There are two reasons one goes to Grand Turk - to scuba dive and do nothing. I mean that in the most positive way and it's what brought me here - to complete my PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification and watch sunsets. With serene, white sandy beaches and a breathtaking underwater world, why would you want to do anything else?
View from my balcony at the Osprey Beach Hotel
Getting there
To get to Grand Turk, you must first arrive in Providenciales. My post on How to fly to Turks & Caicos using Points talks about that. Once in Provo, Grand Turk is a 35-minute flight. There are two carriers - InterCaribbean Airways and Caicos Express, and are supposed to be comparable to each other. I went with InterCaribbean. The short flight on a twin prop affords some pretty good views.
Providenciales to Grand Turk
Providenciales to Grand Turk
Providenciales to Grand Turk
Providenciales to Grand Turk
On arrival
I was on the last flight to Grand Turk, which after being delayed by an hour, landed in JAGS McCartney International Airport (GDT) at around 6:30 PM local time. The airport looked pretty deserted and ready to close for the night.
Arrival into JAGS McCartney International Airport (GDT)
JAGS McCartney International Airport (GDT)
There wasn't a great deal of hustle and bustle outside the airport either. Most of the passengers on my flight were in town to attend a funeral and had friends / family receiving them at the airport. I, on the other hand, had no connections. I was a stranger in a foreign land with no taxi service around. I asked around where I might find a cab, and nice lady told me that it's unlikely at this hour. She went on to ask me where my hotel was and offered to give me a ride. A very warm welcome, indeed, and I was quite appreciative of it. It didn't occur to me at the time, but this lady was living out God's Word -
‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.' Leviticus 19:33-34
Accommodations
A 10-minute car ride later, we pulled into Duke Street, where I had an ocean-view room booked at the Osprey Beach Hotel. Checkin was smooth and Reception was holding some dive material for me from Blue Water Divers. I was in for a minor surprise though - no in-room TV, internet, or phone. Hurricane Irma had caused some severe damage and had wiped out a lot of the infrastructure. Instead, any sort of connectivity would have to be in the lobby area, where the staff would enter the wifi password in your device for you (and not actually give it to you). The next four days were going to be an opportunity to truly (and forcedly) disconnect.
Osprey Beach Hotel, Duke Street, Grand Turk
Osprey Beach Hotel
Lobby and pool, Osprey Beach Hotel
Lobby and pool, Osprey Beach Hotel
Osprey Beach Hotel
Osprey Beach Hotel
Osprey Beach Hotel
Once checked in, the receptionist escorted me to my room, where a majestic King-sized bed awaited me.
Beachfront King Room, Osprey Beach Hotel
The TV and phone were purely ornamental, as is evident by the freely dangling cable off the TV. As much as I like doing nothing, this no-TV thing was going to take a little adjusting.
Beachfront King Room, Osprey Beach Hotel
But this spectacular view from my private balcony more than made up for that. This is what I woke up to every morning.
Balcony, Beachfront King Room, Osprey Beach Hotel
And this is what I had waiting for me at the end of each day, as I sat on that chair with a beer. So, no complaints.
Balcony, Beachfront King Room, Osprey Beach Hotel
Diving
There was a reason I flew all the way out to Grand Turk, and that reason was to dive. The plan was to have 3 days of morning, afternoon, and even a night dive. With that much diving, the friendly associate at Blue Water Divers, who would later be my dive instructor, suggested that I use the opportunity to take my diving skills to the next level by completing the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course. I was sold. I had completed the theory prior to my arrival, and over the 4 days I was on the island, I did the Peak Buoyancy Performance, Underwater Naturalist, Night and several other dives.
Filefish
Filefish
Grouper (PC Blue Water Divers)
Human (PC Blue Water Divers)
Nurse Shark (PC Blue Water Divers)
Hawksbill Sea Turtle (PC Blue Water Divers)
Same Human (PC Blue Water Divers)
Same Hawksbill Sea Turtle (PC Blue Water Divers)
Getting ready for a Night Dive
With my PADI Dive Instructor, Lani Gibson
Around town
Diving has this pesky little thing called Surface Interval where you have to spend time out of the water so your body can release the nitrogen absorbed during the dive. I used that time wisely by wandering around the neighborhood and the island a little.
Just outside the hotel on Duke Street
Wild donkeys are a common sight in Grand Turk. History has it that these guys were put to work in the salt industry back in the eighteenth century, hauling salt from the evaporation ponds to the piers where ships waited for it (the salt, not the donkeys). But these days, they lead a more relaxed life - their only job is to roam the streets and serve as icons of Grand Turk.
Just outside the hotel on Duke Street
Duke Street
Duke Street
Coverly Alley
Coverly Alley
Duke / Front Street
Beach along Duke Street
Pond Street
Pond Street
Pond Street
Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on this little island. The lasting effects of its damage was evident in the state of many of the buildings, with a lot of them still boarded up.
Front Street
The island was rather quiet and laid back during my stay. A Carnival Cruise ship was to make a stop, which stimulated some of the businesses.
One such business was Jack's Shack, a restaurant and bar I was told served the best jerk chicken on the island. It did not disappoint.
A whole Jerk chicken, $10
Soon after Carnival left, so did everybody else. The staff asked me to take my time and enjoy the place. Just that I fold that red umbrella down when I left. That's my backpack and leftovers for dinner on that table.
Jack's Shack
After tucking in half a chicken and a couple of cocktails, it was time to make my way back to the hotel. Once again, couldn't easily find a cab. So I just started walking back.
Walk from Jack's Shack to the hotel
Walk from Jack's Shack to the hotel
Walk from Jack's Shack to the hotel
Walk from Jack's Shack to the hotel
And that was my last night on the island. Until next time, Grand Turk. Good night.
Sunset from my balcony
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