islandhop2009

Hello,

 

I am looking to snorkel in a couple of weeks at Grand Turk. I have snorkeled in Honduras, Belize, Mexico, St. Thomas, St Maarten, and anywhere else we've been, and I have NEVER had a problem. It's one of my favorite things to do and this will be my first time in Grand Turk, so I can't wait to see the breathtaking sea views that I've read about.

 

The problem: So many have recommended White Sands, Blue Divers and GTDive, but all of their websites state a weight limit, which I exceed. (I have also never seen this before) Any suggestions as to how I can get out to "the Wall" and experience this amazing port?

 

Thanks.

The independent operators on Grand Turk generally have smaller (24'-28') boats and any listed weight limits are most likely related to their equipment (such as boat ladders). The cruise ship excursions which operate much larger boats would be more likely to have ladders rated to hold greater weights.

Is there anything to do in Grand Turk besides the beach?

Grand Turk is best known for scuba diving.

Grand Turk is best known for its scuba diving along the wall in the National Marine Park. If you are already a certified diver, you can either book through the ship or with one of the two independent dive shops (Blue Water Divers or Grand Turk Diving). If you are not a certified diver, but are in good health and interested in giving scuba diving a try, you can book a Discover Scuba Diving trip with either of the dive shops mentioned above. Hope you enjoy your visit!

Just wondering...why do they allow you to bring back conch shells from here? I have been to multiple ports in the Caribbean and they usually confiscate them when you re-enter the ship in other ports. I was told once that the "only" way you were allowed to take them is if you had purchased from a vendor (and this wasn't a vendor selling them that told me but a local) and they had to have writing on them stating where it came from and the date. So just wondering... :confused:

mitsugirly - Thank you for asking this question. You are correct there are protections for the Queen Conch in many Caribbean islands under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) as well as under the local laws of the various countries, both of which might explain the process you have seen in other ports. I don't know what the cruise line rules are, but on Grand Turk, it is actually illegal to remove anything from the National Marine Park, which extends the full West side of the island.

I know I could go to the Grand Turk area, but I thought perhaps someone on the Carnival sight has done this, or knows some "recent" information.

 

I had just read that in Grand Turk, you can pick up conch shells off the beach there, and take them back to the USA. Does this still hold true, as I am a "collector" of shells. :)

beshears - Thank you for asking! Actually, it depends upon where exactly the conch shell is obtained. It is illegal to remove anything from the National Park on Grand Turk, which extends the full West side of the island. This includes any 'calcareous substance'. The shells of all Caribbean islands are essential to sustaining the beautiful beaches that keep tourists coming back and support the livelihoods of people on the island. If every cruise ship passenger (nearly 1 million per year visit Grand Turk) takes shells, it can have serious consequences for the future. Please think carefully about taking shells, and ensure it is something that will be valued, not just cast aside once back home, as in that case it would be much more valuable remaining in the natural environment. And if you must take a shell, please ensure it is not coming out of the National Park or any marine protected areas (including Gibbs Cay). Thank you for helping keep the Turks and Caicos Islands "Beautiful by Nature"!

Hi my daughter and her boyfriend (adults) would like to figure out something to do on Grand Turk.

 

Margarhittaville is out because why pay for cocktails when we have the Cheers program on the ship?

 

Snorkeling, my daughter doesn't care much for this for some reason

 

They aren't stay in the sun people...they are more active, they are avid kayakers and they rent canoe's but I can't find any of these to rent on Grand Turk.

 

They love to use wave runners and jet ski's but these are not available on the island.

 

Are there any other types of watercraft they can rent and if so, where would they rent these?

 

Can anybody make any recommendations on things they can do?

Grand Turk is best known for scuba diving. If your daughter and her boyfriend are active and in good health, but not certified to scuba dive, they might want to try a Discover Scuba Diving experience while on Grand Turk.

Does anyone know if there are there any independent tours similar to this?

There are two independent dive operators on Grand Turk who offer snorkeling tours: Blue Water Divers (www.grandturkscuba.com) and Grand Turk Divers (www.gtdiving.com). You can also view additional information about Grand Turk activities on TripAdvisor here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g147396-Activities-Grand_Turk_Turks_and_Caicos.html

Where do you get info or book this "Discover Scuba Diving Trip"?

 

Also where is info on Dune buggy excursion? Is this through Carnival or seperate? Is there a age limits?

Clipsy01, Blue Water Divers (http://www.grandturkscuba.com) is an independent dive shop on Grand Turk which offers PADI Discover Scuba Diving trips. PADI Discover Scuba Diving trips have a minimum age of 10. I believe the Dune buggy excursion is through Carnival with a minimum age of 12. I hope you enjoy your time on Grand Turk!

Hi. Thinking of taxi to sandollar for food. Can we walk down to gov after? Then up to st to get over to jacks? Then ship? Maybe should say were healthy sixty yr olds. Need umbrella and chairs when sit on any beach, prettiest possible. Thanks.

Nitemare is right. The SandBar is in town, which is about 3 miles from the cruise ship port. Taxis have zones on Grand Turk and a ride from the cruise center into town is $5 per person. Jack's Shack and Governor's Beach are at the south end of the island near the cruise ship port.

I think there is no problem with a conch shell. We brought one home a few years ago. But, they tend to smell a bit. We kept ours in the shower in our stateroom and gave it a good soaking in soapy water.

I depends upon where the conch shell is obtained. It is actually illegal to remove anything from the National Park on Grand Turk, which extends the full West side of the island. This includes any 'calcareous substance'. The shells of all Caribbean islands are essential to sustaining the beautiful beaches that keep tourists coming back and support the livelihoods of people on the island. If every cruise ship passenger (nearly 1 million per year visit Grand Turk) takes shells, it can have serious consequences for the future. Please think carefully about taking shells, and ensure it is something that will be valued, not just cast aside once back home, as in that case it would be much more valuable remaining in the natural environment. And if you must take a shell, please ensure it is not coming out of the National Park or any marine protected areas (including Gibbs Cay). Thank you for helping keep the Turks and Caicos Islands "Beautiful by Nature"!

Thank you! I will look for it when we are there. One other question, well actually two. Can you bring a cleaned out conch home with you and are there any shacks that have scuba not thru the ship or are they all thru the ship? Hubby was hoping not to have to go with a large group of people scuba diving. TIA:D

kamac56, If your husband wants to book scuba diving outside of the ship, as he will have a better chance of being in a smaller group that way, there are two independent dive operators on Grand Turk: Blue Water Divers (www.grandturkscuba.com) and Grand Turk Divers (www.gtdiving.com). You can also view additional information about Grand Turk activities on TripAdvisor here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g147396-Activities-Grand_Turk_Turks_and_Caicos.html

I HAVE READ MUCH ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF PROVO (DON'T KNOW FULL NAME) IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS.

CRUISING TO GRAND TURK IN FEB. WILL BE THERE FOR THE DAY. NEVER BEEN BEFORE.

IS THERE ANY EASY WAY TO GET TO PROVO?

HOW LONG OF A TRIP BY BOAT?:cool:

Provo is the nickname for the island of Providenciales (airport code: PLS). Provo is approximately 75-80 miles from Grand Turk and there are two domestic airlines which have multiple flights daily between Grand Turk and Provo. The flight between the two islands takes about 25-30 minutes. That said, given the typically short port times of cruise ships in Grand Turk, you probably wouldn't want to risk a flight delay causing you to miss your ship's departure.

I was at Grand Turk in April on the Sunshine... We took a taxi to "Downtown" where we found about six 10x5 foot huts with people selling well... junk...

 

Now I love shopping at these hut type places in most ports, but these were more like yard sale stuff...

 

Is there AHYTHING more fun to do at Grand Turk? Other then the awesome cruise terminal itself?

 

Thanks guys!

Grand Turk is best known for scuba diving along its awesome "wall" in the National Marine Park. Even if you aren't already a certified diver, as long as you are in good health, you can book a Discover Scuba Diving trip to see what scuba diving is like.

i was thinking of contacting one of the dive shops independently. It will be me and my two nephews...

 

How many people do they take out on a excursion from the ship vs booking you own trip through a local dive shop?

aggieljh, Information on the websites of the independent dive shops on Grand Turk show that Blue Water Divers takes a maximum of 6 cruise ship divers per trip and Grand Turk Diving takes a maximum of 10 cruise ship divers per trip. I don't know the maximum number for the ship's dive excursions, but it would most likely be greater than either of the independent operator maximums.

I am getting my scuba certification, and was looking to dive on my upcoming cruise this June. I am looking to dive in either St. Kitts or in Grand Turk.

 

Anyone have any experience with either of these places, or which one would make for a better diving experience?

 

Thanks

You may want to consider booking your dives with an independent dive operator instead of going with an excursion through the cruise ship, as you will have a better chance of being in a smaller group that way. The two independent dive operators on Grand Turk are Blue Water Divers (http://www.grandturkscuba.com) and Grand Turk Diving (http://www.gtdiving.com).

Oasis is associated with the cruise lines. Blue Water Divers is not. You can see reviews for various operators here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g147397-Activities-Cockburn_Town_Grand_Turk_Turks_and_Caicos.html. You may be able to find a cheaper tour from a beach vendor (their operating costs are lower, especially due to the fact that they don't have a "storefront"), but if you go that route you will want to ensure you are choosing a licensed and insured operator.

How did you find out how many ships would be there on the same day as you?

Here is a link to the port schedule for Grand Turk: http://www.grandturkcc.com/Port-Schedule.aspx.

You may find a private snuba excursion, but you would have to book in advance and most likely you would not be picked up at the cruiseport's excursion pier.

 

There are several dive shops on Grand Turk. Blue Water, Oasis, Bohio are the major ones, there may be smaller vendors but don't believe they are PADI certified. I believe BlueWater and Oasis are the operators of the dive excursions offered by the cruise lines and won't take/can't take private customers who arrive on cruise ships. So you need to google their sites and then check to see which of the 3 offer snuba and if they can take you without signing up via the cruise line.

The only snuba excursion offered on Grand Turk is through the cruise lines. Oasis Divers runs the cruise ship dive excursions and, as crewsweeper said, is not a PADI shop and cannot take private customers who arrive on the cruise ships. Blue Water Divers and Bohio are the only PADI certified dive shops on Grand Turk, but neither offer snuba.

I appreciate the advice! Do you know how they are with snorkeling though, as that's what I'd be doing rather than diving, thanks!

You might want to check out TripAdvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g147397-Activities-Cockburn_Town_Grand_Turk_Turks_and_Caicos.html

I would love to bring a shell home. This was prohibited in Cozumel. Is anyone sure that it is okay to bring one home now? September 2014 cruise

 

Thanks.

Presently, in the Turks and Caicos Islands under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance Regulation 17, conch meat and bi-products, such as shells, jewellery and pearls, may NOT be exported during the closed season, which runs from July until October each year. This legislation fulfils part of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ (TCI) mandate under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)- an global agreement to protect wildlife.

I am very concerned that my wife and I are scheduled to travel for our 10 year anniversary on the Carnival Breeze leaving Saturday March 15 from Miami then heading to grand turk as the first stop. My concern is with all the snow we are getting in the Northeast this winter, what if the flight does not leave the morning of the cruise. Will Carnival allow us if there is room on a sunday cruise to change to another ship? The reason I ask this is that it does not seem after a pretty detailed search that there are any flights on the 15th, 16, or 17 from either Boston to Grand Turk (GDT) or even from Miami, Fort Lauderdale or even PBI to Grand Turks.

To get to Grand Turk from the U.S., at present you need to connect through Providenciales (aka Provo), which is one of the Caicos Islands. There are multiple flights daily into Provo from the States on American, Delta, US Airways, Jet Blue and United. The domestic airlines which service Grand Turk from Provo (also multiple flights daily) are InterCaribbean Airways (formerly Air Turks and Caicos) and Caicos Express Airways.

Do you know if we rented one of the jeeps or golf carts if we could get to Gibbs Cay on our own? Or is it only available by water taxi?

A boat is necessary to get to Gibbs Cay. It is a small, uninhabited island just off the coast of Grand Turk.

Does anyone know of one that can accommodate 14 or more people? These are the ones that I've checked into that won't work:

Grand Turk Divers, Crystal Seas Adventures, Blue Water Divers, Oasis, and Papa J Tours.

Thanks for your help.

Cruisintink - Grand Turk is a very small island (7 miles by 1.5 miles at its widest point) with no marinas. There are no large catamarans on the island apart from the ones used for the cruise ship excursions.

Sandbar has excellent reviews on Trip Advisor. How far is it from the cruise terminal? Is taking a taxi there the easiest way and how long would it take? Appreciate any info.

SandBar is in town, approx. 3 miles from the cruise terminal. A taxi is definitely the easiest way to go and most cruise passengers who come into town arrive within 15-20 minutes of docking. From the cruise terminal into town, a taxi ride is $5 per person. SandBar is closed on Saturdays and opens at noon on the other days of the week. Hope this helps!

Wow, Grand Turk appears to have the most expensive diving in the Caribbean. But it appears from your comments that its worth the cost? $150 for two tanks + $30 for equipment + $10 wetsuit + tip.

 

Can anyone make a case for the price?

The cost of doing business anywhere in the Turks and Caicos Islands is high. Personally, I like to look at the minimum/maximum number of divers per trip and whether the boat is dedicated to a specific trip type (vs. combo trips like diving&snorkeling or certified divers&resort course divers on the same boat) to ensure I know what kind of trip I am buying. That price would be high for a cattle boat (high volume can sometimes = lower price), but not to avoid the crowds and have a trip dedicated to certified divers.