Tiny shells

A south side beach offers thousands of tiny little shells lying on the sand in a large pile.

A south side beach offers thousands of tiny little shells lying on the sand in a large pile.

A beach walk on one of the south side beaches and a beautiful discovery………….thousands of tiny shells deposited in a large pile on the sand by the ocean. 

Here's a closeup of the shells that were different colours and shapes and sizes.

Here's a closeup of the shells that were different colours and shapes and sizes.

Loads of shells washed up in a large pile on the beach.

Loads of shells washed up in a large pile on the beach.

 

Happy shelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Bonefish Point Sandbar

A perfect afternoon on and in the water with the boys pulling us up to the sandbar..........it simply was the best

A perfect afternoon on and in the water with the boys pulling us up to the sandbar..........it simply was the best

We both had family visiting so it was an opportunity to take a leisurely run out to the sand bar at Bonefish Point. We took off from our marina at Harbour Club Villas. There’s a deep water channel ( 12 feet deep or so ) to the right of the sandbar and all of a sudden you’re in a foot of water. The guys put the anchor out and then decided to walk it into the shallows.

Barry floats along in the clear water and enjoys the best view in the world

Barry floats along in the clear water and enjoys the best view in the world

We saw some beautiful sea cushions ( see my previous post) and some smaller white starfish. Laura explored some rocks in the shallows and found numerous hermit crabs.

Laura shows me her find.............tiny little shells with crabs in them

Laura shows me her find.............tiny little shells with crabs in them

Here's a small hermit crab just walking along the edge of the water

Here's a small hermit crab just walking along the edge of the water

 

Barry, Tina and Sheldon stayed in the water pretty much all afternoon.

Barry, Tina and Sheldon stayed in the water pretty much all afternoon.

We all cooled off by staying in the water beer in hand. The Bonefish Point sandbar is on the south west tip of the island and accessible by road now. It never used to be……….the only way of getting here a few years ago was by boat or doing an excursion with Capt. Bill of Ocean Outback. This trip by the way is a great way of seeing the south shoreline. Hope you get to see this part of our island too.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Rocky Shoreline

A close look at shells attached to the rocks along the rocky shoreline

A close look at shells attached to the rocks along the rocky shoreline

Yesterday’s boat trip to South West Harbour Bluff at low tide gave me an opportunity to explore the rocky shore line close to the pirates cave and Osprey Rock. I took photos of these tiny shells clinging onto the rocks but it was difficult with the water flowing over.

Beautiful shells on the rocks revealed interesting critters that I discovered once I had put them up on my computer

Beautiful shells on the rocks revealed interesting critters (check out the blue colour) that I discovered once I had put them up on my computer.

Can you pick out the small three coloured hermit crabs peeking out from the shells?  These tiny crabs called Clibanarius Tricolor are found in tidal pools and on intertidal and subtidal rocks. They have blue legs with red stripes and I didn’t even notice this when I was taking the photos. These shells were very pretty and in the close up you can see the blue striped legs coming out of two of the shells.

Tidal rocks had clusters of shells and to my surprise, small tricoloured blue hermit crabs in them.

Tidal rocks had clusters of shells and to my surprise, small tricoloured blue hermit crabs in them.

Blue legs with red stripes of the very small TriColoured Hermit Crab

Blue legs with red stripes of the very small TriColoured Hermit Crab

More neat and interesting things that I found along the undercut shore line at low tide will be posted in days to come. There are so many wonderful things to see here in the Turks and Caicos Islands…..every time you turn around there’s something new to photograph.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

King Helmet Shell

In Blue Hills, a local cleans a King Helmet shell so that it's ready for sale.

In Blue Hills, a local cleans a King Helmet shell so that it's ready for sale.

Piles of conch shells lie in the waters by Da Conch Shack in Blue Hills. In amongst them there were a few King Helmet Shells which seem to be much rarer than the Queen Conchs. I’m noticing more and more of these shells and  Triton shells being harvested and sold in various places on Providenciales.

Low tide had exposed the piles of conch shells lying in the waters

Low tide had exposed the piles of conch shells lying in the waters

It was low tide at the beach in Blue Hills where piles of conch shells lay in the water. I guess they get cleaned and sold by beach vendors. Behind the shells, you can see the pen containing live conch that supplies Da Conch Shack.

Taste some conch while in Blue Hills………right on the water!

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Conch Shell

These two young local boys in Blue Hills were showing off a beautiful conch shell that they wanted to sell.

These two young local boys in Blue Hills were showing off a beautiful conch shell that they wanted to sell.

Blue Hills is another of my favourite areas where there’s always something great to photograph. These guys were on the beach by Da Conch Shack selling conch shells that they had cleaned.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Conch wall

We just had to stop and take photos of this unique conch inlaid island stone wall.

We just had to stop and take photos of this unique conch inlaid island stone wall.

Heading home from the beach along the Lower Bight Road just past King’s Town, we saw this spectacular wall. It was local island stonework topped off with conch shells.
A row of conch adorns the top of the wall surrounding these houses in The Bight

A row of conch adorns the top of the wall surrounding these houses in The Bight

Have a look when your next in the Bight area. This wall is really great!
Marta

Snorkeling

Snorkeling along the shoreline looking for shells

Snorkeling along the shoreline looking for shells

Malcolm Roads beach is a spectacular stretch of sand with some pretty good snorkeling. Tina found all kinds of tiny shells and bits of coral right close to the shoreline.

A handful of treasures from the sea

A handful of treasures from the sea

 

Tiny shells and bits of coral are found just under the water in the sand along the waters edge.

Tiny shells and bits of coral are found just under the water in the sand along the waters edge.

Shells

Zebra Nerites are beautiful snails that you can find in rocky tidepools under full sun in the in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Zebra Nerites are beautiful snails that you can find in rocky tidepools under full sun in the Turks and Caicos Islands

When you are out exploring the North West Point area of Providenciales, look for these neat snails in the rock pools along the shoreline. They are found among intertidal rocks and are a small white shell with black zebra-like stripes.

Close up of these zebra striped shells

Close up of these zebra striped shells

 

Marta