Our daughter Tina and potcake friends at Smith's Reef
We were out at Smith’s Reef when two potcakes came up to say hello to Tina. I snapped this photo as they sat on the beach on either side of her watching the snorkelers in the water. To the left of the photo, you can see the sandy roadway leading into the water where snorkelers can start exploring the snorkel trail.
Happy snorkeling!
Marta
Mike floating about on Grace Bay beach at the Bay Bistro
I decided to take Mike to one of my favourite spots along the North shore and Grace Bay. It really is interesting how the beach changes from one end at the entrance to Turtle Cove Marina to the other end at Leeward. If you want to snorkel, the best spots are at Smith’s Reef and the Bight Reef at Coral Gardens (White House Reef). Mike took all his great photos of turtles at the Bight Reef. Here’s one from today……..he saw turtles, a sting ray, a huge barracuda, a lionfish (oh no!!!!) and lots of fish.
Mike snapped this photo of a Hawksbill Turtle at the Bight Reef
The best for just enjoying the water and swimming, just lazing around and for the softest sand is just in front of the Bay Bistro ( great food and tell Chef Clive, Marta sent you!) and Sibonne. We used to find all kinds of sand dollars there years ago but when things got built up they all disappeared. We spent hours here today just enjoying the water.
Nothing like having a cold Corona on the beach while enjoying the water
While Mike was out snorkeling at the Bight Reef, I saw a white eagret swoop over my head and land. He stayed for a while and I managed to get some great shots.
A white eagret stopped by to check things out.
To top off every fantastic day in the Turks and Caicos Islands…….. a sunset that was extraordinary. We were at a friends house overlooking our villas at Harbour Club and Flamingo Lake below us. The colours and the calm waters showed off the Five Cays so clearly.
Harbour Club Villas between Flamingo Lake and the ocean at Cooper Jack Bight
On your next visit to Providenciales, explore all our beaches as there’s many of them each one as spectacular as the next. See you there!
Marta
Beautiful and colourful but a disastrous predator eating juvenile fish on Turks and Caicos Islands reefs.
Lionfish are also known as Turkey fish, Dragon fish or scorpion fish and they are now a serious threat to our coral reefs and surrounding waters here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. If left to their own devices, lionfish could multiply in number into the millions eating up all marine life on the reef and then move into shallower waters where they will find conch and lobster. They are an extremely invasive species.
A snuba gal comes face to face with a Lionfish and Jodi from Snuba TCI snapped this great photo.
In June of 2009, Jodi and Snuba TCI donated $1200.00 worth of Lionfish catching gear….nets, gloves and collecting bags and gave it to the DECR on Provo. Jodi has caught at least 18 Lionfish on the Bight Reef at Coral Gardens also known as the White House Reef. I believe the first Lionfish sighted way back in 2006 was in this area. Today, all the dive operators are taking up the battle to catch any Lionfish they see out at the dive sites.
Lionfish have up to 18 needle like dorsal fins which contain venom purely for defensive purposes.
Lionfish are not poisonous but their spines are venomous and can cause a nasty sting to humans. They rely on lightening quick reflexes and camouflage to catch their prey. They are a perfectly safe and delicious food fish once the fins have been removed. What remains is a tasty filet that’s as good as grouper according to some. The DECR has launched a 12 month long lionfish tournament which will award $3,000.00 to the first fisherman to record 3,000 lionfish catches.
Lionfish will hopefully be added to the menu at many of our islands' restaurants.
Here’s what you can do to help: Ask for lionfish at your favourite restaurants. Ask Mickey and Jayne of Flamingo Divers or Jodi to show you how to catch them (other island dive operators can show you too). Join REEF and give a donation towards their research or just by collecting data on lionfish when you dive.
Thanks once again to Jodi of Snuba TCI and Jayne of Flamingo Divers for such great photos of Lionfish.
Marta
Ania snorkels to try and find the cannons lying in shallow water.
In 1798 the work on Ft St George was begun. A detachment of 2oo men was sent from Jamaica and they brought with them cannon and other equipment. The unit was from the 67th Royal Hampshire Regiment and when supplies failed to arrive from Nassau, these men experienced real hardship. They had to depend on fish and locally grown corn and as a result some 30 were lost through illness and death.
A marker lies buried in the sand on Ft St George Cay
Ensign Neil Campbell was the commander and he persisted in erecting the fort on St. George’s Cay, guns were mounted and barracks and storeroom finished.
Two cannons lie in a few feet of water and are covered with marine growth
It is thought that there are five or six cannons lying in the water in an arc pointing out to sea. Whenwe were there, we saw two that were pretty much buried in the sand and overgrown with marine growth. It is possible that the cannons were originally mounted on land and that erosion and undermining of the land over the past 200 years has caused the cannons to fall into the sea.
Closer view of one of the cannons in the waters off Ft St George
Many years ago when we first came to take a look at the cannons, there were several snorkelers out in the waters. One of them excitedly found something lying in the sand. It was a silver coin. We always wondered what other treasures might be lying there covered by the sand and even how many other artifacts have been found and taken away from the islands. Let’s hope that somehow, sometime this will be a protected area and that it will become an heritage site/ historic park for future generations to enjoy.
Marta
Ready to jump in for a snorkel out close to the reef off Fort St George Cay
The water was quite shallow even though we were a ways from the shore.
Barry shows us a huge Sea Biscuit.
Here's the Beluga moored off shore at Half Moon Bay last weekend
Captain Tim Ainley and the Beluga were moored off shore at Half Moon Bay. The Beluga is a 36 foot (10.97) catamaran sailing boat, very unique and distinctive looking and built in 1980 in Canada. It now does sailing charters out of Provo. As I took photos I saw Capt. Tim’s trusty companion Schooner taking a swim for shore.
Schooner swims for shore...........you can just make him out. He's the black speck close to the rock.
Evidently, Schooner had had enough of being on board and wanted to cool off while the others snorkeled………….yes, apparently they sighted JoJo. How lucky can you be???
Schooner takes a rest on the rocks after his long swim.
I’m not sure if you can see but there’s a speck off to the right of the Beluga and I think that’s JoJo. I zoomed in and cropped the photo and it does look like a dolphin.
Here's a close up of the Beluga and to the right of the person in the water almost at the edge of the photo is JoJo.
Schooner gets ready to swim back to the Beluga
There are several sailing charters available from Providenciales so just let me know and I’ll point you in the right direction.
Wow........flat calm at the Bight Reef also known as the White House Reef.
Provo has two great snorkel areas close to the shore line……….The Bight Reef or the White House Reef at Coral Gardens and Smith’s Reef just outside the entrance to Turtle Cove Marina. Usually you’ll see turtles, lots of fish such as parrot fish, angel fish, blue tangs and sometimes spotted eagle rays along with beautiful coral formations.
Look at the clarity of the water as Alexis prepares to head out snorkeling
We have some of the best snorkeling ever here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Come and see us soon and enjoy snorkeling on our reefs.
Happy snorkeling,
Marta
Jodi adjusts Barry's weight belt before taking them on their first underwater experience
Tina finally persuaded Barry and husband Sheldon to do a Snuba dive with Jodi. Barry was a little nervous and apprehensive about going down under!! Sheldon was cool and calm and ready for an adventure.
Sheldon holds onto the raft that carries the air tanks and floats above the divers
The snuba raft floats above the divers who breathe with a regulator attached to a long hose. Jodi has full scuba gear and takes you through the preparation and then leads the dive on the Bight Reef (also known locally as the White House Reef or Coral Gardens Reef.)
Ready to go under just to the right of the reef markers
Jodi gives the last few words of encouragement and a run through of signals before going down.
Here's Sheldon and Tina's underwater photo taken by Jodi.
No turtles today but the guys saw Atlantic Spade Fish, Grouper and Lionfish along with lots of other fish and corals.
Here's Barry having a great time and first experience with underwater......... close up and personal
Jodi takes a photo of each Snuba diver that they can keep as a lasting memory. Thanks for the photos Jodi!
Everyone comes up smiling after a great Snuba experience
Remember to phone Jodi to book a time to go out and Snuba. She’ll show you around the reef and point out so many great things as she knows this reef like the back of her hand. Come Snuba with Jodi in the Turks and Caicos Islands on your next vacation.
Marta
A starfish or Cushion Star in the shallows at Bonefish Point
On numerous trips out to Bonefish Point, we have always spotted these brilliantly orange Cushion Stars which are thick bodied species of starfish with short legs. On this particular day, the sky and water were exceptionally clear and the cushion star was actually lying on the sand in very shallow water.
Colours range from brown to orange, red and yellow
Cushion Stars are echinoderms which are found decorating our reefs all around the world. Here in the Turks and Caicos Islands we find and see them frequently in many areas usually on sandy bottoms and amongst the sea grass.
Tube like feet enable cushion stars to move along the sandy sea bottom
All of the echinoderms move around with the use of tiny tube feet many of which have suction cups on the end of them.
Tina gently lifts a cushion star to take a closer look
This sea star ( the Cushion Star) is easily viewed and identified because of its size, colour and thickness and because it is usually found close to shore.
The brightly orange coloured cushion star has a hard shell with raised knobby spines
Take a look off the edges of the sand bar at Bonefish Point……….you’ll be sure to see several of these brightly coloured cushion stars. We’ve seen smaller brown and more yellowish ones out there too.
Marta
Hard to believe but the water really is this colour......Malcolm Roads beach and you can see dive boats in the background
Join us for some summer fun in the islands. The turquoise water sparkles under the glorious sunshine and all our beaches are just waiting for you. The snorkeling is great and divers, just grab your dive buddy and you’ll enjoy exploring our abundant underwater sealife and coral reefs.
See you soon,
Marta