Providenciales Clear and Glass Bottom Boat Tours
Clear kayak tours have become quite popular in the Turks and Caicos, as they provide an unobstructed view of the country's crystal-clear ocean water and abundant marine life below. For those who would prefer a more leisurely experience or may be less able to paddle a kayak, a clear boat tour can be a great choice.
Clear or glass bottom boats are small acrylic boats that allow passengers to see through the boat into the clear water below. The vessels are typically powered by a silent electric motor, though some larger boats use small outboard engines. The boats have seating and usually a shade canopy, and some also include complimentary cold beverages.
Clear boat tours are great for those who don’t want to paddle their own kayak, and they also offer better stability. The tours are suitable for all ages and are especially great for groups or families with young children.
Excursions usually operate from the Leeward region of Providenciales, and travel for a short distance along Leeward Going Through Channel before entering the mangroves. Along the way, it’s common to see some impressive yachts and boats while passing the Blue Haven Marina.
Some tours also include a visit to Little Water Cay, which is the famous Turks and Caicos Islands rock iguana sanctuary. This large endemic lizard is quite docile, and can be seen up close at the cay.
Clear Boat or the Semi-Submarine?
There are two different types of boat tours offered in Turks and Caicos that allow you to enjoy an underwater view while staying dry on the surface. Both are fun for most ages and are a great opportunity to get beautiful photos of marine life. Clear boat tours typically operate small acrylic boats and visit locations such as the calm tidal channel at Mangrove Cay.
Another option and likewise fascinating excursion is offered aboard Caicos Tours' semi-submarine. This larger and very stable vessel offers a more immersive experience as passengers are seated below the water’s surface, with wraparound windows to view the coral reefs through. Adventures aboard the semi-submarine tour the bay reefs off the north shore of Providenciales, rather than the shallow mangrove channels where the smaller clear boats typically operate.
Sights and Wildlife
Clear boat excursions usually visit the calm and beautiful tidal channels at Mangrove Cay in the Princess Alexandra Nature Reserve. These channels are home to a range of interesting wildlife and flora.
Bordering the channel are red mangroves, which are unique and important plants that protect coastlines and shelter a range of wildlife.
Sightings often include green turtles, hawksbill turtles, upside-down jellyfish, starfish, small reef fish, and sometimes juvenile lemon sharks and nurse sharks. There’s also birdlife, including small seabirds, pelicans, and larger egrets and herons.
The channels in the nature reserve are quite shallow in places, and tours will cross seagrass beds and sandbars, which makes for interesting transitions.
Aboard the semi-submarine, it's possible to see hawksbill and green turtles circling the reef as well as vibrant corals, reef fish, stingrays, and other sea creatures.
Booking and Cancellation
It's best to book well in advance if you'll be visiting Turks and Caicos during the tourism high season. Glass bottom boat tours are popular, and seating on the vessels is fixed and limited.
While Turks and Caicos typically experiences sunny weather, the occasional rain shower or storm—or more likely, windy conditions that create surface chop—can lead to the cancellation of a tour. Booking policies vary by company, but if your glass bottom tour falls on a bad weather day, the local companies will typically offer to reschedule you for the next feasible day if availability allows or offer a refund.
