Protected by a beautiful 14 mile long barrier reef, and home to an incredible array of marine life, including a wild Rouge dolphin named Jo Jo who loves to visit with divers, Grace Bay is a quick 20 minute boat ride from Turtle Cove. With fantastic underwater topography and shallow areas with exceptional visibility, this region has something for everyone, from novice to expert. Let’s take a look at just five of these amazing Providenciales dive sites.
Pinnacles
Renowned as one of the most popular sites Grace Bay has to offer, this lovely section of reef features spur and groove formations, with pinnacles that begin at about 50 feet and rise up to within 20 feet of the surface in most areas. With a mini wall covered in brilliant sponge and soft coral growth, this lovely site is perfect for underwater photography and is home to moray eels, lobsters, and a friendly Nassau grouper nicknamed Scratch. Visibility is usually better than 100 feet, and there are thousands of tiny creatures waiting to be discovered.
Graceland
Home to a big resident barracuda named Elvis, Graceland features a sand chute and a swimthrough that leads straight out to the wall. Once at the wall, positioned beneath 50 feet of water, you can simply gaze out into the blue, watching the endless parade of marine life passing by. With visibility that sometimes reaches an incredible 300 feet, this site is subject to a slight current, and the wall is peppered with grottoes and topped with soaring pinnacles that make your ascent absolutely splendid. With jacks and spadefish, clouds of wrasse, and lots of other creatures in attendance, this is an exceptional site for photography and is ideal for all divers.
Shark Hole
Suitable for experienced divers only, Shark Hole is a narrow canyon that leads into a large cave with incredible undercuts where sharks and turtles can often be found. At the back of the cave, an archway leads to a plateau at 135 feet, from which you can either ascend the backside of the wall, or travel back through the cave. Besides the sharks and turtles, you’ll find moray eels, lobsters, groupers, and countless smaller creatures as you explore. Visibility is normally around 100 feet, and sometimes even better.
Grouper Hole
With a sand chute and a cave where groupers hide, this lovely site offers visibility that sometimes reaches 300 feet, and maximum depth at 50 feet. Part of the Provo marine sanctuary, the site is beautifully wreathed in coral and sponge growth, and is populated with all kinds of fish including wrasse, chromis and anthias. Besides the many invertebrates and crustaceans you can find along the walls, you can occasionally encounter turtles and sharks, as well.
Aquarium
Home to schooling snappers and grunts, the Aquarium is the northernmost site Columbus National Marine Park has to offer. The wall begins at about 50 feet beneath the surface, and meets the seabed at 100 feet. Covered in lush soft coral and sponge growth, and an excellent place to encounter a multitude of smaller creatures as well as the occasional turtle or shark, it is subject to a bit of current and is suitable for experienced divers only.
As with the many other Provo dive sites, these are all well-known and are popular destinations for dive operators that provide day trips. So, brush up on your underwater photography skills, and you’re certain to return home with splendid memories to last you a lifetime.