Kids like fishing too!!

Wayne and his kids fishing off the docks at Harbour Club Villas

Wayne and his kids fishing off the docks at Harbour Club Villas

Wayne Hall of Ocean Vibes dive operation took some time out to show his boys how to fish. They set up on our dock at Harbour Club Villas where Wayne moors his boat. He’s originally from Grand Turk and is the only Turks and Caicos native to own and operate a dive operation on Providenciales.

I got one, I got one!!!

I got one, I got one!!!

The kids were so excited when they started to catch fish. Dad helped to release them into a bucket so that they could take a good look at them.

Wayne takes the hook out as the kids watch

Wayne takes the hook out as the kids watch

Next time you want a great scuba diving adventure in the Turks and Caicos Islands, we’ll put you in touch with Wayne and Ocean Vibes.

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Hawksbill Turtle

The beautiful richly brown and mottled shell of the Hawksbill turtle's shell was prized for tortoiseshell used for decorative purposes

In years gone by, the beautiful richly brown and mottled shell of the Hawksbill turtle’s shell was prized for tortoiseshell used for decorative purposes.

The Hawksbill turtle is easy to identify as it has a very distinctive sharp curving beak much like a hawk. The boney plates of the shell are streaked with amber, yellow and brown.

To the Taino Indians in the Turks and Caicos Islands, turtles were an important food item. Nowadays turtles are more often promoted as a tourist attraction.

The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands has adopted new conservation plans for  sea turtles that will protect mature adults so they can breed, and reverse population declines.

Restrictions have been put into place and it is illegal for fishermen to kill turtles with shells over 60 cm or under 45 cm.

 

The distinctive "hawk" like beak of the Hawksbill turtle

The distinctive “hawk” like beak of the Hawksbill turtle

In some countries the shell is still used to make hair ornaments, jewelry, and other decorative items and therefore they are on the critically endangered list.

Look at the wonderful colours in the shell of the Hawksbill turtle

Look at the wonderful colours in the shell of the Hawksbill turtle

Look for the Hawksbill turtle as you snorkel the coral reefs and waters of the Turks and Caicos on your next island vacation.

Marta

http://www.diving.tc

Humpback Whale

Magnificent creature..........Diving with a humbacked whale

Magnificent creature..........Diving with a humback whale

We had three guests that went out diving today with Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers. Our guests were treated to an amazing dive when a humpback whale was sighted out at West Caicos. They quietly slid into the water and stayed together while observing this magnificent creature. Zach thought it was at least 50 feet as it was much larger than the bottom of the Flamingo’s boat. A perfect day of diving! Diving the reefs and walls of the Turks and Caicos is a wonderful experience………….visibility is excellent with an abundance of marine life.

Hope we see you soon when you head our way on your next dive trip.

Marta

http://www.diving.tc

Whale Watching

Humpbacked Whale has flippers that are heavily scalloped and that are often a third of its total body length.

The Humpback Whale has flippers that are heavily scalloped and that are often a third of its total body length.

Once again, I have to thank Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers for letting me use these incredible shots of the humpback whale they dove with in late January. These wonderful creatures can grow in length from 40 to 60 feet (12 to 15 meters) and can live from 70 or 80 years. The humpback whale is generally a blackish colour with a white area covering the throat grooves. They are playful and can throw themselves completely out of the water which is called “breaching”.  Salt Cay is truly the Whale capital of the islands from January to March every year as this is where the Atlantic Humpbacks migrate to the Silver Banks to calve and mate.

Impressive view of a Humpbacked Whale........head on down to the Turks and Caicos now and see them for yourselves
Impressive view of a Humpback Whale……..head on down to the Turks and Caicos now and see them for yourselves

Now’s the time to see whales in our beautiful waters. Book that trip soon and have an experience of a life time seeing these magnificent creatures.

Marta

Humpback Whale

What a glorious sight........a humpbacked whale. Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers and their group swam with this humback whale for the entire dive.

What a glorious sight........a humpback whale. Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers and their group swam with this humpback whale for the entire dive.

 For those of you that have dreamed of seeing whales, now is the time to head down to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Every year from late January through April, the North Atlantic Humpback Whales migrate to the Silver Banks which is a mating and nursery area north of the Dominican Republic. Our islands are in the middle of this annual migratory route and the Humpback Whales can be spotted and heard “singing” all over the Turks and Caicos…………from West Caicos, Salt Cay, Grand Turk and even off the Malcolm Roads beach where I actually saw a mother and calf several years ago………my first and only sighting of a whale!

Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers spent asome time up close and personal with a Humpbacked Whale on a recent dive trip.

Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers spent some time up close and personal with a Humpback Whale on a recent dive trip.

Jayne writes: “We had a humpback show up on our dive on Jan 20th – stayed with us the entire dive, even followed me to my safety stop and did it with me! Then it came back to our divers on the 2nd dive. It was amazing. I’ve attached a couple of pics….(I have 196 of them so won’t send them all!!!!!)”

Thanks Mickey and Jayne for the great photos.

Book your dive trip now and you too will hopefully see the Humpback Whales migrating. Call me or email me at Harbour Club Villas and we’ll organize everything for you and or put you in touch with the diving experts.

See you soon……remember that if you want a chance at seeing whales, now is the prime time!

Marta

http://www.diving.tc

 

Harbour Club Marina

Look at the amazing colours of the ocean!

Look at the amazing colours of the ocean!

Storm clouds gather out at sea and create such a striking turquoise blue. This photo was taken from the hill overlooking the Marina at Harbour Club Villas. A great spot to watch the comings and goings of dive boats that leave our marina daily and head out for West Caicos and French Cay. If you want to do some scuba diving, the Turks and Caicos Islands have some of the best dive sites. Come dive with us in the Turks!

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Snuba

Snuba with Jodi as she takes our guests for a closer look at the reef and this wonderful turtle.

Snuba with Jodi as she takes our guests for a closer look at the reef and this wonderful turtle.

Not quite ready to scuba dive………..well try some Snuba with Jodi who will guide you along the White House Reef at Coral Gardens on Grace Bay.  Snuba divers breathe under water through a 20 foot air line which is connected to a scuba tank mounted on a raft. The raft floats above on the surface and follows the snuba divers where ever they go. What a great way to experience being under water and to see our coral reefs right up close.

Dive with sharks

Cruising too close???? Not for Mickey at Flamingo Divers who took this classic shot.

Cruising too close???? Not for Mickey at Flamingo Divers who took this classic shot.

Our guest and diver Daniel had an amazing underwater scuba adventure when he saw sharks up close for the first time. Can’t imagine what it would be like to be that close ! I’m hoping Daniel will have a chance to send me a few words on his diving. We have some of the clearest water ever here in the Turks and Caicos. Come and experience it for yourself. See you then!

Up close and personal with a shark

Up close and personal with a shark

Diving is the best in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

See you soon

Marta

http://www.diving.tc