West Caicos — Western edge of the Caicos Islands
West Caicos is the westernmost island in the Caicos chain and one of the most extraordinary and rarely visited natural destinations in all of Turks & Caicos. Formerly known as Belle Island and once home to a Victorian-era settlement complete with a town, an airstrip, and even a small railway — all of which have long since been reclaimed by the landscape — the island today offers an extraordinary combination of world-class scuba diving, a stunning cobalt-blue natural lake, pristine beaches, and historical ruins hidden in the bush. The scuba diving off the western coast of West Caicos is among the finest in the Caribbean — sheer wall dives into thousands of feet of water, spectacular coral formations, abundant marine life, and dive sites that regularly feature on lists of the best in the region. Lake Catherine in the island’s interior is one of the most unusual and visually striking natural features in TCI — a large and brilliantly coloured inland lake formed in a depression in the limestone that creates an entirely unexpected landscape in the middle of an otherwise remote island.
Why Go — For some of the best scuba diving in the entire Caribbean, the extraordinary and completely unexpected Lake Catherine, historical ruins of a Victorian-era settlement, pristine and rarely visited beaches, and a sense of genuine wild remoteness just one hour from Providenciales by boat.
Best For — Scuba divers · Advanced snorkellers · Nature lovers · History enthusiasts · Photographers · Adventurous travelers · Anyone who wants the most extraordinary dive and natural discovery experience available from Providenciales
Getting There — Approximately one hour by boat from Providenciales. Several diving operators and boat charter companies offer day excursions to West Caicos. No permanent habitation or facilities exist on the island.
Insider Tip — The diving off the western wall is the main event and worth planning the entire excursion around — the coral, the marine life, and the sheer drama of the wall drop are genuinely extraordinary. Lake Catherine in the interior is a remarkable secondary discovery that most day visitors miss — ask your charter operator whether the excursion includes time to explore inland. Bring everything you need as there are no facilities of any kind on the island.