Destination Fact File
World renowned beaches and wall diving. Watch out for the Whales in season.
Providenciales, also known as "Provo", is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Situated on the west side of the Caicos archipelago it has an area of 98 km² and a population of 30,542, making it the largest island in population and the third largest in area. It is served by the Providenciales International Airport and is home to the only conch farm in the world. Beautiful beaches are scattered on all sides of Providenciales, the most spectacular of which is a 12 mile stretch located on Grace Bay, which is protected by a healthy barrier reef.
Development of Providenciales began in 1966 when the Turks and Caicos Government and the British Government made a lease purchase agreement with Provident Ltd. allowing them to lease 4000 acres of Crown Land. The south part of the island faces the Caicos Bank. The Caicos Bank is a shallow, pale turquoise sea and is partly composed of swamp and tidal flats, filled with an abundant resource of conch and lobster.
Sapodilla Bay is a popular mooring for yachts travelling through the Turks and Caicos Islands. At the opposite end of Providenciales, the deep channel of Leeward Going Through makes a natural and safe harbour on the northeast end of the island.
The North West Point has vertical walls beginning at 35 feet and is famous for a variety of formations including gold and purple tube sponges. Dramatic dive sites are the rule here where large fish and elephant ear sponges are frequently spotted.
West Caicos is an uninhabited island situated on the west side of Provo, about 35 minutes from the dock. There are six miles of protected leeward side walls, approximately 100 to 150 yards from shore with more than 20 dive sites. The wall starts from 35 feet and drops to approximately 6,000 feet.