Snorkel at Smith’s Reef

Posted on March 26, 2024 by marta

Mike, GoPro in hand and ready for some snorkeling at Smith’s Reef

Smith’s Reef is an amazing area for snorkeling and not too far off shore. You need to be aware that it is right beside the entrance to Turtle Cove Marina. A word of caution …. take note of the channel markers for incoming and outgoing water craft and stay out of the channel itself. You will see such a variety of sea life such as turtles, eagle rays, sting rays, an abundance of fish and corals.

Here’s how to find Smiths Reef at the end of Coconut Road

Visit TCI has a good map showing the location and how to find the reef.

Drone shot of Smith’s Reef showing the beautiful coral head.

A map of the reef showing the 22′ channel where often you’ll see rays.

Snorkel with turtles and all kinds of fish at Smith’s Reef

Heading out with a go pro to get some classic underwater shots.

Go pro ready for action

Another beautiful Provo day just made for some snorkeling.

Just a few words before you set out to enjoy and explore our reefs.

Please do not touch or stand on anything as coral is a living animal and be sure not to brush anything with your flippers, equipment or gear.

Remember:

Don’t step on coral. …
Don’t touch or chase marine life. …
Don’t stir the sediment. …
Don’t take marine life – dead or alive.
Please use reef safe sunscreen

Clear and calm….what a day on the reef

A turtle pops his head up…what a great photo Mike!

Do not cover yourself heavily with sunscreen before snorkeling and of course biodegradable lotions are available and better yet, buy a rash guard.

A Green Sea Turtle poses for photos beside a Purple Sea Whip.

A beautiful hawkbill turtle is curious

A Spotted Eagle Ray passing through.

Love the reflections in the water.

A Porcupine Fish showing spines swims amongst the coral.

A six foot nurse shark rests on the sandy bottom.

Big and docile just resting on the bottom ready for a photo shoot.

Snorkel with hawksbill turtle at Smith's Reef

A stunning hawksbill turtle cruises on by

Snorkeling Smith's Reef on Providenciales

Mike spots a Queen Angelfish

A turtle pops his head up with Mike snorkeling with his go pro

Wandering the shore line at Smith’s Reef is always full of discoveries, lovely rock pools and all kinds of shells and marine life.

Tidal pools along the shore line at Smith's Reef

Rock pools are fascinating especially when the tide is out.

And meanwhile along the shore, a rock pool find of a Helmet Shell.

Such beauty surrounds us and take a look at the exquisite markings on this shell.

A crab scurries along the rocks

Look for Chitons attached to the rocks

Chitons also known as Coat of Mail shells or Sea Cradles are a marine mollusc found along the rocks at Smith’s Reef and elsewhere.

See the eyes peeking out of the shell of this baby conch and the claw-like operculum with which they move across the ocean floor.

Back to the reef and this beauty…..a Honeycomb Cowfish apparently quite rare.

Love those eagle rays as they gracefully glide through the waters.

Mike says this green turtle took a keen interest in the camera.

Smith’s Reef on Providenciales is the best for snorkeling

And here’s me just enjoying every part of the day here at Smith’s Reef.

All the amazing underwater photos are taken by Mike so I thank him for letting me use them for my blog.

Enjoy the reefs everyone but please take care as you snorkel to preserve and protect the coral and sea life.

Snorkel responsibly and have fun.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Hermit Crab’s New Home

Posted on March 18, 2020 by marta

Here he is again carrying his very distinctive red, tube style home.

Hermit crabs or Soldier Crabs are usually very particular about their shells. Shell switching is not uncommon as the crab searches for the perfect shell. Barry and I had laid out four shells we had and it seemed that his preference was for the West Indian Top Snail shell.

We helped him shed the red tube and he gradually worked his way into his new home.

The hermit crab has four tiny legs to hold the shell in place…a fourth leg that clasps the shell and the fifth that holds the shell.

Here’s a close up of the Hermit Crab’s fourh and fifth legs that grasp onto the shell.

Another view of the additional much smaller legs as the Hermit Crab moves into his new shell home.

In the wild, Hermit or Soldier Crabs feed off of coconut trees, leftovers from humans, and they will scavenge dead organisms, such as fish and other crabs. By the way, if they can’t find an adequate shell, they will use such man made things as plastic glasses, tiny one person jam jars, PVC pipes or whatever they can scrounge.

OK……….finally it’s time to move in !

Almost set to go and settling in.

Home Sweet Home and we’re on the road again.

Hope you enjoyed these photos as much as I enjoyed photographing this little guy and helping him along in finding his new home.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Hermit Crab’s New Home

Posted on March 17, 2020 by marta

Four new homes lie ready and waiting for this Hermit Crab I found in our wild area today

This little Soldier Crab was maneuvering quite easily with his four inch, closed pipe for a home. Barry watched him while I ran to get my camera and play realtor by looking for some shells that might make a new, more traditional home for him.

The reddish pipe or tube like container didn’t look all that comfortable.

Checking out a Tulip Shell for size and fit??

Here’s a West Indian Top Snail shell that our hermit crab is taking a look at.

Hermit crabs are the only crabs that are able to walk forwards!!

This shell is also known as the Magpie Shell as is a species of large edible sea snail

This shell is also known as the Magpie Shell and is a species of large edible sea snail

The West Indian Top Snail shell is very popular indeed as “housing” for the large land hermit crab species and over the years we have gathered quite a few for occasions such as this. They are found at water’s edge and the snail is known as “wilks” or sometimes as “whelks” in the islands here where they are popular food item.

Tomorrow’ post will show the hermit crab moving into his new “shell” home.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Providenciales Afternoon Clouds and Skies

Posted on September 3, 2013 by marta

Trying to outrun the darkening clouds and coming rains

A beautiful sunny day on Sunday until about 2 pm and of course our planned boat trip for some beach, water and sunshine time. We headed out and this was the amazing skies behind us as we tried to find our little piece of sunshine. Here are photos of the changing skies as we headed towards Dellis Cay. We saw it all on our Sunday trip from sunny skies and puffy white clouds to somber, dark rain clouds and sunset skies too.

View from Dellis Cay looking towards Pine Cay........ such magnificent colours in shades of turquoise and blue.

Such beauty on this deserted island with its abandoned resort and villa buildings.

A few dark storm clouds obscured the sun creating interesting colours on the ocean.

Years ago we would come to Dellis to find sand dollars and shells ..... the best shelling beach in the TCI.

The abandonned buildings on Dellis Cay stand forlornly looking out as the world goes past through its' empty windows

Dellis Cay is a 560-acre private island that got its name from the Dellis family who lived on the island and earned their living sponge farming in the 1950’s. It lies to the east of Pine Cay and is a 20 minute boat ride from Providenciales. Years ago, island excursions, locals and visitors alike would spend many hours wandering the beautiful beaches, picking up numerous shells as well as hunting for sand dollars. Unfortunately there were no sand dollars that I saw but the shells are still all over the beach.

The beauty that was Dellis Cay is now spoiled by the unfinished structures of a failed resort scheme that formed part of the 2008 Mandarin Oriental Dellis Cay Project. One part of this complex called The Residences at Mandarin Oriental was supposed to open in 2010 but went bankrupt, construction was halted as you can see from the photos and financial problems caused cancellation of the development. And so the empty shells of deluxe private villas and residences on the beach stand waiting and watching and are faced with an uncertain future.

Parting view of the villas and residences on Dellis Cay.

Heading back to Providenciales with rays of sunshine streaking through the clouds

Coming home with a rain storm over the horizon and our boat's rooster tail.

We were treated to this amazing sky as we passed Smith's Reef.

Rounding the corner and heading into the channel to Turtle Cove Marina

Coming into Turtle Cove Marina with beautiful clouds.

Docking in the Marina after a perfect day on the water.

You simply can’t have a bad day in the islands……..rain or shine. Besides, what’s a bit of rain amongst good friends?

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

West Caicos Beach All to Ourselves

Posted on September 9, 2011 by marta

Shadow dancing on a deserted West Caicos beach

About two weeks ago and a smooth, calm sea found us heading for West Caicos. The boys dropped us off and left us to do a spot of fishing. It was an incredible sight to see this long stretch of deserted beach that had become much wider as Hurricane Irene swept in tons of sand. It was low tide and the water was shallow for a ways out. The waves had created ripples and sand bars and pools of water with shells and interesting bits of debris. We had the beach to ourselves with only a few pelicans that swooped in occasionally to land and shared it only with the pelicans as they dive bombed for fish. What glorious entertainment for the afternoon!

The husbands head off for some fishing and look at those ripples and as a small sand bar forms

Sand ripples formed by the wave action made for interesting patterns in the sand

There were so many bird tracks along the ripples of sand and I was fascinated with all the patterns.

A beautiful shell lies in one of the ripplesand there were lots of bird tracks in the sand

The brown pelicans were amusing to watch and photograph but were a little leery of my presence

Probably one of my favorite shells, the sunrise tellin shell lying at the edge of the water, made for a beautiful photo.

Me and my shadow, strolling down a beach avenue!! Just me and my shadow, all alone and feelin' good!!

What a glorious day and a wonderful afternoon. We’re going to return to West Caicos as soon as the weather clears………GO AWAY MARIA!!!!

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Pretty Pink Shells

Posted on May 2, 2011 by marta

Life is beautiful and so are these pretty pink shells in the sandy shallows at the beach. A reminder to all you beautiful ladies out there...........don't put off having those mammograms. One year post surgery for me and I'm so happy that all is fantastic. Make that appointment today!

Baby Pink Clam Shells

Posted on March 20, 2011 by marta

This beautiful pinkish shell was in the shallows and just presented itself perfectly for a wonderful photo as the gentle waters swirled in and out.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

West Caicos Beach

Posted on December 12, 2010 by marta

Here's where we spent the afternoon today.........it was so beautiful.

This afternoon, we headed to West Caicos where the ladies were dropped off on the beach and the men headed off for some fishing. We had miles of beach to ourselves and only a pelican checked us out and an osprey that appeared to have a nest up at the far end of the beach.

There were so many Sunrise Tellin shells all along the shore line, some in the seaweed and others where the ocean had dropped them along the beach

A unique face stared up at me as I took photos of a coconut that had been washed up on the beach.

I was reminded of “Winston” from the UPS movie Castaway with Tom Hanks………..can you imagine having something like this to talk to if you were left stranded on a deserted beach like this one?

This is so neat that I had to post another photo of it.Malaika was so happy to see her Poppa coming to pick us up for the trip home.

Barry had to show us how he can float, this time without a beer in hand.

Another wonderful day on the water here in the Turks and Caicos. We hope you’ll come visit us soon for the most amazing beaches and clear water that you’ve ever seen.

Join us??? See you in the islands soon!

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com