TURKS and CAICOS
Eastern Caribbean
Located at the southern tip of the Bahamas are the Turks and Caicos
Islands. This group of islands consists of eight large and 40
smaller islands.
Grand Turk and Salt Cay, the main islands in the Turks, are
separated from
the Caicos by "Turks Island Passage", a deep channel 20 miles wide
and
over 6,000 feet deep. The Caicos' main islands are North Caicos,
South Caicos,
West Caicos, East Caicos, Grand Caicos and Providenciales and are
all located
to the northeast of the Turks. Many of the small islands and cays in
this
area are uninhabited, The waters around each island are pristine,
warm, and
clear. The area has been described as a photographer's paradise.
For more information about
Turks and Caicos
visit the
Turks and Caicos
Board of Tourism’s official website –
www.turksandcaicostourism.com
AIRPLANE
The Airplane wreck is located off South Caicos. She was a DC-3 that
had
been confiscated by the government when illegal drugs were found
hidden
in her cargo holds.
The Airplane is now resting in 50 feet of water, 30 to 40 feet from
the
edge of a wall. Her remains are broken up and scattered, but divers
will
recognize her fuselage which is still intact enough to be swim
through.
This site is home to a wide assortment of tropical fish.
FREIGHTER
This vessel, also known as the W.E. wreck, is approximately 110 feet
long
and weighs about 100 tons. She was sunk during the summer of 1988 by
Tony Felgate and Art Pickering, local dive operators. The ship had
been
left rusting away on the beach for about ten years. Tony pulled her
off the
beach and towed her offshore where he had a few holes smashed
through
her hull.
As divers descend, they will reach the beginning of a canyon in 50
feet of
water. By following this canyon down, divers will be lead to the
Freighter's
bow which sits in 110 feet. The ship's wheel house sits in 140 feet
of
water while her engine room is in 165 feet. Close by the Freighter
wreck
lies the Southwind.
SOUTHWIND
The Southwind was a 175 foot long, steel hulled island freighter.
The vessel
was confiscated in 1982 after authorities discovered she was being
used to
smuggle drugs. She was then sunk off North Provo in order to make an
artificial reef.
The ships remains are very smashed up and scattered, leaving us few
clues
as to the shape they once held. The Southwind lies in 55 feet of
water off
the island of Provo, and is home to about 15 very tame groupers.
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