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The Long Bay Shipwreck – A must-see attraction
in Turks and Caicos
For many years, the rusting wreck of La Famille Express has been one of the most famous shipwrecks in the region and certainly the most famous wreck in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It’s relatively easy to access by boat or jet ski and is popular for boaters and photographers due to its unique, stranded position off the turquoise shallow waters off of Long Bay Beach.
You can find the Long Bay Shipwreck about 2 miles off Long Bay’s Kite Beach on Providenciales. When on Long Bay Beach, look directly out and you can’t miss it. It has been a major attraction of Kite Beach since its arrival in 2004 when it was dragged along the coast of Providenciales during Hurricane Frances.
What happened to La Famille Express?
La Famille Express is a cargo ship that ran aground in Turks and Caicos during Hurricane Frances in 2004. The vessel became a well-known shipwreck off the coast of Long Bay Beach on Providenciales. The hurricane pushed the ship toward the shallow waters, where it has remained ever since, becoming an iconic sight and very popular destination for boaters and photographers.
How do I get to La Famille Express shipwreck?
The most common way to reach the Long Bay shipwreck is by boat or jet ski. Many local tour operators such as Caicos Catalyst offer trips to the shipwreck, combining it with other activities like snorkeling or sightseeing. You can snorkel around the shipwreck where you will see lots of reef fish and the occasional lobster. You can also visit it via kayak or paddleboard but this is not generally recommended as it’s over 2 miles off of Long Bay Beach.
With the right wind direction and conditions, advanced kiters & foil boarders can kite upwind and around La Famille Express. This is a 2 miles upwind ride and should only be attempted by advanced kiters who take all necessary safety precautions! Kiting out to and around The Long Bay Shipwreck from Long Bay Beach is almost a rite of passage for high-level kiters who spend a lot of time kiting on Long Bay Beach.
Climbing the shipwreck & safety precautions
If you get the chance to pay her a visit, you might notice that mother nature has taken its toll. Climbing onto the shipwreck and exploring it was once a popular and readily accessible activity thanks to a net that hung over its port side. However, we now strongly recommend that you do not climb onto the wreck. The ship has significantly deteriorated over time, presenting numerous potential hazards due to its abundance of sharp edges along the rusty surface.
Additionally, there are general safety concerns regarding its stability. There have been discussions about the possible removal of the wreck, but as of the latest information, it remains a point of interest and a reminder of the hurricane’s impact on the area.
The La Famille Express shipwreck remains as a significant feature in the landscape of Long Bay Beach and is a must-see attraction in the Turks & Caicos.
Bring your camera and a mask to make the most out of your visit!
How many shipwrecks are there in Turks and Caicos?
Turks and Caicos is home to numerous shipwrecks, with estimates suggesting there are over 30 known wrecks around the islands. These shipwrecks vary in age and origin, ranging from historic vessels dating back to the 18th century to more recent ships. However, not very many of these wrecks are accessible as most sunk off the barrier reef where the water is too deep to access them.
La Famille Express off on Long Bay Beach is the most popular and most easily accessible shipwreck in the Turks & Caicos.
Kite Provo Offers Even More to Do!
Take a magical journey through the shallow water estuaries of the beautiful Turks & Caicos ‘Mangrove Island’ nature reserve. Paddle alongside countless turtles, baby lemon sharks, pufferfish, rays, snapper, anemones, star fish, conch, pelicans and more.
Wing boarding is the newest wind powered water sport! Safe and easy to learn as the wing has no lines and the board doesn’t sink! With no previous wind or water experience, enjoy riding the board during your 1st lesson. Wing Boarding is for everyone!
See What Our Boarders are Saying About Us!
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David Bobrowsky 2023-07-14 
We had Jay as the instructor for my 15 year old daughter and myself and we had a great time and learned a lot. We had never done kite boarding before today and we learned enough basic controls of the kite, how to get it out of the water when we crashed it into the water and started to get up on the board. Jay was very patient even when I did not do what he said, my daughter listened so she was his favorite. If we have time we will probably do another lesson. I would highly recommend using the Kite Provo Kiteboarding school. Update: We went back to Turks and Caicos this summer and had Alan as our instructor and he was great, just refreshed us on the skills we learned last year and moved us forward. We had a great time and I do not know how to say this any better but Kite Provo Kiteboarding School is GREAT. 
Michael Swiatocha 2023-07-06 Great experience- SUPs were delivered on time and we used them for our entire trip. 
Nisha Khanna 2023-06-29 Lovely morning with lots of wildlife, and a fantastic naturalist as guide and teacher!
My daughters and I are fairly new to SUP, having only been once before, several years ago, with the same organization. The other participants cancelled at the last minute, and we had a private tour with Mark. He was absolutely the best we could possibly expect. Patient and calm, constantly keeping an eye on us to see that we felt safe, encouraging us to try and stand up where the water and wind were calm, etc.
He is also very knowledgeable and caring about the marine ecosystem and sea-life. We saw lots of turtles, baby sharks, and various other creatures. We especially appreciated that he was focused on preserving the ecosystem, even at the expense of providing us with additional “thrills”. He is also very honest about what he does and doesn’t know.
Thanks, Mark, for an exceptional experience. 
Andy Brijmohansingh 2023-06-19 Service was excellent. Instructor was patient and very friendly. I definitely recommend 
Ed Chin 2023-05-17 Went for a water start refresher…. Lessons as expected. The team was super cool and friendly. 
Zach Newsome 2023-05-07 I had an absolute blast today trying out kitesurfing for the first time! The instructor was super patient with my errors and taylored the training perfectly to fit my life experience.
Thanks to a phone call the morning of, I was able to get in the same day. The online reservation is for more than 24 hours notice. 
Victor Rosales 2023-05-02 Instructors are great, they showed me some issues with my technique and was improved by end of session. There will provide you with excellent equipment, but I brought my own and the instructor showed me some things about my equipment I didn’t even know . 
antoine planque 2023-04-06 Just finished a 10 lesson course (20 hrs) with Sarah Jane.
Extremely satisfied, SJ has been very patient and helpful, and thanks to this I have been able to improvement considerably in all areas.
Thanks also to Julie for the first lesson, also an excellent coach.
And finally thanks also to Alan and the other coaches, they are a superb team for anyone who wants to improve and progress, Long Bay in Turks & Caicos is certainly one of the best places to learn and improve kitesurfing.
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