Flamingo Lake Reflections

Flamingo Lake was at its stunning best today .... flat calm with a mirror image reflection.

Flamingo Lake was at its stunning best today .... flat calm with a mirror image reflection.

I glanced out at the lake late this afternoon and the reflections in the calm waters took my breath away. I grabbed my camera and didn’t even have a chance to tell Barry where I was going. The ripples and the colours kept changing as the sun started to sink over the hill to the right of our villas at Harbour Club.

The sun started to set and tinged everything with an orangey glow

The sun started to set and tinged everything with an orangey glow

As I walked along the road the water was churning………….”nervous water” as the fishermen call it. The bonefish were tailing and rippling up the calm on Flamingo Lake.

The bonefish were tailing and rippling the surface of Flamingo Lake

The bonefish were tailing and rippling the surface of Flamingo Lake

In the foreground of the photo you can see all the circles and ripples created by tailing bonefish.

I zoomed in on this photo which does show a definite bonefish shape.

I zoomed in on this photo which does show a definite bonefish shape.

For all you bonefishing enthusiasts out there, fishing would have been great this evening. Our guests at Harbour Club Villas can just walk across the road and into the lake. We see bonefish tailing all the time and you can watch from your villa windows.

Bonefishing is great in the lakes by Harbour Club as well as the flats. Come on down and join us.

 

Tight lines!!

 

Marta

 

http://www.bonefishing.tc

A Day on the Water

This beautiful pink tipped sea anemone looked like it was growing out of an old conch shell.

This beautiful pink tipped sea anemone looked like it was growing out of an old conch shell.

 Another great day spent with friends on the water. As we waded to our little cay with the iguanas, I came across a pink tipped sea anemone. It appeared to be growing out of an old conch shell encrusted with marine life.

This iguana was ready to hide under the sea grape bush if we came any closer.

We saw many iguanas on the little cay and they were probably introduced some years ago.

The iguanas scurried away as we approached and this one was almost ready to put up a fight. He positioned himself so that he could hide in the brush under a sea grape bush if he needed to.
Three pelicans all in a row were feasting on a large school of little fish

Three pelicans all in a row were feasting on a large school of little fish

As we anchored off the pirate’s cave and Osprey Rock, we were treated to a pelican show…………..three Brown Pelicans and their synchronized dive bombing for fish show. It was spectacular to watch as I positioned myself in the water in the hopes that they would feed close beside me.
Look at the huge stretch of this pelican's gullet.

Look at the huge stretch of this pelican's gullet.

Little fish were jumping all around as the pelicans swooped time and time again.
I love the way they skip along the water trying to get enough lift to launch into flight.

I love the way they skip along the water trying to get enough lift to launch into flight.

And finally, front row seats for the best view in the world and a grande finale to the day. The sun sets over Turtle Rock, and we head back to Harbour Club’s Marina.

We watched the sun go down from the waters of Taylor Bay.

We watched the sun go down from the waters of Taylor Bay.

A perfect ending to another Provo day filled with sun, fun, good friends and alot of laughter. We wish the same for you as you make plans to visit soon.
Marta

Cannons at Ft. St. George Cay

Ania snorkels to try and find the canons lying in shallow water.

Ania snorkels to try and find the cannons lying in shallow water.

In 1798 the work on Ft St George was begun. A detachment of 2oo men was sent from Jamaica and they brought with them cannon and other equipment. The unit was from the 67th Royal Hampshire Regiment and when supplies failed to arrive from Nassau, these men experienced real hardship. They had to depend on fish and locally grown corn and as a result some 30 were lost through illness and death.

A marker lies buried in the sand on Ft St George Cay

A marker lies buried in the sand on Ft St George Cay

Ensign Neil Campbell was the commander and he persisted in erecting the fort on St. George’s Cay, guns were mounted and barracks and storeroom finished.

Two cannons lie in a few feet of water and are covered with marine growth

Two cannons lie in a few feet of water and are covered with marine growth

It is thought that there are five or six cannons lying in the water in an arc pointing out to sea.  Whenwe were there, we saw two that were pretty much buried in the sand and overgrown with marine growth. It is possible that the cannons were originally mounted on land and that erosion and undermining of the land over the past 200 years has caused the cannons to fall into the sea.

Closer view of one of the cannons in the waters off Ft St George

Closer view of one of the cannons in the waters off Ft St George

Many years ago when we first came to take a look at the cannons, there were several snorkelers out in the waters. One of them excitedly found something lying in the sand. It was a silver coin. We always wondered what other treasures might be lying there covered by the sand and even how many other artifacts have been found and taken away from the islands. Let’s hope that somehow, sometime this will be a protected area and that it will become an heritage site/ historic park for future generations to enjoy.

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Snorkeling close to the Reef

Ready to jump in for a snorkel out close to the reef off Fort St George Cay

Ready to jump in for a snorkel out close to the reef off Fort St George Cay

The water was amazingly clear and calm as Barry and Ania get ready to jump in for a snorkel. We were moored a little ways out from Fort St George Cay.
The water was quite shallow even though we were a ways from the shore.

The water was quite shallow even though we were a ways from the shore.

Barry shows us a huge Sea Biscuit.

Barry shows us a huge Sea Biscuit.

The sandy bottom was littered with large sea biscuits. We then made our way closer in to the shore at Fort St George
to see if we could find the canons that are laying in shallow water. We did find them but that’s for my next post.
There are several great snorkeling spots here on Provo.  Happy snorkeling!
Marta

Water Therapy

Blue skies, turquoise water ........... floating your cares away. It doesn't get any better than this.
Blue skies, turquoise water ……….. floating your cares away. It doesn’t get any better than this.

Bonefish Point on a brilliantly sunny afternoon. The water was calm, the colours were unbelievable. Wayne looks like he’s fallen asleep while floating a few inches off the sand on the sandbar. You too could be enjoying our soft sandy beaches and crystal clear, turquoise seas.

Marta

The Bight Reef

Wow........flat calm at the Bight Reef also known as the White House Reef.

Wow........flat calm at the Bight Reef also known as the White House Reef.

Provo has two great snorkel areas close to the shore line……….The Bight Reef or the White House Reef at Coral Gardens and Smith’s Reef just outside the entrance to Turtle Cove Marina. Usually you’ll see turtles, lots of fish such as parrot fish, angel fish, blue tangs and sometimes spotted eagle rays along with beautiful coral formations.

Look at the clarity of the water as Alexis prepares to head out snorkeling

Look at the clarity of the water as Alexis prepares to head out snorkeling

We have some of the best snorkeling ever here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Come and see us soon and enjoy snorkeling on our reefs.

Happy snorkeling,

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Half Moon Bay

Two pelicans were on the sand bar in Leeward Channel as we motored past.

Two pelicans were on the sand bar in Leeward Channel as we motored past.

We were invited out on a friend’s boat but this time on the north side. It was the first time in quite a while and an opportunity to see the huge changes……….empty docks at Leeward Marina, Nikki Beach resort (recently closed) from the water, the remnants of Star Island and the build up of sand at Emerald Point. We were lucky to see two pelicans on the sand bar on our way through the channel and then on to Half Moon Bay.

Local boats were out in full force as the Minx pulled in and thunderclouds rolled in.

Local boats were out in full force as the Minx pulled in and thunderclouds rolled in.

Half Moon Bay is a heavenly spot with its distinctive out cropping of rocks with tall Silver Palms. It’s a favourite place to sail to for weddings and fun gatherings for locals and visitors alike. I spotted a couple of Caicos Sloops out for a sail and the Beluga anchored off the beach as they snorkeled with JoJo the dolphin. I missed seeing JoJo but some of our friends saw him. The Minx was there too and even the dogs had fun today.

Silver Palms on top of the rocks made for a great photo taken from the water.

Silver Palms on top of the rocks made for a great photo taken from the water.

As the clouds rolled in, we heard thunder and saw lightning………..rain too. The Minx and Beluga sailed off before the rain but we stayed and sure enough it cleared off a little.

It was so beautiful in this spot amongst the rocks.

It was so beautiful in this spot amongst the rocks.

This is a great spot for a barbeque, lots of swimming and snorkeling too.

This is a great place for a barbeque, lots of swimming and snorkeling too.

 

You can see why this is such a favourite beach to sail to.

You can see why this is such a favourite beach to sail to.

If you’re looking to have a wedding here in the Turks and Caicos Islands, keep this jewel of a beach in mind. There are boat charters that can sail right up to the beach for a special wedding ceremony.

 

We had such a lovely day and hope that you too will be able to enjoy Half Moon Bay and beach on your visit to Providenciales.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Taylor Bay beach afternoon

Here we are once again floating around at Taylor Bay........those noodles are quite the invention.

Here we are once again floating around at Taylor Bay........those noodles are quite the invention.

We got a little later start than usual today and it was just perfect. The water was calm and made for a smooth ride as we pulled into Taylor Bay. The baby just loves being in the water here as it’s so warm. We introduced her to the soft sand and she just couldn’t get enough!
Sand and more sand everywhere as munchkin plays at the water's edge.

Sand and more sand everywhere as munchkin plays at the water's edge.

The sand was so soft that she just couldn’t get enough of it and as you can see, it almost covered all of her. So much sand all over and then it was time to rinse off and cool off in the late afternoon.

Rinsing off all that sand.

Rinsing off all that sand.

 

Yes, this was the last beer as the sun started getting lower in the sky.

Yes, this was the last beer as the sun started getting lower in the sky.

 

We were treated to a spectacular sunset off Osprey Rock in the distance.
We were treated to a spectacular sunset off Osprey Rock in the distance.

Time to get onboard and head for home before dusk. We just made it in time, pulling into Harbour Club Marina just as it was getting quite dark.

Marta