Snorkeler’s dream day at the Bight Reef

Posted on June 26, 2024 by marta

Swimming with a hawksbill turtle at the Bight Reef

Mike’s birthday today and so we took off to the Bight Reef for some snorkeling and just to laze around in the water. It was simply magnificent….a dream of an afternoon. Seas were calm and the sunlight rippled the water with prisms of colour. And swimming with turtles was the order of the day.

Ahh, the colours of the water and sky….just perfect!

Take time out to do some great snorkeling. A ton of fish to see as well as turtles, rays and more.

We do ask you to NOT touch the coral, fish or any sea creatures such as the turtles.

It’s important to use reef safe sunscreens too!

Do not touch the coral. Touching a coral can damage it or even kill it.

The Bight Reef consists of one main ridge of coral. It goes out to about 350 feet (107 m) out from the beach. The depth of the water at the outer edge is at about 15-20 feet (4.5-6 m).

Mike snorkels with little Jack and his first time out seeing lots of fish.

The Bight Reef is just off shore and is therefore a great place for kids to experience the fun and excitement of snorkeling. Tons of fish and usually lots of green turtles and hawksbills.

A green turtle grazing on turtle grass…..there’s a large patch to the left of the reef where you’ll generally spot them.

The reef from a drone and that’s Snuba TCI down below.

The reef is protected by a circle of orange buoys so please stay on the outside of those buoys.

Mike takes the plunge, puts on his fins and off he goes to explore the reef.

An eagle ray glides past….such beauty and grace

A pin cushion sea star that’s a beautiful orange. Please just look and enjoy!

Great snorkeling for everyone in the shallows as well as further out where the reef drops to about 15 feet. Please be cautious and and don’t allow your flippers or feet to touch the corals.

Little guys can have the time of their lives seeing underwater fish and life

Mom’s there too as she sights a beautiful green turtle.

Green turtles are frequently seen at the Bight Reef. However they are on the endangered list. They are only 2″ long at birth but can grow up to 5 ‘ in length and can weigh up to 700 pounds. Watch them as they feed on the sea grasses and periodically come up to the surface for air. That’s when you can take a real good look at these wonderful creatures.

A small turtle hides as snorkelers take a a closer look.

Hawksbill turtles are also endangered and they are one of the smaller turtles. An adult can weigh 100-200 lbs and grow up to to 2-3 feet in length. They were highly prized and hunted for their shells ….tortoiseshell combs, jewellery and decorative objects and therefore became almost extinct.

A hawksbill is named for its sharp, bird like beak

A school of blue tangs scoot on by with such a flash of colour.

A cruising Southern Sting ray puts in an appearance.

A nurse shark rests on the bottom of the ocean.

The Bight Reef on Grace Bay is such a beautiful spot

Enjoy Grace Bay beach and snorkeling at the Bight Reef when you come for your next island visit. Marta http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

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

A Trip Down Turtle Tail

Posted on July 5, 2017 by marta

A lone flamingo feeds in the Juba salina just a short ways from Harbour Club Villas

I decided on taking one of our fishing guests down Turtle Tail to see for myself where he could access some flats in order to do some bonefishing. Must say, this area is still as beautiful as ever but with many newly constructed houses going up.

I haven’t seen the flamingos for quite an age and was excited to see this, lone beauty.

I couldn’t get him to stop feeding and to lift his head up……….too busy “vacuuming” through the silty bottom.

My beach also known locally as Dog Beach was just awesome with all those turquoise colours

Looking towards Jim Hill and the new villas being built beside Bajacu

Bonefishing flat with some of the Five Little Cays in the distance

Old conch shells piled up on shore

Now this has some potential for some DIY bonefishing

Jet skiers were out on this beautiful day

Rocky southern shoreline with secret pathway down to the water’s edge

Private gazebos overlooking stunning turquoise waters

Mangroves down Turtle Tail with some sweet bonefishing spots

Harbour Club Villas and Marina on a bonefishing lake in Providenciales

Looking across Flamingo Lake towards the villas at Harbour Club and a lone fisherman

Flamingo Lake and a perfect afternoon for some bonefishing

Perfect Day in the Turks and Caicos

Posted on April 1, 2017 by marta

Cruising the waters of Providenciales with Island Vibes has to be one of the “must do’s” on your next trip to the Turks and Caicos.

We had a glorious, picture perfect day with calm seas as we boarded the boat…..and YES, I’ve lived here for almost 20 years and still am in awe of all the beauty around me.

Two dolfin came out to play with us today….a mother and her young one.

Just love to see dolphins swimming wild and free in the seas around the Turks and Caicos Islands

Half Moon Bay and one spectacular stretch of beach

Island Vibes Tours are a great outfit with whom to head out onto the water for an afternoon of fun

Trying to GoPro a lemon shark in the shallows

Shows you just how clear the waters are!

Swimming back to the boat after some amazing snorkeling out at the reef

Breakers on the reef at Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

A little bit of refreshment………great Turk’s Head rum punch all round

A piece of heaven on a large sandbar out by Dellis Cay

Many sand dollars partially hidden in the sand and the sparkling waters

Such scenery can only be found in the Turks and Caicos

Even a little sea star was taken back out a little further so it wouldn’t get stranded on the sand bar

It was a pretty rough ride for the kids on the way back………..time for some tubing and WOW did they go flying. Such fun as they hung on tight and still managed to fall off.

Screams of fun as the kids went tubing on the way back

The hectic ending to a perfect day

What a fun day it was out on Island Vibes. A fantastic time was had by everyone.

Join us won’t you?

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Under the Dock at Harbour Club

Posted on April 28, 2015 by marta

Anemones growing under the floating docks at Harbour Club’s Marina

A beautiful late afternoon spent lying on the docks taking photos of the marine life and world under our marina docks at Harbour Club Villas. Our guests had wandered down every evening of their stay and were coming back to tell me of all the sightings. I just had to see for myself.

Lying on the docks taking photos of the pale anemones with my reflection in the water.

Many pretty squirrel fish were darting around under the docks

The common blue crab was feeding on growths covering sturdy ropes laying in the water.

The beautiful neon yellows of the juvenile schoolmaster snapper.

Here’s some grunts, foureye butterfly fish and schoolmaster snapper.

Squirrel fish and schoolmaster snapper captured together

Love this photo of a little squirrel fish

Sea Anemone in pretty pink

Pretty but not sure what this is??

A fairly large barracuda kept prowling past.

Excitement when a guest spotted this octopus……..thanks Bryan for the photo.

Red-banded fanworm swaying with the currents.

Octopus trying to hide from Mike’s camera……what a beauty and changing colours.

An upside-down jellyfish.

I’m really amazed at all the marine life found down at the docks. Our guests at Harbour Club Villas love to wander down there in the evenings to discover all sorts of creatures, many birds, even sighting turtles and a four foot reef shark a few weeks ago.

Marta

http://www.diving.tc

Tarpon On the Fly

Posted on April 9, 2012 by marta

Wow.........Lenny caught himself a beauty! This tarpon was at least 35 pounds.

Harbour Club Villa guest Lenny Mokan spotted tarpon on his bonefishing trip recently. He wasn’t rigged for tarpon and was broken off twice before rigging a heavier line.

Here's a nice bonefish.........Darin's amazing at spotting and finding fish

The rod bent double and the tarpon performed a great aerial display

Darin holds up the tarpon......what a great fish!

Lenny gently releases his first tarpon all 35 pounds of it!

Way to go Lenny!

Lenny's going to mount the fly when he frames up his best tarpon photo.

Check out Harbour Club Villas’ bonefishing packages and just like Lenny, you too can fish the endless flats off Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Hope to see you soon…the fishing is GREAT.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Turtle Rock

Posted on January 5, 2011 by marta

Snorkeling out at Turtle Rock this afternoon was fantastic........calm waters and oh so clear.

We anchored off Turtle Rock for a lazy afternoon………..we had lunch and drinks along with some good snorkeling. This unique rock formation looks like a turtle and is part way between South Dock and Osprey Rock on the south side of Providenciales.

Unusual rock sculptures jutting up out of the water.

The water was “cold” for those of us that have been on island for so long but nonetheless, I braved the water to get some close shots of these unusual rock formations at Turtle Rock.

Barry will do anything for a beer as he "hangs" around Turtle Rock.

I had to bribe Barry with extra beers to make him pose for the camera.

Lobster for dinner as we hailed a passing fishing boat.......four nice sized lobster tails.

A nice sized grouper along with a parrot fish were caught that day.

The snorkeling was amazing through a channel between the rocks and since it was low tide, we were in three or four feet of water.

Come snorkel with us here on Providenciales and in the other islands of the Turks and Caicos.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Dolphins on the Way to French Cay

Posted on December 3, 2010 by marta

A lone dolphin swims alongside and infront of our boat on the way to French Cay today.

I walked up our hill this morning overlooking the marina at Harbour Club Villas and was greeted with an ocean like a mirror. I took a few photos and shot off an email with photo to friends………It’s a French Cay day! Look at the calm ocean. Let’s aim for 10 am.

It was an amazing sight and the colours of the ocean were unbelievable.

We weren’t too far out when we sighted a lone dolphin and we played with him for a while as he played in the wake of the boat and skimmed along with his head right between the pontoons of the boat.

He was just surfacing and about to blow the water out of his blowhole.

Dolphins breathe through a blowhole located at the top of the head. Water in a dolphin’s blowhole will drown the dolphin so it uses powerful muscles to close the blowhole so that it can dive under the water again.

This is one of my favourite photos taken today and you can see ever so clearly the dolphin that swam along with the boat.

A great smile and close up of the dolphin.

We also saw a mother dolphin and her baby but she wanted nothing to do with us. She was protecting the little one and so we left her alone.

I only managed to get the shapes of the mother dolphin and her little one as the water was rippling and distorting the dolphins.

More photos to come of our French Cay trip today but it will have to wait until the next post.

Marta

http://www.diving.tc

Reef Sharks

Posted on November 26, 2010 by marta

Reef shark checks out the camera on a dive with Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers

I’m at a real disadvantage with underwater photos but thanks to Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers, I get to “borrow” theirs. We had guests diving with them all week and they were excited to see lots of sharks.

Reef sharks were sighted all week on the many dives led by Flamingo Divers

Such spectacular photos by Mickey and Jayne. Thanks guys!!!!

If you are looking for a great diving experience with wonderfully service oriented dive masters, check out Flamingo Divers at their website www.flamingodivers.com. Grab your dive buddy, give us a call and we can arrange both diving with Flamingo Divers and accommodations at Harbour Club Villas.

We’ll do all the work and all you have to do is enjoy the amazing diving to be had here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Happy Diving.

Marta

http://www.diving.tc

Evening Bonefishing

Posted on November 1, 2010 by marta

A peaceful and calm setting as a lone fisherman wades the lake by Harbour Club Villas.

This evening I caught sight of Paul, one of our bonefishing guests, out in Flamingo Lake. It was a beautiful still evening just made for some bonefishing.

Someone else was also looking for fish as a Green Heron perched on a dead branch to view the lake waters.

The Green Heron finds a tasty snack in the waters of the lake.

I know the heron was sucessful in finding food but I'm not sure if Paul caught any bonefish?

Evenings are a great time to catch some of our water birds and to see bonefish tailing in the lake.

Marta

http://www.bonefishing.tc

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MyTurksAndCaicosBlog.com

Turks and Caicos Vacation, Travel, Fishing, and Diving

Category Archives: fish

Snorkeler’s dream day at the Bight Reef

Snorkel at Smith’s Reef

A Trip Down Turtle Tail

Perfect Day in the Turks and Caicos

Under the Dock at Harbour Club

Tarpon On the Fly

Turtle Rock

Dolphins on the Way to French Cay

Reef Sharks

Evening Bonefishing