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Dive Review of Oasis Divers/Ospry Beach Hotel in
Turks and Caicos/Grand Turk

Oasis Divers/Ospry Beach Hotel, Nov, 2006,

by Dale Thompson, CA, USA . Report 3093.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 3 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 1 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 2 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Osprey Beach Hotel was recently removated and in fairly good condition - for a typical small Carib island operation. Staff very accomodating, on the other hand air-conditioner rattled and wheezed, distrubed by other occupants next door and above rom due poor construction.

4 restaurants in walking distance, all had same basic island food - conch, fish, chicken, curry, steak; all reasonable well done and inexpensive. Service varied from slow to glacical, but usually friendly. New cruise ship terminal just opened at South end of island. Attempt at upscale restaurant there just opened, may prove to be a nice alternative to local places near the hotel. Rental car unnecessary as hotel, restaurants and dive operation all a few blocks apart.

Dive operation well below usual standards. Small boats with beach access to board, tank racks not set up behind seating beches but rather on boat's center deck/floor. Only caried tanks for one dive, so AM, two dive trips required a return to the beach and a 20 - 25 minute wait while the operator's staff changed out tanks across the beach. Access by back roll from bow was usual, return to boat via unusually small, unsteady, and poorly designed ladder adjacent to outboard motor - with minimal hand holds to complicate it. One member of our group lost a day of diving to back strains directly attributed to poor ladder. Also, one dive master/boat captain, so boat left unattended while all were in the water (all divers expressed concern about this - the dive master's response "Well a few boats have drifted off before but it hasn't happened to me." [yet!]). Finally boats used moorings where available (about 50% of the sites), but anchored freely as needed - usually managed to get the anchor into the sand, but chain frequently dragged across coral. This was a "PADI" dive center, the best on the island according to most reviews.

Underwater typically saw rich assortment of small fish, but little large stuff. Given dive operator, would not return.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Many Carib islands, S Pacific
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 81-83°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-80 Ft/ 12-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Dive masters set a max depth for each dive and kept the group together and at the dpeth specified, or less. Got upset with some wandered off and got out of dive master's sight.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 2 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

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

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities 1 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities 4 stars
UW Photo Comments [None]
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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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