We just returned from a week of diving and relaxation in Grand Turk at the Island House. I highly recommend the Island House if you are traveling to Grand Turk. Colin is the perfect host and makes you very much at home. He personally met us upon arrival, took us to our accomadations, checking to see that everything was perfect. We had a very nice 1 bedroom suite with full kitchen and living area. Check out their website. It's beautiful, just like the pictures. The mattress was our only complaint. After we dropped our bags he took us for a personal tour of town. Colin pointed out spots of interest and a little history, places to eat with recommendations and entertainment spots. (Mind you, Grand Turk is known for diving not entertainment or dining.) Colin provides you with a small truck for your stay which allows you to come and go as you wish. We spent our mornings and afternoons on our lovely deck overlooking North Creek, the island and the turquoise ocean beyond. The grounds of the Island House are lovely with nice balconies, decks and pool. There were always wonderful trade winds gently blowing over the deck as the Island House sits upon a ridge on the north end of the island. The most relaxing dive vacation we've ever had. We enjoyed the WatersEdge for dining but the service is very slow. The cracked conch and ocean gently lapping below me was enough to make me forget the slow service though. As they say, "Where you going? You got a meeting"? The Sandbar is pleasant and service better with changing menu every night. Groceries are expensive and scarce depending on when the "boat comes". Bohio was nice for a treat but pricey.
Diving with Oasis was relaxing and unhurried. Only 4-6 per boat with great divemaster Macky who made sure everone was having a good time. No hurry here. Nov. thru Apr the humpbacks are migrating thru the Columbus Pass. Three days of diving while listening to whales sing was terrific. It's a beautiful sound. I saw mom and calf way off in distance just as shadows one day. We also went on a whale wathching cruise and saw another mom and calf. Great pictures. We were disturbed by the bleaching of the reefs and lack of sealife though. I've read from others here at same time they saw more but I don't know where. Maybe we are just used to more sealife than others. I heard the water temp has been warmer in summer and cooler in winter latlely stressing the reefs. We have to take care of our world or it won't take care of us. Not a lot to do for entertainment here but I would suggest the lighthouse on the north end. Nice little park and great pictures and a really pretty drive.
A word to the wise regarding Interisland flights. We missed our flight into Grand Turk from Provo due to US Air getting us there late and no facilitation thru the slow customs system. We were at the Sky King gate with 2 other passengers(appearing to be locals) from our flight, they were allowed to board, we were told we were too late even though the manifest was still in the ticket agents hand and the plane was still boarding. Unfortunately our accomadations person from Oasis Divers suggested we purchase round trip tickets from the other interisland airline, Air Turks and Caicos. Don't make this mistake. On our return trip home, Air Turks and Caicos decided to cancel our flight for a training flight and resulting maintainence. We were not informed of this till 30 mins after our departure time. With no other planes there to get a ride to make connections back home we were stuck. They said they had no responsibility or liability for this and would do nothing re: accomadations etc. They did ultimately put us up for the night and their customer service agent helped us, for hours, try to get help to go home. US Air by the way was completely worthless for any help. We were told twice that with a $57.00/ticket change fee we could reschedule our flight to next available but ended up having to pay $1400.00 for 2 oneway tickets home. That's more than our original round trip tickets and a budget breaker for sure. Beware of the interisland airlines as well as US Airways.