Turtle Cove Marina
Turtle Cove, Providenciales
Turtle Cove Marina is found on the central north coast of Providenciales and is the island’s oldest recreational marina. The site offers a range of services, along with 65 slips.
The marina was originally an inland saline pond (Sellar’s Pond) that was dredged, and is connected to the bay off the north coast of Providenciales by an inlet channel. Consequently, the marina is quite sheltered and immune to swell and wave conditions off the island.
The greater region surrounding the marina, derivatively referred to simply as Turtle Cove, is home to a few resorts and restaurants, some shops, quite a few luxury rental villas, and the excellent snorkeling site of Smith’s Reef.
Amenities
The amenities and services of the Turtle Cove Marina include gasoline and diesel fueling, free Wi-Fi for boaters, electricity, and freshwater.
There are several restaurants on the water at the marina as well, including Sharkbite Bar and Grill, Baci Ristorante, and Mango Reef, and the nearby Turks Wave Café that serves all-day breakfast.
The complex also offers a boat ramp for trailer launching of vessels. Ample trailer parking is also located nearby.
The onsite Scooter Bob's Car Rental offers car, scooter, and bicycle rentals, as well as a small fishing and tackle shop.
Vessel Navigation and Entry
For vessels arriving from outside the northern barrier reef off of Providenciales, a guide boat is available for the difficult entry navigation through Sellar’s Cut and the many reefs in the bay.
Call ahead on VHF Channel 16 for details.
The Debut of Tourism on Providenciales
Turtle Cove Marina, and the now largely-forgotten Third Turtle Inn began the tourism industry on Providenciales.
A shallow and muddy body of water, called Sellar’s Pond, was dredged out to form the current marina. The inlet was also dug, and the rock jetty built.
In 1967, Providenciales, previously only home to three sleepy fishing settlements, saw construction begin on a project that included the marina, Third Turtle Inn resort, roads, and a dirt airstrip. Within a decade this catalyst resulted in a cargo port at South Dock (formerly known as Gussy Cove), new resorts, a surfaced runway, and a functional airport.
It’s interesting that the first resorts on Providenciales weren’t built on Grace Bay Beach, which today is the country’s primary tourism attraction.
Directory
Located in Turtle Cove
Turtle Cove is a quiet residential and tourism region located on the central north coast of Providenciales. The area is home to a few resorts, Turtle Cove Marina, several restaurants, and quite a few vacation rentals. The excellent snorkeling site of Smith’s Reef is situated close off the beach here.