Frequently Asked
Questions:
Overnight Visitors | Cruise ship passengers
General
If you will be visiting Grand Turk and wish to scuba dive, snorkel, or
learn to dive with a resort course, this section will answer some
frequently asked questions.
Where will
we be diving?
All dives are wall dives along the incredible Grand Turk wall. The top
of the wall starts at 30 feet, and the best reef zones are 30-60 feet
deep. Sometimes divers ask for a particular dive site they may have
heard about. We welcome diver input, but obviously the Divemaster
will decide the final choice, based on conditions.
How big is
the dive group?
We dive in small boats. The maximum number of divers we take is 8-10,
although often we have less people on a single boat. We provide in
water supervision and a guide service from the dive master.
What is the
snorkeling like?
We take snorkelers out on the dive boat space available. Please be
advised that the boat will be anchored in approximately 25 feet depth.
Under normal conditions, it is a very good snorkel trip with a quite
healthy reef system and marine life, but may not be suitable for
someone who has never tried snorkeling before. It depends on your own
individual comfort level. If wind conditions increase, or water clarity
drops, you will be advised prior to boarding as this is a personal
choice that can vary tremendously.
How do I
learn to Scuba Dive?
If you have never tried diving before, it is easy to learn. A resort
course allows you to try diving under the direct supervision with an
instructor. You first go thru an informative briefing, followed by a
shallow water (3-5 feet depth) training session to get familiar with
the equipment and breathing. Providing all goes well there, you are
then taken out in the boat for a shallow water dive along the top of
the wall. It is truly a great way to try diving!
Overnight Visitors
If you will be visiting Grand Turk and staying on the island, this
section will answer some frequently asked questions.
How do we
get to Grand Turk?
Grand Turk is serviced by Air Turks and Caicos, which flies from
Providenciales to Grand Turk. You can check availability, obtain
pricing and book flights on their website at
http://www.airturksandcaicos.com/.
How do we
get to the dive shop?
Our retail shop and office is conveniently located on Duke Street,
across from the Osprey Beach Hotel and within short walking distance of
a number of hotels and guest houses on the island.
How do we
get to the dive boat?
Our dive boats will typically pick you up on the beach in front of your
hotel. Depending on weather conditions, we may pick you up from
your hotel and drive you to the boat location.
How do I
make a reservation?
For booking you can email us or call the number below. To make a
booking we require a 20% deposit taken on Visa or MasterCard.
This is a non-refundable deposit. There are no refunds for divers
who experience ear problems or for other reasons may choose not to do
one or both dives. To scuba dive you will need to present a recognized
certification card, and let us know what gear you will need, including
size.
What is the
BWD Refund Policy for Dive Packages?
At Blue Water Divers we pride ourselves in what has kept us in business
for over 25 years, and that is small groups and personal service. When
booking a dive package please take a moment to consider the following.
Most divers book weeks or even months in advance. That means we are
holding space on the boat for you from the time you book, and
potentially turning down other business. In a business as small as BWD
that can be a very critical situation, as far as numbers of divers and
boat space available.
There are several reasons one may miss a day
of a dive package:
- Airlines situations can cause delays in the States or even in
Providenciales
- A diver may arrive and they are feeling ill or too tired to dive the
first day
- Luggage or dive gear may be lost or delayed
- The weather may be too rainy or cold
- Etc...
All understandable reasons not to dive, but
does not alter the fact that we have held your dive package reservation
as well as space on the boat, whether you were able to use it or
not. Most divers have traveled enough and are aware that is
standard practice in the dive industry, but for those who are not, I
just like to offer this helpful bit of insight. Please try to
understand what a significant impact it can have on a small dive
operation.
If you are uncomfortable with that type of
arrangement, I have two suggestions:
(1) book one day dive package LESS than you intend to
dive, that way if you miss a day for whatever reason, you have a day to
play with. If all goes well and you wish to add a day diving at the
package rate, we will be delighted to do so for you!!
(2) Not go on dive package at all, but realize that a
daily dive rate will add up faster than the discounted dive package.
Thanks for taking the time to read and understand this side of dive
travel... Your business is crucial to me and I look forward to diving
with you again soon!
Cruise
ship passengers
If you will be visiting Grand Turk on a cruise ship, and wish to scuba
dive, snorkel, or learn to dive with a resort course, this section will
answer some Q’s and allow you to make a reservation.
How do we
get to the dive shop?
Once you arrive at the Cruise ship dock, you will need to take a cab in
town to Blue Water Divers. Tell your cab driver it is located next to
the Osprey Beach Hotel (Blue Water Divers has two locations) There you
will be met by our staff and sign in.
How do I
make a reservation?
For booking you can email us or call the number below. To make a
booking we require a 50% deposit taken on Visa or MasterCard.
This is a non-refundable deposit. For cruise ship passengers, in
the highly unlikely event your cruise ship does not come or
reschedules, we can refund you 40% back and retain only a 10% deposit.
The full balance is due when you arrive on island and come into our
shop to sign in. There are no refunds for divers who experience ear
problems or for other reasons may choose not to do one or both dives.
To scuba dive you will need to present a recognized certification card,
and let us know what gear you will need, including size. Once you have
signed in, you are escorted to the dive boat where all gear is double
checked for size, and you are given a weight belt and tanks.
For booking you can email us or call the
number below. Please let us know if you have any other questions, and
we look forward to seeing you soon!
Mitch Rolling
Owner, Blue Water Divers
PO Box 124 Grand Turk Turks & Caicos Islands
Ph/fax 649-946-2432
Check our website: www.grandturkscuba.com