we've been out with silver deep a few times for 1/2 day snorkling trips....it's run by an interesting local family and we've never been unhappy with our day with them...

but as i always say...nothing could really make me unhappy when i'm there...

justlaura) Except for missing the beautiful Lizard.. :-(

With regards to Silver Deep.. Are your large group going out on a private charter with them? or is it with others as well?

We used them for the 3 hr snorkeling trip and yes, we enjoyed the snorkeling but there was nothing special or unique about the trip with this company. The 2 staff people didn't talk at all......other than pointing in a general direction when the boat stopped, and saying there were cold drinks in the cooler.

At one site (there were 3) the "guide" didn't even point us in the right direction from the boat so everyone wasted about 20 minutes actually looking for the reef and any fish.

If you have anyone who hasn't snorkeled before, and is apprehensive, then this would not be a company that would give them much peace of mind or assurance to my mind.

For us, the trip was arranged through RWI, and we loved being on the water, but next time would definitely try a different company.

only used them for fishing charter.....not good.

Go with JB tours. we had a great snorkel trip with them.

lol potcake...we were just saying the same thing...what are we gonna do without our lizard for 10 days...it's gonna be so hard...

rbaby: We have never used Silver Deep for a snorkeling excursion. We have seen the boats they use and have seen their tours when we have been on tours with J and B Tours and Caicos Dreams. Comparing the three companies I would say that Silver Deeps boats are older, less "comfortable" looking and they carry many more people on the tours than do J and B and Caicos Dreams. On J and B tours and Caicos Dreams the boats are newer, more comfortable and you will go with a smaller group, usually less than 16 people. On each of the excursions I have taken with J and B tours (3 half day excursions) and Caicos Dreams (one half day excursion) the captains and crew could not be more fun or kinder. On at least on cruise, my youngest decided not to snorkel and wanted to stay on board the boat. I thought I would not be able to go in the water and would have to sit with her. The Captain assured me that she was safe on board the boat with him. He is a father of a girl about my daughter's age and loved to boat with her. I hopped in the water and checked on my little lady several times. She was having a ball! The Captain entertained her and her Barbie dolls by explaining how all of the instruments on the boat work. She provided us with a lively commentary on the subject on the ride back to shore.

I understand that Silver Deep is a little less expensive, but for the extra money, J and B tours or Caicos Dreams may be worth it. My husband, kids and I have wonderful lifetime memories of these excursions! Moms

BTW Laura, Have a great trip! Is a potcake "brother" or "sister" for Lizard a possibility? I sure hope so! Moms

moms...we don't think we have room for a sibling for lizard but we do have 2 families wanting us to bring back puppies for them so we'll have our hands full...and lizard will have some new cousins to have play dates with...

rbaby...i agree with what everyone has said about silver deep and the larger boats and larger crowds...which is why they can give you a better deal for the large crowd you want to book...

if you were going out just a couple people i'd say j&b or caicos dream tours would be better but since you are bringing a group with you it seems to me it's good to save the money...the silverdeep captains we've gone out with have been very funny and helpful...one even knew 7 languages and he and his family grew up and still live on the island....

anyway since you're not looking for a smaller group to go out with i'd save the money...

just a little over 3 weeks until we get there...i can't wait...

My husband and I took the all day excursion with Silver Deep that included snorkeling, Middle Caicos, and the iguanas. We HATED it. The boat was so crowded that I had to sit with my legs up on my lap the entire trip (I was behind the driver). On Middle Caicos, there were 2 vans that took us to the caves and then to the beach. They were so crowded that my husband and I were split up into separate vans (totally not cool considering it was our honeymoon). The driver of our van also spent the entire trip pressuring us to buy his music CD.

We took the sunset sail with Sail Provo a few days after our Silver Deep trip and loved it so much that we scheduled a 2nd snorkeling trip with Sail Provo. It was a million times better. We hope to return to Provo at some point and will definitely use Sail Provo again.

I HIGHLY recommend the Middle Caicos/Cave trip with J&B.

They were friendly, teasing and warm from check in to the time we hopped off the boat at the end of the day. Our cave tour with Ernst Forbes (google him...he's great) was informative and fun and we had a group of 7 on our boat. Ernst even took my husband and I to the home of one of the local ladies who weaves baskets, where I got to purchase two at a lot less cost than on Providenciales, AND she got the entire amount (not a lesser amount she'd get from consignment).

We booked a trip with Sail Provo, but they canceled it due to not enough people for that trip.

I have been looking this a.m. and it looks like our trips will likely be with J&B again, and perhaps Caicos Dreams as suggested by posters here.