diving sites. Here you will find pristine walls, reefs, and caves teeming with an abundance of coral, sponges, and fish. You can even explore an 18th century shipwreck.

Salt Cay, one of the most popular scuba diving destinations of the Turks and Caicos, alone has more than a dozen scuba diving sites. Here is a brief list of the scuba diving sites of Salt Cay and a little of what you can expect:

Endymion - In the shallow waters of this top scuba diving spot rests the remains of an unsalvaged 18th Century British Warship. Submerged in some places by only 10 feet of water, this spot is a favorite of beginners and advanced divers alike.

Point Pleasant - Another relatively shallow dive spot in the Turks and Caicos Islands can be found at Point Pleasant. While depths at this favorite spot can reach up to 130 feet, a great deal can be seen at only 15 feet below the surface. This scuba diving spot is identified by caverns, huge corals, spotted eagle rays, African Pompano, and nurse sharks.

Black Coral Canyon - Black Coral Canyon is a popular scuba diving site that is famous for the huge gorge that is carved into the wall face. Depths of this dive can range anywhere from 50 to 130 feet. Here you will see black coral, yellow tube sponges, rope sponges and a vertical ledge at a sand shelf.

Turtle Gardens - This is another great scuba diving spot of the Turks and Caicos. Here you will find fields of breathtaking coral interspersed with sand. This spot is frequented by hawksbill turtles so a sighting is almost guaranteed.

In addition to these few scuba diving sites, there are numerous other sites in the Turks and Caicos to choose from. There are so many, in fact, that more than a few people have chosen to prolong their vacation just so that they could see more of what the area has to offer.