For serious divers, the waters around the Turks and Caicos house some of the most diverse coral reefs and walls in the world. The reef is about 65 miles wide and more than 200 miles long. With a visibility of up to 200 feet and proximity to the beach, divers can see vast ocean life, shipwrecks, and have the option of beach or boat dives. The Columbus Passage, a 22-mile wide channel, offers an 8,000-foot drop off that serves as a major line of transit for rays, turtles and dolphins.
In the winter and spring, whale watching is a major event in Turks and Caicos. From December to April, the 2,500 members of the Atlantic humpback whale family swim right past the islands during their annual migration to the Mouchoir Bank just 30 miles southeast of the islands. During this time, visitors can watch the whales from vantage points on the beach or on whale watching boating trips. Divers can also go on excursions to listen to whale songs from under the water.
As part of the national parks system, more than 12 of the smaller surrounding cays have been set aside as breeding grounds for the many breeds of birds and other wildlife housed on the islands. Bird watching aficionados commonly visit the salt ponds and marshlands to see great blue herons, flamingos, osprey, pelicans, egrets, terns and a variety of other birds. In all, more than 170 breeds of birds can be observed on the Turks and Caicos.
The Caicos Conch Farm is the only conch farm in the world. Caribbean Queen conchs are famously raised both for their pearls and as a food product. At the conch farm visitors can learn how conchs are grown, and touch live conchs. The Caicos Conch Farm's motto is "The World's Only Sea Farm that raises Caribbean Queens fit for a King," and its website claims conchs are "quickly becoming a rising star food" among top chefs.
If history is your thing, check out Cheshire Hall on the island of Providenciales (Provo). Cheshire Hall is the site of 200-year-old cotton plantation ruins. The site is preserved by National Trust and falls against the backdrop of modern day Provo. Cheshire Hall was established by Thomas Stubbs, who immigrated to Provo from England in the early 19th century.
