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Dive Review of Big Blue Unlimited/Sands At Grace Bay in
Turks and Caicos

Big Blue Unlimited/Sands At Grace Bay, Apr, 2003,

by Gregory Oppenhuizen, MI, USA (Reviewer Reviewer 4 reports). Report 436.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Big Blue Unlimited is a very good operation for divers who prefer to dive their own profile. You may stay down until you are ready to come up (60+ min). I would recommend nitrox for this area to increase your no deco limit, since most of the diving is in 50-80 ft with no shallow 15-30 ft reef.For experienced divers, you can do your own thing and nobody will hassle you or for novices you can be guided.

The boat is a 39 ft twin hull design well suited for diving and in good repair. They provide soft drinks, sandwiches, fruit and snacks.The food is good since many sights are nearly an hour away.You leave at 8:20 AM and may return as late as 2:30 PM for two tanks.

Big Blue takes no more than eight divers but does charge about 10% more than the other dive operations which may carry 20+ "guided" divers. BB dives all the sights including the nice sights around Provo which I found as good or better than West Caicos and French Cay. I enjoyed "Football Field" and "Northwest Point" best, both of which are off Provo. I dove for 7 days.

The dive personal were friendly, capable and equiped to assist with modest technical problems.


The Sands At Grace Bay is a nice resort with its own restaurant less than 10 years old. It is somewhat expensive, but all prices in Provo are nearly comparable to Grand Cayman. A typical fish entree will be $22-29. With soup, salad, and wine expect nothing less than $50/person for dinner. You can do sandwiches and beer for quite a bit less or go to IGA the first day and get light food, beer and wine, or bring your own wine with you.

The Sands provides a shuttle for a fee (they claim less than the taxi) to restaurants and stores although there is complimentary pickup and return to the airport.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Carribean/Pacifc
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 76-77°F / 24-25°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-80 Ft/ 15-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions You were given Carte Blanche freedom to dive within your experience, training, and confidence with conditions.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments I did not observe a dip tank on the boat, but there was space on the boat to securely place cameras as well as a functional fresh water shower.The biggest advantage for photographers is an unlimited dive profile.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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