Instant Reader Report on Diving
Salt Cay Divers in
Turks and Caicos/British West Indies in
2003/03

 Bonaire, Caymans, Belize, Florida Keys, Nassau, Culebra 

Dive Conditions

Dive within your training, no deco  

Photographers are taken care of as needed.  

Overall Rating

   Our diving, accommodations and whale watching were booked with Salt Cay
Divers some three months before we arrived. The booking was simple and only
required a few e-mails and a phone call. Debbie employs an excellent dive
master by the name of Mike Dinegras, who we came to find out has worked in
various places around the Caribbean in the past and who we observed to
accommodate every level of  diver experience from the newly certified to
the experienced visitor. Mike allowed us to dive our own profiles or to be
guided, which ever we preferred. Before the first dive, he briefly
questioned each diver about his/her experience level and, before each dive,
he provided excellent briefings, reviewed signals and covered safety
procedures. The dives were made from 24 foot center-console skiffs which
are used for both diving and whale watching. They are comfortable and rode
the water surprisingly well.  They do require back roll entries into the
water, and ladders are used for re-entering the boat after first passing
BCD and tank up to the dive master in the boat. Exits and entries were safe
and easy.  
   The Salt Cay Divers’ boats were well maintained, and proper safety gear
was carried on each dive. All of the diving equipment was in proper working
order, and we could neither detect defective equipment nor did we encounter
any malfunctions or safety concerns during any of our four days of diving.
This was quite a surprise for my wife and I who have traveled all over the
Caribbean, as we usually encounter at least some less than fully
operational equipment at the smaller islands. Not here: Salt Cay Divers has
an operation that rivals any state of the art resort that we have visited
including those at Bonaire and the Caymans. Debbie has put together a
fantastic yet simple operation. She was not pushy, let us ask questions and
gave advice about the island’s beautiful beaches, food and places to see
when we asked. 
   The diving was terrific. Our fist dive was on the wreck of the
Endymion, a British warship that sank in about 1790. There are actually two
wrecks at the site which is about 10 or 12 miles off  Salt Cay. The second
wreck is thought to be that of a late nineteenth century ship which sank in
the same area as the Endymion. There is much to see at this site including
anchors, canons, anchor chains along with huge stands of healthy coral and
the local fish population.  Other local dive sites included Kelly’s Folley,
Northwest Wall and Three Pillars. At these sites, we encountered small
parades of reef fish, beautiful walls, and saw some turtles. We had a
completely great dive experience on every dive. The local dive sites were
only a five or ten minute boat ride away meaning that surface intervals
could be done back on land where there is a small open-air diner called the
“Green Flash” where drinks and food can be obtained. The Green Flash
remained open until 8 P.M., and fresh fried seafood and snacks of all sorts
were usually available.
   A few practical travel tips: Bring cash or travelers checks, as credit
cards are not readily accepted on the island. Also, consult ahead of time
with your host about pre-ordering food and drinks, as food at the
restaurants tends to be expensive. 

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