Deep Water Diving in the Turks and Caicos

The Turks Island Passage, plunging to depths exceeding 2,000 metres, marks the divide between the Turks Islands and the Caicos Islands. Positioned just north of the Caribbean Sea, these two is-land groups form the British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos, renowned for hosting the best wall diving in the entire Caribbean region. This string of islands is encircled by steep, vertical slopes encrusted with coral formations and huge gorgonian fans. As for marine life, Caribbean reef sharks, turtles, rays and flurries of fish life – including an Original Diving favourite, the photogenic French angelfish – await. There’s no shortage of deep water diving in the Turks and Caicos archipelago, and you can experience it from the seclusion of a private island or by luxury liveaboard...

Providenciales

Providenciales, the third-largest island in the Turks and Caicos archipelago, is a haven for divers looking to enjoy the best deep water diving in the Turks and Caicos. Known locally as 'Provo,' this island is renowned for its soft white sand beaches and close proximity to some of the region's best deep water dive sites.

The island features two protected areas: Northwest Point Marine National Park and Northwest Point Pond Nature Reserve. For divers, this northwestern corner of the island is also where you can find the best deep dive sites. Two standout sites, Shark Hotel and Black Coral Forest, regularly host Caribbean reef sharks, oceanic triggerfish and spotted eagle rays. Another stand-out site, The Wall, features a dramatic underwater cliff that plunges over 2,000 metres. Divers can test their depth while scouring the coral-encrusted wall for macro critters and a huge array of fish life.

French Cay

French Cay lies to the south of Provo and is best explored via liveaboard. The diving at French Cay is characterized by crystal-clear waters and colourful coral reefs which transition from shallow reefs to vertical walls plunging into the depths. As you venture deeper, typically from 12 metres onwards, orange elephant ear sponges and vibrant gorgonians jut out. Cast your eyes into the blue and you might also spot eagle rays and reef sharks cruising by.

The deeper dives around French Cay also provide good opportunities to spot nurse sharks and huge stingrays, while the shallower areas are ideal for relaxing at the end of a dive. Night dives in the shallower sections will also enable you to spot a whole new roster of nocturnal marine life, including octopuses, lobsters and moray eels. At the end of the dive, turn your light off and shake your hands and you might also disturb bioluminescent plankton in the dark ocean, transporting you straight to space.

West Caicos

Lying to the southwest of Provo, West Caicos is famed for its epic wall diving. A six-mile-long wall shadows the island's western shoreline and is a great place to hunt for sharks, turtles, snappers and rays. The wall's shallowest points are at around 12 metres, catering to divers of all levels. However, experienced divers seeking the best deep water diving in the Turks and Caicos will not be disappointed.

Dropping over the edge and free-falling down to 30 metres brings bigger chances of seeing the bigger fish (think: reef sharks, green and hawksbill turtles, eagle rays, snappers, barracudas and moray eels), as well as swim-throughs and gullies to explore. While there are many deep dives along the wall, Magic Mushroom is a standout site featuring an underwater pinnacle that rises almost to the surface and drops steeply to the depths.

As a team of passionate dive travel specialists, we've extensively explored the deep water diving in Turks and Caicos (tough gig). Whether you're after pristine private islands or luxury liveaboards, we're here to craft your dream Turks and Caicos itinerary.