RESERVATION POLICIES
- A 100.00 per person deposit is due within seven (7) days of reservation. The final balance for the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s is due forty-five(45) days before arrival. All other periods, thirty (30) days before arrival date.
- All payments must be made in U.S.currency. Checks must be drawn on U.S. banks payable to Travel Resource Solutions, Inc. We reserve the right to debit your account if a check comes back dishonored electronically, plus a $25.00 processing fee and applicable tax. The use of a check is your acceptance of this agreement and its terms.
- If wiring payment, the sender must pay for any bank transfer fees.
- The US-based reservations office also accepts payment by MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. If you are paying your deposit by credit card, your card will be automatically charged for the final payment on the due date.
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- Receipt of payment confirms boat space or instructor time. Cancellations made seven days or more before the first scheduled dive day will receive a full refund.
- Cancellations or changes in reservations 3-7 days out will be charged a $25.00 per person administration fee.
- Cancellations received within three days (72 hours) are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- A 14-day notice of cancellation is required for pre-booked Private Charters.
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- During the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s, cancellations must be made 46 days or more before arrival to receive a full refund.
- Cancellations 45 days or less of arrival, no-shows, unused dives, or package features due to premature departure: No refunds. Full payment is forfeited.
- For all other travel periods, cancellations made 31 days or more before arrival will receive a full refund.
- Cancellations 30 days or less of arrival, no-shows, unused dives, or package features due to premature departure: No refunds. Full payment is forfeited.
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- All dive reservations are non-refundable and non-transferable once guests arrive on the Island.
- The unused portion of any dive package or course is non-transferable and non-refundable unless Dive Provo cancels diving.
- Dive Provo makes every effort to accommodate necessary changes after arrival; however, this may not be possible in some instances due to the availability of boats or staff.
- Package inclusions, terms, and rates are subject to change with notice.
- Dive Provo is not responsible for missed or delayed flights.
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We are not responsible for compensating or crediting any traveler for any loss incurred due to delays or cancellations. Trip insurance is your only protection. We highly recommend you purchase the Travel S.E. Plan or the Travel LX Plan with our trusted insurance provider, www.imglobal.com We also encourage all divers to have Dan Master insurance plans.
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To Enter the Turks & Caicos: All visitors to Provo, regardless of age, must present a valid Passport and onward or return flight ticket before entering the country. No visas are necessary except for countries of the former Eastern Bloc. Please get in touch with the nearest British Consulate Office for visa applications.
Packing Considerations: Pack light! The average year-round temperature is 83F (28C). The hottest months are September and October when temperatures reach 90 to 95F (33 to 35C). The almost constant easterly trade winds temper the heat and keep life comfortable. Visitors are advised to wear protective clothing and a sun hat and waterproof sunscreen when out in the tropical sun. A 3-mm shorty or full suit is recommended for diving. Cool, casual, comfortable resort and leisurewear are acceptable everywhere. A light sweater may be welcome on some breezy evenings and after diving, especially in December, January, and February. We also recommend you pack a few of your reusable bags for shopping, as single-use plastic bags have been banned in Provo.
Be sure to check your airline’s website(s) for the most current information on baggage allowances and restrictions. For most international flights, any luggage over 50 pounds will have a surcharge. In most cases, airlines will not accept luggage over 70 pounds. Domestic flights, especially those booked independently of the international flight, will likely have other allowances and restrictions. The best advice is to travel light!
Pack essentials in your carry-on! In the unlikely event you arrive in Provo without your luggage, please make sure you have packed your “trip essentials,” such as a pair of shorts, bathing suit, dive mask, medicine, and sunglasses, in your carry-on bag.
CELL PHONES: Local pre-paid sim cards can be purchased from Digicel or Flow. International calls are expensive, so a local sim is the way to go.
CURRENCY& CREDIT CARDS: The U.S. dollar is the Island’s legal currency. American Express, MasterCard, and Visa are widely accepted in hotels and larger business establishments. Note: If using credit cards on Island, please be aware that most credit card companies are now adding an extra 2% to 5% fee on international transactions in addition to any currency-exchange commissions. Therefore, cash is recommended in smaller businesses. ATMs are also available at local banks.
DIVE GEAR RENTAL: We have a substantial supply of gear available for rent should you chose not to bring your own. Gear rental is available at $25.00 per day for a complete set.
DRIVING: A valid driver’s license from a visitor’s regular residence is suitable when renting vehicles. You must be 25 years of age. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road.
FOOD & LIQUOR: If you intend to “dine-in,” there are modern grocery stores and several smaller convenience stores in Provo that carry a wide variety of products quite similar to what you might find at home, with the bonus of carrying traditional items from the U.K. Liquor stores are also centrally located, but there is no alcohol sold in stores on Sundays. If you are arriving on a Sunday and want cocktails in your room, best to purchase duty-free on your way in.
MEDICAL FACILITIES: There are two very good private clinics in case of medical problems on vacation: Menzies Medical Centre and Grace Bay Medical Centre, with doctors on call for emergencies. There is also a small local hospital. Payment is required at all institutions for visitors.
There is a recompression chamber at Menzies Medical Centre. It is costly to run, and you will be charged for treatment. Don’t forget DAN Insurance, as most medical insurance does not cover chamber treatments. Even better – dive with Nitrox. You are far less likely to run into decompression problems, and we are more susceptible as we age. So, over 21, get Nitrox certified! It is a very easy class you can take online or on Island, costing only $150.00 with Dive Provo.
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CERTIFIED BOAT DIVERS: Please complete your dive waiver online before your arrival.
We have guessed sizes by asking your height, weight, and shoe size if you are renting gear. We recommend that you visit the dive shop at The Saltmills Plaza, Units 5/6, Grace Bay Road, before your first dive day to get properly fitted and to say “hello.” If this is not possible, we will bring the rental gear to you at the boat. Suppose you have not paid for gear in advance. In that case, we will need a VISA, Master Card, or American Express credit card for payment, or if you want to open a dive shop account for any incidental expenses, you may incur or if you want to add extra days to your package.
The shop has a good selection of essentials, such as personal snorkeling equipment, rash guards and sun shirts, reef-safe sunscreen, and souvenirs.
We will email you before your first day of diving to tell you which marina to go to as we use two different marinas. Divers depart at 8:30 am for the docks at Turtle Cove Marina for diving along Provo’s north shore and from our dock at the Caicos Marina and Shipyard (Long Bay), on the south side of the Island, for trips to West Caicos and French Cay. Please be sure to check with the shop before your next day of diving. You can call the shop phone at (649) 946 5040 or email.
DIVE STUDENTS: If you are doing any training with us, you can complete your dive waiver online; however, you will still need to come to the dive shop at The Saltmills Plaza, Units 5/6, Grace Bay Road in advance of your course beginning so we can meet you and complete other necessary paperwork. Please bring your Referral Form or signed logbook along with a completed medical questionnaire for divers doing their training dives.
TRANSPORTATION/TRANSFERS: Pre-paid transfers from hotels to the dive boats are available from most resorts for $20.00 per person round trip by Juney taxi, an accredited company adhering to all recognized safety protocols. These can be booked at the time of booking your diving. If you are unsure whether you will be renting a car, you can also buy the transfers online later.
Boat divers must arrange to meet the boat at the Turtle Cove Marina or Caicos Marina and Shipyard at 8:30 am. After each dive, the staff takes care of all gear, cleaning it, storing it at the day’s end, then delivering it to the boat for the next day’s outing.
Arrangements can be made for hotel pickups for Discover Scuba Diving students and Open Water eLearning students completing any pool sessions. If you stay in a villa, you will need to arrange transportation to the shop or the training site.
We encourage car rentals for additional social distancing and freedom of movement around the Island. Your concierges will have recommendations, or you can find a list of reliable taxis and car rental companies on the Dive Provo website.
TIPPING: Tipping is customary and appreciated. You are welcome to pay by credit card in the shop if you do not want to carry cash on the boats. At Dive Provo, tips are shared amongst the staff. They all work hard to ensure you have the best possible time. They not only guide you on dives but are your bus driver, your boat captain, your tank filler and mechanic, luggage valet, and gear cleaners. The shop staff tries to schedule your trips to accommodate your wishes and give you as much variety as possible. Their day starts long before your first cup of coffee and ends after your cocktail hour. We recommend you tip as you would in a restaurant, 10-15%, and more if warranted. Please also let us know if anyone on the staff did not meet your expectations.
TRIP INSURANCE
The COVID-19 Virus has led to many changes in travel and trip insurance. Our current recommendation is to purchase either the Travel SE Plan or the Travel LX Plan with our trusted insurance provider, IMGlobal®.
Both plans include Emergency Medical Evacuations coverage. However, only the Travel LX Plan includes a “Cancel for Any Reason” benefit.
Equally important, should you contract COVID-19 while on your trip and be required to quarantine in Turks and Caicos, there is a Travel Delay benefit available. Quarantine is a covered reason for Travel Delay benefits.
Click here to download a pdf of the Plan Comparisons.
Important: Once you have made your first arrangement for a trip, that date becomes the initial trip deposit date. You must purchase your plan within 20 days of making that initial trip deposit if the coverage is to be in effect.
The Emergency Medical Evacuations coverage kicks in if you become sick and require immediate treatment at a medical facility. This coverage can provide the following benefits for covered events:
- Transportation to the nearest suitable medical facility
- Transportation to return minors home if their guardian is hospitalized
- Transportation to return home once the patient is fit the fly
- Transportation to fly someone to the patient if they are hospitalized for 3 days & traveling alone
If one of you contracts the virus before your trip, coverage may be available for trip cancellation as a covered sickness. Sickness due to COVID would fall under a covered reason for trip cancellation. However, cancellations due to travel warnings, travel advisories, or fear of COVID-19 are not covered.
If you are denied boarding a flight or participating in a trip due to a fever or sickness and were asymptomatic prior, you may have a claim for trip cancellation for a covered sickness. You would need documentation from a physician following the denial to travel certifying that they required medical treatment, which resulted in travel restrictions.
We also encourage all divers to have Dan Master Insurance Plans.
GROUP RESERVATIONS
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We work with several properties that offer periodic specials that range from lower comps to free nights to free days of diving, so be sure to ask about any Specials first!
Dive Shops organizing travel for their clients are also eligible to earn commissions.
When planning, please feel free to invite your dive students! We know part of the service you offer your clients is the ability to certify students whilst on vacation. As such, we will allow any active scuba instructor to conduct training onboard Dive Provo’s boats as long as they produce copies of their instructor insurance naming Dive Provo as an additional insured.
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Dive Provo believes the trip leader escorting the dive group should get as much enjoyment out of the holiday as the trip participants, so we work hard to ensure that everything goes smoothly from the moment you arrive until the moment you depart.
The best way to accomplish this is by getting off to a good start by calling the Dive Provo shop immediately after checking into your resort. This way, we can discuss your dive plans. Unless otherwise arranged, we will have scheduled your diving to start the day after your arrival, and space will have been held for you on the boat.
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Every effort will be made to give dive groups their own boat; however, when the group size is less than our dive boat capacity during busy periods, this may not be possible. However, the shop staff will do their best to include divers on your trip who are self-sufficient or will gel with your dive group. We can accommodate 16 divers on 2 of our boats and 14 on the third boat. Each boat is tanked and insured for 18 divers, so larger groups who like togetherness can be accommodated. (NOTE: New COVID regulations require us to limit the capacity to 10 – 12 divers. This is until further notice.)
Should you wish to have guaranteed privacy, Full Day Private Charters are available for $2000.00 per day for up to 4 divers – additional divers pay $200.00 per person. ($2,500.00 per day during the Christmas and New Years Holidays.) Choose to do 1, 2, or 3 dives. Gear rental, lunch, and refreshments included.
Dive boats depart from the docks at Turtle Cove Marina for diving along Provo’s north shore and from our dock on the south side of the island for trips to West Caicos and French Cay at 8:00. The average return time is 2.30 pm. The south side trips have the later return times, with Grace Bay being the only area with a 1:00 pm return.
After each dive, the staff takes care of all gear, cleaning it, storing it at the day’s end, then delivering it to the boat for the next day’s outing, leaving you free of duties and allowing you to enjoy the remaining afternoon hours resting and relaxing!
TRAVEL INFORMATION
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All visitors to Provo, regardless of age, must present a valid Passport and onward or return flight ticket before entering the country. No visas are necessary except from countries of the former Eastern Bloc. You are advised to contact the nearest British Consulate Office for visa applications.
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Slow down and relax! When you leave the airport, you will see a traffic control person who will call up a taxi for you. The drivers know all the resorts and fares are fixed, so you are in good hands with local island taxis.
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A valid driver’s license from a visitor’s regular place of residence is suitable when renting vehicles. You must be 25 years of age. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road.
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We ask that you please call Dive Provo to verify your next day’s diving plans. Shop hours are 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Telephone 946-5040 (after hours, please leave a message.) Dive Provo is located in The Saltmills Plaza, Units 5/6, Grace Bay Road.
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The power is stable at 110 Volts/60 Cycle.
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English is the official language of the Turks and Caicos.
Eastern Standard Time in the summer and Daylight Savings Time during the winter.
The U.S. dollar is the Island’s legal currency.
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American Express, MasterCard, and Visa are widely accepted in hotels and larger business establishments. Note: If using credit cards on Island, please be aware that most credit card companies are now adding an extra 2% to 5% fee on international transactions and any currency-exchange commissions. Therefore, cash is recommended in smaller businesses. ATMs are also available at the local banks.
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Tipping is customary and expected on the Island. A service charge is included in your hotel bill, and most restaurants will include a service charge “for your convenience.” However, a tip is NOT included in your diving package or course for the dive staff.
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As with many Caribbean Islands, fresh water is precious. However, piped water is made by reverse osmosis from the Provo Water Company, so tap water is safe to drink; bottled water is also readily available.
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All of our partner properties provide wireless internet access.
Local pre-paid sim cards can be purchased from Digicel or Flow. International calls are expensive, so a local sim is the way to go.
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There are two very good private clinics in case of medical problems on vacation: Menzies Medical Centre and Grace Bay Medical Centre, with doctors on call for emergencies. There is also a small local hospital. Payment is required at all institutions for visitors. The recompression chamber is located at the Menzies Medical Center.