South Caicos East Harbour
South Caicos east anchorage · East Side South Caicos
21°30.60'N 71°30.60'W
Depth
5–15m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m for good holding on sand in 5–15m. East coast of South Caicos — exposed to prevailing easterlies. Day-use only in calm morning conditions. The wall starts in very shallow water so approach carefully. Dive moorings on the reef plateau are preferred over anchoring. The 0.6–0.9m tidal range affects the shallowest approach sections.
Caicos Banks Tidal Warning
Tidal range 0.6–0.9m. Maximum draft 1.2m at low water. Navigate in good light only. Anchor alarm is essential — set immediately on anchoring and monitor depth readings continuously.
About This Anchorage
The east coast of South Caicos is dominated by one of the most spectacular and least-visited dive walls in TCI — a sheer cliff dropping from 5m to 3,000m just offshore, with pristine coral cover, abundant pelagics, and visibility regularly exceeding 30m. The wall rivals Grand Turk in quality but sees a fraction of the dive traffic. The east harbour anchorage provides temporary access to the wall for dive stops in calm conditions. This is not a comfortable overnight anchorage given the eastern exposure to trade winds — use Cockburn Harbour on the west side for overnight and motor or sail around to the east coast for dive sessions. The dive sites off South Caicos are some of the most rewarding in TCI for advanced divers who want genuinely uncrowded conditions.
Protected From
W · NW · SW
Exposed To
E · NE · SE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Dive moorings only where available; anchoring in sand free
- Permit required
- Yes
Restrictions: Dive mooring preferred over anchoring on east coast; NO anchoring on wall or reef; exposed east coast — day use only in calm conditions; DECR protection applies.
Hazards
- !Exposed east coast — easterly trades make this uncomfortable; day calm visits only
- !Dive wall starts in very shallow water — approach carefully; keep bow watch
- !Strong tidal current along east coast — drift diving possible but plan recovery carefully
- !Remote — no assistance available on east coast; maintain buddy system
Skipper's Tips
- →The South Caicos east wall rivals Grand Turk and is almost never crowded — one of TCI's great undiscovered dive gems
- →Motor around from Cockburn Harbour in the morning (calm period) for dive sessions; return to the harbour before trade winds build mid-morning
- →Hire a South Caicos local guide — they know the best wall sections and can navigate the passes safely
- →Visibility on the South Caicos east wall regularly exceeds 30m — bring your wide-angle lens
Facilities
No facilities on east coast. Return to Cockburn Harbour (1nm W) for all services.
Nearest provisions: Cockburn Harbour, South Caicos (1nm W) (1nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
November–May for dive visits in calm morning conditions. East coast only suitable in very settled weather. Not an overnight anchorage.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
On the Caicos Banks, in 1–4m of water with a 0.6–0.9m tidal range, the anchor alarm is not optional — it is your primary safety tool. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously, night and day.
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