Taking a Grand Turk Snorkeling Excursion

The final destination on our 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruise with Carnival brought us to the Grand Turk Island. The largest island in Turks and Caicos.  There are a myriad of Grand Turk Island excursions to choose from on this port stop. We decided we would take the Grand Turk snorkeling excursion. There was time to explore the Cruise Center, and chill out on the beach too – so it was a great way to spend our last port day of the cruise.

Snorkeling with Chukka Caribbean Adventures

We chose to take our ultimate snorkeling excursion with Chukka Caribbean Adventures.  And booked through Carnival, so we had our tickets already. The check in booth is conveniently located in the cruise center and is easy to find. Once checked in, you are introduced to your guide and then head to the boat.

The Guides

Our guide was called ‘Happy’, and he lived up to his name.  He and the other guides were friendly, helpful, and full of information.  You could not ask for better service.  

Snorkeling on Grand Turk Island

We were able to snorkel in two separate area.  The first site was further off shore, the second one was very close to the shore.  The first site was my favorite. Happy brought bread out to the water and fed the fish.  Within seconds there were fish all around us. They got so close if felt like our own private aquarium!

The guides provided everything that we needed and more.  Payton used a pool noodle for buoyancy, underneath her snorkeling vest. The noodle stayed in place so we could comfortably float while viewing what was below.   This Grand Turk snorkeling excursion was so much better than I remember my first snorkeling experience being.  If you’re visiting Grand Turk, I highly recommend this company.

The Beach at Grand Turk

There are many chairs and umbrellas available on the beach at no charge, but they fill up quickly.  I would advise that you hurry to the island and secure your place if you plan to spend the day on the beach.

An important note, as you leave the main walkway coming from the dock, the beach is less rocky and has better access to the water on the left side. You will find bars, restaurants, and shops in the area as well.  We always have to grab a couple of souvenirs everywhere we go!

Splashdown Grand Turk

You probably know that John Glenn became an American hero in 1962 as the first American to orbit Earth.  But, did you know that he and the Friendship 7 capsule returned from orbit to splash down here off the coast of the Grand Turk Island?  “Splashdown Grand Turk” is a 3,500 sq ft attraction celebrating the unique relationship of the American human spaceflight and its importance to Grand Turk’s history.  

The exhibit is free and is located on the south side of the Grand Turk Cruise Center.  It includes amazing replicas of the Mercury space program including a full-size, three-dimensional replica of astronaut John Glenn and a detailed exhibit of the Friendship 7 capsule. This area was opened in 2011 and since then has been enjoyed by many.  If you are near the cruise center, you should definitely check it out!

Check out our shore excursion on St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands; and our self-guided walking tour in Old San Juan.

A Grand Turk Snorkeling Excursion

When cruising to the Eastern Caribbean, I would definitely recommend getting off the boat on the Grand Turk Island. There are so many shore excursions to choose from, but the Grand Turk snorkeling excursion with Chukka Caribbean Adventures really is fantastic. Turks & Caicos is somewhere we want to return to for a longer stay because we enjoyed our sneak peak via the cruise so much!

Have you visited Grand Turk and been snorkeling? Share your experiences in the comments below!

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