South Side Provo

About This Anchorage

The south side of Providenciales faces the vast Caicos Banks — one of the world's largest and shallowest marine environments, averaging 1–4m over hundreds of square miles of pristine sand, coral, and seagrass. This anchorage is for shoal-draft vessels only (maximum 1.2m draft at low water) and provides a convenient overnight stop for catamarans and shallow-keel vessels exploring the south coast of Provo or staging for a Banks crossing to South Caicos. The scenery is stunning — flat turquoise water extending to the horizon in every direction, with the occasional conch or starfish visible in the crystal-clear shallows. There are no facilities whatsoever on this stretch of coast. The anchorage is perfectly protected from the prevailing northeast trades but completely exposed to the south, southeast, and southwest — wind and swell from those directions, though rare under trade conditions, can make the anchorage untenable.

Hazards

• !EXTREMELY SHALLOW — draft limit 1.2m at low water; deeper vessels will ground at low tide
• !Caicos Banks tidal range 0.6–0.9m — at low water depth is significantly less than charted; anchor alarm critical
• !Coral and seagrass patches — anchor in sand only; visual approach in good light essential
• !Exposed to S/SE/SW — any wind from south makes anchorage uncomfortable and potentially dangerous
• !No facilities whatsoever — self-sufficient vessels only; emergency assistance very limited in this area

Skipper's Tips

• →Approach in good light with the sun high and behind you — coral heads and shallow patches are clearly visible in clear TCI water
• →Check the tide tables — arrive and depart at high water to maximize your depth margin in these extremely shallow waters
• →Perfect for catamarans — the Caicos Banks are catamaran heaven; the shallow draft opens up hundreds of miles of pristine cruising ground
• →The bonefishing on the Banks immediately south is world-class — bring a fly rod or hire a local guide from Provo
• →This anchorage is a staging point for the Banks crossing to South Caicos (35nm SE) — plan your departure for high water

Nearby Anchorages