Watersports activities are the name of the game in the Turks & Caicos, and in most cases you'll be availing yourself of the capable expertise of local watersports operators and boat charters to get out and play in the miles of sea, whether you're on a scuba-diving or snorkeling expedition, parasailing or sailing, enjoying an eco-adventure, visiting other islands, or simply taking one of the extremely popular beach cruises and excursions that combine any number of activities. Much of the coral reef is protected national parkland and the waters are too shallow in spots to allow powerboats and personal watercraft to be rented out without a captain aboard -- with a few exceptions in designated spots. Sun & Fun Seasports (tel. 649/946-5724; www.turksandcaicos.tc/sunandfun) rents out motorboats and personal watercraft.
Many of the "beach excursion" boat trips are half-day or daylong cruises that offer a variety of activities, from snorkeling and shelling to beach barbecues, conch diving, and visits to Little Water Cay, or "Iguana Island," as it's also known, a nature reserve where a population of endangered native rock iguanas enjoys protected status.
The following is a master list of the top watersports and charter-boat operators in Providenciales and the Caicos islands, their contact information, and a general description of the types of services they have to offer. Most include free pickup/drop-off from your hotel to the marina and back in the price of the excursions.
- After Five Concierge (tel. 800/833-1341 in the U.S. or 649/232-3483; www.after5.tc): Private dive instruction; personalized watersports tours; sunset cruises; beach excursions; fishing charters; eco-tours.
- Art Pickering's Provo Turtle Divers (tel. 800/833-1341 in the U.S. or 649/946-4232; www.provoturtledivers.com): Scuba diving, instruction, and equipment rental; snorkeling.
- Beluga Charter Sailing (tel. 649/946-4396; www.sailbeluga.com): Captained charter sailing on a Polynesian catamaran; beach excursions.
- Big Blue Unlimited (tel. 649/946-5034; www.bigblueunlimited.com or www.bigblue.tc): Technical and recreational scuba diving, instruction, and equipment rental; eco-adventures (including kayaking, snorkeling, mountain biking, and North Caicos trips); private charters.
- Blue Whale Tours & Excursions (tel. 649/331-5027; http://bluewhaleexcursions.com): West Caicos snorkeling; beach excursions; bonefishing and deep-sea fishing; glowworm tours.
- Caicos Adventures (tel. 649/941-3346; www.tcidiving.com): Scuba diving, instruction, and equipment rental.
- Catch the Wave (tel. 649/941-3047; www.tcimall.tc/catchthewave/default.htm): Bonefishing and bottom fishing; beach excursions; water-skiing; island safaris (including cave and bird-watching trips); private charters.
- Dive Provo (tel. 800/234-7768 in the U.S. or 649/946-5040; www.diveprovo.com): Technical and recreational scuba diving, instruction, and equipment rental; hotel/dive packages; snorkeling.
- J&B Tours (tel. 649/946-5047; www.jbtours.com): Beach excursions, cruises, and barbecues; bonefishing, bottom fishing, and deep-sea fishing; snorkeling; island getaways; glowworm cruises; cave safaris.
- Ocean Vibes (tel. 649/231-6636 or 649/331-1104; www.oceanvibes.com): Scuba diving, instruction, and equipment rental; scuba and snorkeling charters; multiday packages.
- Reef Peepers (tel. 649/941-8605; www.reefpeepers.com): Glass-bottom-boat excursions; snorkeling trips; sunset wine-and-cheese cruises; private charters.
- Sail Provo (tel. 649/946-4783; www.sailprovo.com): Sailing cruises; snorkeling cruises; combination beach excursion cruises; glowworm cruises; sunset cruises; weddings.
- Silver Deep (tel. 649/946-5612; www.silverdeep.com): Scuba diving; snorkeling; bonefishing, bottom fishing, fly-fishing, deep-sea fishing, night fishing, and shark fishing; beach excursions and barbecues; glowworm cruises; sunset cruises; island getaways; private charters.
- Sun Charters (tel. 649/231-0624; www.suncharters.tc): Sailing cruises and beach excursions aboard the Atabeyra; pirate cruises; private charters; weddings.
