Introduction
Located off the coast of Providenciales in Turks & Caicos, “The Dome,” also known as “The Thunderdome,” is a unique dive site with a fascinating backstory and vibrant marine life. This artificial reef has become a favorite among divers, offering an intriguing blend of history and underwater beauty.
History of The Thunderdome
In the early 1990s, a French game show called “Le Trésor de Pago Pago” was filmed in Turks & Caicos. The game show featured a number of challenges for contestants, including free diving 30 feet of water (10m) into a steel-framed dome structure. While inside, contestants collected as many pearls in a set time while “Mermaids” (scuba divers) offered assistance with their spare regulators to trade a breath for a pearl. However, the show’s concept was flawed due to the dangers of lung overexpansion injuries and air embolisms caused by divers taking breaths at depth and then ascending. These risks quickly ended the game show, but the remnants of the dome created an accidental artificial reef, now teeming with marine life. Watch a clip from “Le Trésor de Pago Pago” below.
Dive Experience
Today, the collapsed structure of The Dome is covered in vibrant brain corals, colorful sponges, and home to various species like blennies, schooling grunts, snappers and other colorful reef fish seeking shelter. Divers can explore the remains of the dome, appreciating how nature has reclaimed the man-made structure.
Aside from The Dome, the dive site includes an impressive wall and a feature known as “The Chimney.” By swimming west from the mooring, divers reach the wall and can find a vertical cut called The Chimney, where they can ascend through a narrow passage, watching bubbles rise like smoke.
Dive Charter with Turks & Caicos Aggressor II
For those looking to experience The Dome in comfort, the Turks & Caicos Aggressor II offers week-long dive charters. This luxury liveaboard takes divers to the best sites around Turks & Caicos, providing an unparalleled diving experience.
Conclusion
“The Dome” offers a unique dive experience, blending the remnants of a game show set with the natural underwater beauty of Turks & Caicos. This site is a must-visit for divers seeking a mix of history, adventure, and marine exploration.
