Turks, March 29th thru April 5th

[Doug B]

I'll be in Turks, at Beaches with my family and the brother-in-law's family from 29 March thru 05 April 2008.

I'm the only diver in the family.

Will anyone from the forum be there during this week? I could use a dive buddy to take advantage of the unlimited shore diving.

[CODMAN]

Hi Doug,
you'll be staying at Beaches on Providenciales? I was at Club Med in 2006, almost next door to Beaches. I'm not trying to put you down or anything, but you do know that the barrier reef in front of the beach is very very far off the beach? Honnestly, I wouldn't even consider a shore dive a possibility from there... Yes, there are a few coral patches in front of the resort (OK for quick snorkeling), but they are in terrible condition. The only good diving requires a minimum 20 minute boat ride out of there! As I said, I'm not trying to discourage you... Just want to make sure you've been informed!

I don't know what your plans are, or what type of diving you are looking for... But the best diving near Provo is way farther out than Beaches will probably take you! If diving is important for you in this trip, I would advise you book diving elsewhere with another dive OP (Caicos adventures come to mind and is one of the best). They will take you to the better sites of West Caicos and French Cay. The diving there is awesome. Much much better than what is around Providenciales and where the big resorts take you. I learned my lesson the hard way. 3 dive days wasted around Provo, until we booked a day with Caicos adventures on West Caicos and were blown away! There was simpliy no comparison.

Just trying to help!

[tarheeldiver]

Originally Posted by CODMAN

Hi Doug,
you'll be staying at Beaches on Providenciales? I was at Club Med in 2006, almost next door to Beaches. I'm not trying to put you down or anything, but you do know that the barrier reef in front of the beach is very very far off the beach? Honnestly, I wouldn't even consider a shore dive a possibility from there... Yes, there are a few coral patches in front of the resort (OK for quick snorkeling), but they are in terrible condition. The only good diving requires a minimum 20 minute boat ride out of there! As I said, I'm not trying to discourage you... Just want to make sure you've been informed!

I don't know what your plans are, or what type of diving you are looking for... But the best diving near Provo is way farther out than Beaches will probably take you! If diving is important for you in this trip, I would advise you book diving elsewhere with another dive OP (Caicos adventures come to mind and is one of the best). They will take you to the better sites of West Caicos and French Cay. The diving there is awesome. Much much better than what is around Providenciales and where the big resorts take you. I learned my lesson the hard way. 3 dive days wasted around Provo, until we booked a day with Caicos adventures on West Caicos and were blown away! There was simpliy no comparison.

Just trying to help!

I highly agree with this info. Caicos Adventure is very good and the diving there is great. The wall dives are awesome

[CODMAN]

Yup, anybody who has been with Caicos adventures will agree! Diving with them (or another OP who will take you to west caicos or french cay) will be the difference between: oh yay, I'm doing some diving in the Turks and Caicos... and Wow! That was absolutely the best wall dive I've ever done!

I'm sure you'll have fun with Beaches... But you are definetly missing the best if you don't make it out to the farther sites!

Just trying to help!

[Doug B]

Originally Posted by CODMAN

Yup, anybody who has been with Caicos adventures will agree! Diving with them (or another OP who will take you to west caicos or french cay) will be the difference between: oh yay, I'm doing some diving in the Turks and Caicos... and Wow! That was absolutely the best wall dive I've ever done!

I'm sure you'll have fun with Beaches... But you are definetly missing the best if you don't make it out to the farther sites!

Just trying to help!

Many, many thanks.
I'll check out Caicos Adventures for a couple of dives.
I didn't have any choice in where we were staying. The wife made that decisioin. It's good for me - so the rest of the family will have something to do.

I wanted to go back to Belize, but we're traveling with my brother-in-law and his lame family, and they wanted more of a resort type thing..... not the Amberbris Cay thing. I'd love to do another week at Ramones. The diving around there was fun.

[CODMAN]

Doug, don't let that keep you from the best diving there! Caicos adventures gives the best service I've ever seen! They'll pick you up every morning at your hotel in a bus and lug you over to the boat for a day trip (2 or 3 dives a day). They'll also take care of all your equipment while with them. It is worth it! Believe me! They'll then take you back to your hotel at the end of the day. After you'll have been with them on west caicos, you'll be kicking yourself for any day spent diving Provo with Beaches!!!!!! ( I was diving with club med 2 years ago, and did 1 day with Caicos adventures. I still have bruises from kicking myself so hard). If it's not too late, give them a call/ e.mail and sort it out with them. They are more expensive than a resort operation, but oh so much better.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Doug B

Many, many thanks.
I'll check out Caicos Adventures for a couple of dives.
I didn't have any choice in where we were staying. The wife made that decisioin. It's good for me - so the rest of the family will have something to do.

I wanted to go back to Belize, but we're traveling with my brother-in-law and his lame family, and they wanted more of a resort type thing..... not the Amberbris Cay thing. I'd love to do another week at Ramones. The diving around there was fun.

[Doug B]

Originally Posted by CODMAN

Doug, don't let that keep you from the best diving there! Caicos adventures gives the best service I've ever seen! They'll pick you up every morning at your hotel in a bus and lug you over to the boat for a day trip (2 or 3 dives a day). They'll also take care of all your equipment while with them. It is worth it! Believe me! They'll then take you back to your hotel at the end of the day. After you'll have been with them on west caicos, you'll be kicking yourself for any day spent diving Provo with Beaches!!!!!! ( I was diving with club med 2 years ago, and did 1 day with Caicos adventures. I still have bruises from kicking myself so hard). If it's not too late, give them a call/ e.mail and sort it out with them. They are more expensive than a resort operation, but oh so much better.

Good luck!

Yeah, I've already traded emails with Caicos Adventures. I'm going to attempt to do two days with them. It's a narrow line I walk - trying to dive while on vacation and being gone virtually all day while the wife has to watch over the kids. My kids are getting old enough now, though... that it shouldn't be as big of a deal. If I had my way, I'd be diving every dive my computer would allow. But, I'd be divorced by the end of the week.

[CODMAN]

Ah yes, many constraints for diving other than NDLs!!!

Good luck on working out a combination that will work for you and your family!

[CC1020]

Originally Posted by CODMAN

Ah yes, many constraints for diving other than NDLs!!!

Good luck on working out a combination that will work for you and your family!

Perhaps we need to ascribe a new meaning to the acronym "NDL"...

Non-Divorce Limits

I may be going to Beaches in Turks & Caicos too, but a couple of weeks before you, and i will be dealing with the same issue as far as a non-diving spouse (NDS)

[Doug B]

I'm trying to setup diving now.

Let me know how your diving goes....