Snuba with Jodi

Jodi adjusts Barry's weight belt before taking them on their first underwater experience

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

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

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.

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

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

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

 

http://www.diving.tc

Beach fun

Can you believe the colours of the water on Grace Bay today!!!!

Can you believe the colours of the water on Grace Bay today!!!!

The south side was rough and with white caps today so we headed off to my favourite spot on the beach in front of the Bay Bistro. Tina and Sheldon returned to the beach where they were married two years ago. They had a beautiful beach wedding ceremony and had their reception at the Bay Bistro. The water was calm and spectacularly clear as we just lolled in the water for hours with drinks in hand.

Sheldon floats on a turquoise blue ocean wishing the private yacht anchored out was his.

Sheldon floats on a turquoise blue ocean wishing the private yacht anchored out was his.

It just doesn’t get any better than this. The water was warm and sparkled in the late afternoon sun.  Little Michaela came down to the beach for a swim along with her family. She told me she was just learning to swim.

Michaela enjoys the water and blows some bubbles for the camera

Michaela enjoys the water and blows some bubbles for the camera

The only way to describe today was “idyllic”. The water was calm with a gentle breeze blowing and only a few people on the beach enjoying the afternoon. It was raining as we got to the beach at Sibonne but I’m glad that didn’t scare us away. That’s Provo for you…….wait a few minutes, the rain stops and the sun comes out!

We hope you’ll come and enjoy all that our island has to offer.

See you soon,

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Wedding ceremony on the Atabeyra

The Atabeyra anchors off Little Water Cay also known as Iguana island.

The Atabeyra anchors off Little Water Cay also known as Iguana island.

This is a continuation of a previous post. The Atabeyra is a great choice for a romantic wedding at sea along with all kinds of celebrations and group events. Chris and Isa along with their families from the USA, Spain and Brazil all flew to Providenciales and stayed at Harbour Club Villas. The bride and groom selected the Atabeyra for their wedding day ceremonies. Thanks Claudio for the following stunning wedding photos!!
Isa and Chris say their "I do's" with Pastor Wayde Coleby officiating

Isa and Chris say their "I do's" with Pastor Wayde Coleby officiating

A wedding toast to the bride and groom on board the Atabeyra

A wedding toast to the bride and groom on board the Atabeyra

A champagne toast as the happy couple and family sails into a Provo sunset.

This unusual angle creates a spectacular shot..........well done Claudio!!

This unusual angle creates a spectacular shot..........well done Claudio!!

Arriving back on shore, bouganvillea flowers are tossed at the wedding couple

Arriving back on shore, bouganvillea flowers are tossed at the wedding couple

I had given the family a bag of bouganvillea flowers for little Gabriel to throw at the wedding. Claudio, the bride’s father, captures the moment. If you too are looking to get married in the Turks and Caicos Islands, if you are looking for accommodation and/or want to sail off into the sunset on the Atabeyra, let me know and I’ll put you in touch with all the great people on island that can help you.
A day to remember……….Chris and Isa much love and CONGRATULATIONS!
Marta

Surfs up!

Surf's up as the waves come crashing in at the North West Point

Surf's up as the waves come crashing in at the North West Point

Its been really windy of late……shades of hurricane season and a tropical wave effecting our area. We’ve had rain showers which we love as much as our gardens do and a persistenly strong, gusty wind. All this is great for beachcombing and walking the shore line out at the North West Point.

White breakers on the reef and a rippling line of white froth flowing towards the beach

White breakers on the reef and a rippling line of white froth flowing towards the beach

Beachcombing is a great way to spend an afternoon. See you on Provo!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

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

North West Point Walk Part 2

Here's the pelican gobbling up a fish while the seagull hovers waiting to snatch a tasty morsel.

Here's the pelican gobbling up a fish while the seagull hovers waiting to snatch a tasty morsel.

We stopped to sit for a while and take in the view of the waves breaking on the shore. You can just make out the Amanyara resort way down at the end of the coastline.

Pat takes a break and just above her head you can make out the Amanyara Resort

Pat takes a break and way past her at the other end, you can make out the Amanyara Resort

As we walked along the beach towards Malcolm Roads and the Amanyara, I came across something just lying there in the sand. It was an egg and the best I could come up with on the internet was that it looks like a sandpiper egg. This would make sense and most of the birds we saw were Ruddy Turnstones, a common visitor here to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

This egg was just laying there in the sand. It had black, brown and greyish markings.

This egg was just laying there in the sand. It had black, brown and greyish markings.

Here's a Ruddy Turnstone. It's fun to watch them scurrying about along the sand and rocks

Here's a Ruddy Turnstone. It's fun to watch them scurrying about along the sand and rocks

Once we got onto Malcolm Roads beach we were ready to hit the water. We had such fun riding the waves and playing in the surf.

Yogi disappears in the surf and all that can be seen are his legs and feet.

Yogi disappears in the surf and all that can be seen are his legs and feet.

Pat enjoying the breaking waves

Pat enjoying the breaking waves

 

What a great way to end the day………….playing in the waves as they came crashing into the beach at Malcolm Roads.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Fool’s Regatta 2009

The kids had such fun racing handmade rafts down at the new Bight Park

The kids had such fun racing handmade rafts down at the new Bight Park

Barry and I headed down after three to take in the festivities at the annual Fool’s Regatta on Saturday. It is always such fun and this year the emphasis was on the kids. Food and drinks along with boat races, tug o’ war, hobie wave racing and a couple of beautiful caicos sloops.

Exhausted after paddling hard in the raft race to get to the finish!

Exhausted after paddling hard in the raft race to get to the finish!

The proceeds from this year’s Regatta went to the Volunteer Fire Fighters and the new National Sailing Centre.

Guess what this little fellow is going to be when he grows up?

Guess what this little fellow is going to be when he grows up?

We watched the exciting Hobie Waves racing and each one had to have a child on board.

We watched the exciting Hobie Waves racing and each one had to have a child on board.

The fire fighters team in the tug o' war............the rope broke three times until someone went and found a less weather beaten rope

The fire fighters team in the tug o' war............the rope broke three times until someone went and found a less weather beaten rope

North Caicos was well represented by this beutiful Caicos Sloop called Messenger II

North Caicos was well represented by this beautiful Caicos Sloop called Messenger II

Such a fun day………lots of sunshine, great events to watch and best of all we ran into people we hadn’t seen in a while. A time to relax with friends and just enjoy a great day at the beach. We’ll be sure to see you at the Fool’s Regatta in June of next year.

See you then!

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