Gibbs Cay
4.5
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Uninhabited island with some of the most beautiful beaches and the best diving sites the islands have to offer.
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4.5
369 reviews
Excellent
284
Very good
62
Average
12
Poor
8
Terrible
3
blondie460
Houston, TX28 contributions
June 2023 • Couples
We flew to Grand Turk for a week so we had a private excursion to Gibbs Caye that included 2 stops to snorkel and float, 1 being on the wall! The belongers (locals) know the water and it's habitants, some by name lol, and make the trip so much fun. I will definately be returning to Gibbs Caye to swim with the stingrays!
Written 14 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephanie S
Richmond, VA18 contributions
Sept 2020
Fun day with Captain Meat and Pablo. Even with the curfew looming (5p), we were able to swim several times, eat fresh conch ceviche, hike the trail, and the adult beverages (along with sodas/water) were plenty for our group of 5 and we made it back to the resort with time to spare. A deserted island is what we needed before heading back to the States.
Written 20 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Norma T L
Providenciales97 contributions
Jan 2020
Only way to get there is by boat. But well worth the excursion!! Went with GTD on a day where my SCUBA was cancelled due to impossible dive conditions on the West side of Grand Turk, decided on a Snorkel trip to this island.
Amazing views for a Snorkel trip! Then onto Gibbs Caye! In a foot of water 7 Stingrays came up to us in search of food in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are beautiful, majestic and awe inspiring! I put on my snorkel mask to experience them in their natural environment and was soo moved by their amazingness!! They try to bump you, so just be aware as they have the capability of knocking you off balance. I am not the type of person who went in for pictures of them “kissing” me or getting them to give me a “massage”. I enjoyed them in their natural environment doing what comes naturally..
Amazing views for a Snorkel trip! Then onto Gibbs Caye! In a foot of water 7 Stingrays came up to us in search of food in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are beautiful, majestic and awe inspiring! I put on my snorkel mask to experience them in their natural environment and was soo moved by their amazingness!! They try to bump you, so just be aware as they have the capability of knocking you off balance. I am not the type of person who went in for pictures of them “kissing” me or getting them to give me a “massage”. I enjoyed them in their natural environment doing what comes naturally..
Written 15 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bvaughn97
College Station, Texas6 contributions
June 2021
Beyond diving, this was our only excursion that we took while on Grand Turk. Gibbs Cay is an uninhabited island on the eastern side of Grand Turk. We free dove for conch on the way over to the island and then our guides showed us how to harvest the conch, clean it and "cook" it for fresh conch salad. I'm not a huge conch fan, but this fresh salad was amazing. DJ and Pablo from the Esmerelda were our guides. Look them up if you want to have a great time with some good dudes.
Written 25 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
quiltingtoad
Minneapolis, MN145 contributions
When staying at Salt Cay, we took a trip to Gibbs Cay through a local operator. We were disappointed in the fact that they brought nothing to attract the rays - but did end up fortunate, as a private boat had come and had just caught a tuna, and used this to attract the rays. I cannot say enough about the experience, so have included enough pictures to say it all!! Just be sure that whoever you book through brings food for the rays. We did do some snorkeling from the island also, and lucked out there also. The other couple that were on the trip with us, he was a marine biologist, so he took us under his wing and put a name to things we did not know and showed us things we have never noticed before. All in all, a great trip, but not because of the operator who took us there!!
Written 10 July 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David M
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States28 contributions
Dec 2011 • Friends
We booked the Gibbs Cay Beach and Sringray Encounter through Carvial Cruise Lines for our stop in the Grand Turks. Perhaps there is more than one operator offering this activity but I would steer clear of this event. First you ride via boat (30) minutes to and from an activity that is approximately (1) hour in duration. When you arrive, you do get to touch a Stringray which is held by one of the tour operators if you can crowd in aroung (35) other people trying to touch the creature. The beach is spartan by any standard and I went on the guided snorkeling tour but if you are not a STRONG swimmer look out as we had several first time snorkelers on the tour that were swept out the currents and had to struggle to get back to the beach. I am very suprised they all made it as I am a strong swimmer and I was pooped. Thumbs down the worst $ I ever spent for a snorkeling tour.
Written 30 December 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wrldtrvlr8374
Las Vegas, NV145 contributions
I came to Grand Turk on a cruise ship and booked the New Waves / Gibbs Cay Beach and Stingray Encounter through the cruise line. They was a lot of us on that boat, over 30 at least. At one point, one of the operators jumped out into the ocean to get us a live conch for a demonstration later on.
When we arrived at Gibbs Cay, they showed us how they remove the conch from the shell and everyone got to try a bit. Then they passed out pieces of fish so we could feed the stingrays. I have actually done the stingray encounter off of Belize. (There were more stingray and sharks there than at Gibbs Cay.)
They also had us hold the stingray so we could take pictures with it. (I'm not sure this is so great for the animal though!) Then we went snorkeling a little further out. Some cool bits to see around the rocks like lion fish and so forth.
Before we left, some of the passengers wanted to bring conch shells home with them. This is the part that I'm not too positive about. Other islands do try to discourage visitors from taking shells home, and it was not the case here. At least over a handful of people brought a conch shell back on the boat with them, and some smelled really bad. (As in, rotten conch inside.) I don't think it's a good idea for locals to encourage visitors to bring these home with them.
When we arrived at Gibbs Cay, they showed us how they remove the conch from the shell and everyone got to try a bit. Then they passed out pieces of fish so we could feed the stingrays. I have actually done the stingray encounter off of Belize. (There were more stingray and sharks there than at Gibbs Cay.)
They also had us hold the stingray so we could take pictures with it. (I'm not sure this is so great for the animal though!) Then we went snorkeling a little further out. Some cool bits to see around the rocks like lion fish and so forth.
Before we left, some of the passengers wanted to bring conch shells home with them. This is the part that I'm not too positive about. Other islands do try to discourage visitors from taking shells home, and it was not the case here. At least over a handful of people brought a conch shell back on the boat with them, and some smelled really bad. (As in, rotten conch inside.) I don't think it's a good idea for locals to encourage visitors to bring these home with them.
Written 11 August 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelmakesUrich
Winter Garden, FL3,733 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
Wasn't sure we wanted to "do the stingray thing" again, but this was a very different experience than that at Stingray City on Grand Cayman. We did Stingray City years ago when our children were young, and one daughter was absolutely terrified at the sight of dozens of stingrays approaching the boat from all sides. She climbed down into the water but scrambled right back out without interacting with them, she was so freaked out.
I wish we'd taken her to this site instead. The boat pulls up to an island (as opposed to a sandbar at Grand Cayman) so there's a sense of being able to get on shore for "safety", if you thought that was necessary, whereas the sandbar left you feeling "stranded" in the middle of the water. There were fewer stingrays (we saw about half a dozen here, as opposed to 2 or 3 dozen in Grand Cayman) so the people outnumbered them, instead of the other way around. And the biggest difference was that guests fed the stingrays at Stingray City when we were there (maybe it's changed?) leading the stingrays to approach and even bump into people. Here at Gibbs Cay, the tour guide "catches" a stingray (they're happy to be caught - they get paid in food after they're done) and invites guests to come forward to pet, kiss, and be "massaged" (the guide lays the stingray out on the guest's back). In this case our daughter would have felt more in control and able to back away if it got overwhelming.
I still love the way the stingrays approached at Grand Cayman - it was like watching some sort of alien vessels flying in - and for that reason, I'd probably choose Grand Cayman if I could only do one. But for those who like things a little tamer, a little more controlled, this was the perfect way to do it. Lovely clear water and no waves made for great wading, too!
I wish we'd taken her to this site instead. The boat pulls up to an island (as opposed to a sandbar at Grand Cayman) so there's a sense of being able to get on shore for "safety", if you thought that was necessary, whereas the sandbar left you feeling "stranded" in the middle of the water. There were fewer stingrays (we saw about half a dozen here, as opposed to 2 or 3 dozen in Grand Cayman) so the people outnumbered them, instead of the other way around. And the biggest difference was that guests fed the stingrays at Stingray City when we were there (maybe it's changed?) leading the stingrays to approach and even bump into people. Here at Gibbs Cay, the tour guide "catches" a stingray (they're happy to be caught - they get paid in food after they're done) and invites guests to come forward to pet, kiss, and be "massaged" (the guide lays the stingray out on the guest's back). In this case our daughter would have felt more in control and able to back away if it got overwhelming.
I still love the way the stingrays approached at Grand Cayman - it was like watching some sort of alien vessels flying in - and for that reason, I'd probably choose Grand Cayman if I could only do one. But for those who like things a little tamer, a little more controlled, this was the perfect way to do it. Lovely clear water and no waves made for great wading, too!
Written 21 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
airruiz
Miami, FL55 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
This was an amazing experience. After making a port stop at grand truk from a cruise;which i don't recommend for a million reasons.(Going on a cruise,that is) we rented a boat from one of the local .I guess water private tour people and went to gibbs cay. I highly recommend to rent a boat instead of going on the tour. You get more time and you are free to do what you like. About an hour after us being there a tour came in and the guy was talking for about 25 min before he let anyone else out. And after that they had to wait one by one until the stingrays came to them. While privately we held them as we pleased. Afterwards we went and snorkeled at a great spot. Make sure no negotiate with them, you can always get a lower price.
Written 12 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ctchikkad
Fairfield, CT29 contributions
My husband and I signed up for the Gibbs Cay Beach and Stingray Adventure last week, and we had the absolute time of our lives! Thank you to Melly Mel, Donna and Captain Conchy for taking us to Gibbs Cay, and introducing us to the docile, almost puppy-like stingrays. The snorkeling there was also breathtaking - but the tour goes by in what feels like 10 minutes, so make sure you don't dilly dally too much.
Gibbs Cay is perhaps the most perfect beach I have ever seen. We will DEFINITELY be back!
I will post the underwater shots of the fish and stingrays when I get it developed.
Gibbs Cay is perhaps the most perfect beach I have ever seen. We will DEFINITELY be back!
I will post the underwater shots of the fish and stingrays when I get it developed.
Written 29 April 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Come visit Gibbs cay and swim with the sting rays!
Written 16 March 2012
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi wanting to do this tour in November when I’m on a cruise but I’m unable to swim would it be possible
Written 14 August 2019
There are several different tours so I would check with your specific tour. But most likely it should be fine. The stingray encounter is usually the main attraction, and you only go knee-deep to waist-deep. If the tour includes snorkeling you could always skip that part and enjoy the beauty of the beach.
Written 18 September 2019
Who did you use to book the excursion? We're scheduled to go in February on a Carnival ship. We usually try to book on our own to save some money
Written 28 November 2018
The Humpback Dive Shack, Brian and Sabine. I emailed them and they responded back promptly and gave me different options or packages. We had the whole boat to ourselves and it was great. No taxis or shuttles needed, they meet you off the dock. I'm glad I took a chance and scheduled myself.
Written 1 December 2018
Is it possible to stand in the area with the rays?
Written 25 September 2018
Can you get to Gibbs Cay by car and snorkel out on your own or do you need a boat?
Written 15 August 2018
It’s a few miles off shore - you will need a boat and I don’t recommend going on your own - get a guide. I recommend Humpback Dive Shop - Brian and Sabine are knowledgeable and respectful of the island and sea life.
Written 23 September 2018
alloggiando a providenciales come posso raggiungere Grand Turk e quindi Gibbs cay?
Written 9 February 2018
How far is Gibbs Cay from the port? Do they have a contract with carnival so they won’t book independently?
Written 27 December 2017
I want to say it’s about a 20 minutes from the port to Gibbs Cay. But I don’t know if they have a contract with Carnival. We always booked through the cruise ship in case it was running late or something so we’re not left behind by the cruise ship. Lol
Written 28 January 2018
Hey all, my wife and I were looking at heading to Grand Turk as well as Gibbs Cay in November-December, have any of you traveled to this area in that time frame? Wondering if weather will be ok. I know it's unpredictable but just need a general idea.
Written 8 June 2017
The water was cool (not chilly) but the big thing was the wind. It churned up quite a bit of silt and waves which effected the snorkeling.
We had the typical rain shower pass through, but 15 minutes later it was bright and sunny. I have been there twice in late December, I recommend taking a snorkeling excursion that goes to the sting rays and then on the leeward side of the island.
Written 28 June 2017
What tour operaters get a thumbs up for Gibbs Cay?
Written 8 May 2016
White sands snorkel were amazing, see my review of them and gibbs cay
Written 27 June 2016
Hi there,
We are a large group ( 15 adults and about 14 kids) and have some small kids (1.5 years and up). Is it still possible to book a trip with such small children?
Written 23 November 2015
If our cruise departure time is at 8:00 am... Are we be able to get on time on 8:30 tour?
Written 3 November 2015
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