Category Archives: Scuba Diving

North West Point Walk

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The road was washed out in two spots...............quite deep too but we pushed on through to explore and find this new beach.

The road was washed out in two spots……………quite deep too but we pushed on through to explore and find this new beach.

Yesterday we set off to explore a beach along the North West Point coast line that we’ve never been to but had heard about from some of our recent Harbour Club Villas guests. We had turned around the day before as it was getting dark and we didn’t know how deep the washed out part of the road was.

Wow! A spectacular rocky shoreline with powdery sand beaches

Wow! A spectacular rocky shoreline with powdery sand beaches

This stretch of beach is between the North West Point and Malcolm Roads beach and we basically walked the beach in both directions. There are some great dive sites off this beach and two of them are named Shark Hotel and Black Coral Forest.

Typical vegetation of the area including this beautiful Cactus Tree just starting to bloom.

Typical vegetation of the area including this beautiful Cactus Tree, Consolea nashii, ( locally called horse pear) just starting to bloom.

We watched a pelican being harrassed by sea gulls as it skimmed and dove into the water catching fish. The gulls would literally sit on top of the pelican in hopes of stealing a tasty morsel of fish.

I'm not sure how well you can make this out but the seagull was dancing on the pelicans head

I’m not sure how well you can make this out but the seagull was dancing on the pelicans head

I’ll post more tomorrow as we had such a great time seeing this part of Provo. It was our first trip out here and I’m sure we’ll return many more times.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Old Tiki Huts at Malcolm Roads

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boattikiview

Old photo taken in 2002 of the tiki huts and dive boat out at Malcolm Roads beach

Years ago, Malcolm Roads was only accessible with a 4×4 jeep type vehicle and the hill was soooooo intimidating, pitted and huge ruts towards the bottom. It was always worth it as at the end of the road was a simply breathtaking stretch of beach with the tiki huts. We used to do our ladies beach day down there with not another soul around. I thought some of you might like to see my old photos of the tiki huts and beach.

White, powdery sand beach and always the amazing colours of blue and turquoise

White, powdery sand beach and always the amazing colours of blue and turquoise

 When we first came to Providenciales, the tiki huts were still useable for some shade but began to drastically deteriorate. They were originally built for a French game show that took place on that beach around 1992.

It's a real shame that this beautiful area was not protected for future generations. It is now the site of an exclusive hotel.

It's a real shame that this beautiful area was not protected for future generations. It is now the site of an exclusive hotel.

 

Dive boats would spend their intervals pulled up fairly close to shore

Dive boats would spend their intervals pulled up fairly close to shore

 

Those were the days.......exotic, remote......a piece of paradise.

Those were the days.......exotic, remote......a piece of paradise.

Hope you enjoyed my old photos of the tiki huts at Malcolm Roads. A bit of history that many of us fondly remember.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Hawksbill Turtle

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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

Green Turtle

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Green turtles are often seen at the Bight Reef on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Green turtles are often seen at the Bight Reef on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Here’s one of Mike’s great turtle photos taken while snorkeling at the Bight Reef. There are probably three species of marine turtles in the waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands……green turtles, hawksbill and the loggerhead. Divers and snorkelers alike can be assured to see a few turtles during their stay in the islands.

A close up view of a Green Turtle

A close up view of a Green Turtle

Unfortunately, these beautiful creatures are often caught for eating and are now on the endangered list.
A local fisherman with comes in with his catch of lobster and this turtle

A local fisherman comes in with his catch of lobster and this turtle

Turtles are thought to mature between 30 and 50 years of age and apparently only one in a thousand turtle eggs survives to become a mature and reproductively active adult. We are hopeful that protective measures are being implemented to save our local Turks and Caicos turtles.
Marta
http://www.diving.tc

Smith’s Reef

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Looking at Smith's Reef from the shoreline

Looking at Smith's Reef from the shoreline

A sandy path leads through the rocks and into the water. The snorkel trail is a series of  reef balls that have tiles with information written on them and they begin in about 6 feet of water. About 20 yards off shore, there’s a small patch reef at about a 12 foot depth. 

Here's a map of the snorkel trail at Smith's Reef

Here's a map of the snorkel trail at Smith's Reef

 

You'll see lots of fish, corals, sponges, eagle rays cruising on through as well as turtles

You'll see lots of fish, corals, sponges, eagle rays cruising on through as well as turtles

We hope you’ll enjoy snorkeling at Smith’s Reef on your next visit to Provo.

See you there!

Marta,

http://www.diving.tc

Smith’s Reef snorkeling

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Here's a map of the area at Smith's Reef for all those that love to snorkel

Here's a map of the area at Smith's Reef for all those that love to snorkel

Smith’s Reef is located just outside of the entrance to Turtle Cove Marina on Provo’s north shore. Acess is from along the beach and you will find signs marking the way.

As you walk along the beach you will come across this marker.

As you walk along the beach you will come across this marker.

Smith’s Reef is a shallow patch reef relatively close to the shore so it is one of the best places for snorkeling and is one of a few options for shore diving. There is an underwater snorkel trail for you to follow with informative tiles attached to reef balls that have descriptions of fish and coral that are most commonly found here.

A snorkeler enters the sandy patch area before heading off to explore the underwater snorkel trail

A snorkeler enters the sandy patch area before heading off to explore the underwater snorkel trail

If you are an avid snorkeler, you’ll love Smith’s Reef. It’s probably one of our best snorkeling areas.

Happy snorkeling!

Marta

http://www.diving.tc

Humpback Whale

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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

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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
http://www.diving.tc

Humpback Whale

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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

 

Dive Boats at Malcolm Roads

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A storm at sea intensifies the turquoise colours of the ocean

A storm at sea intensifies the turquoise colours of the ocean

It doesn’t matter what the weather is like at Malcolm Roads, the colours are always spectacular for photo taking. A passing storm and clouds turned the sea into brilliant shades of blue and turquoise. Dive boats were anchored out at the dive sites and in the foreground, two magnificent Cactus Trees framed my photo.

The Cactus Tree is endemic to the Turks and Caicos Islands and Bahamas

The Cactus Tree or Consolea nashii, ( locally called horse pear) is endemic to the Turks and Caicos Islands and Bahamas.

The Cactus Trees found at Malcolm Roads can reach hights of 12 feet and have a woody trunk. Flowers bloom throughout the year and are a rich red in colour with yellow stamens.

Bright red flowers of the Cactus Tree

Bright red flowers of the Cactus Tree

This particular species is found exclusively in the Turks and Caicos Islands as well as the Bahamas.

Visit the spectacular beach at Malcolm Roads and watch for these wonderful Cactus Trees.

Cheers,

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com