This cute snorkel gal was eager to head into the water for some snorkeling at the Bight Reef also known as the White House Reef at Coral Gardens
Snorkeling Gal
Reply
Tag Archives: Snorkeling
Malcolm Roads Beach
Indescribable...........today was simply the most amazing day out at Malcolm Roads beach
Stunning colours today at Malcolm Roads beach where I took my sister Anna and friend Mike…………but really, it is always a photographer’s dream to take photos of the beach and water out here. Every time I head out to Malcolm Roads, I know the colours are going to be fantastic and today was no exception!
Small beach where once every few years, there's a natural bridge. It was all sanded in today.
I can’t emphasize enough that you do need a car to travel to these breathtaking beaches. You will be missing some of the most scenic areas of Provo if you don’t explore this area along with others. There are so many more out of the way beaches and Malcolm Roads is one of my ultimate favourites……….but then I do have many of them!
There's great snorkeling here too so don't forget to bring your snorkel equipment
The dive boats were all out there today as it was calm and perfect for diving.
So, all I can say is make a point of heading out to this spectacular and picturesque stretch of beach………..pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the snorkeling as well as a beach with very few people.
Marta
Potcake friends
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
Beaches and more beaches
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
Cannons at Ft. St. George Cay
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
Snorkeling close to the Reef
Ready to jump in for a snorkel out close to the reef off Fort St George Cay
The water was amazingly clear and calm as Barry and Ania get ready to jump in for a snorkel. We were moored a little ways out from 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.
The sandy bottom was littered with large sea biscuits. We then made our way closer in to the shore at Fort St George
to see if we could find the canons that are laying in shallow water. We did find them but that’s for my next post.
There are several great snorkeling spots here on Provo. Happy snorkeling!
Marta
The Bight Reef
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
Hawksbill Turtle
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
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 for the Hawksbill turtle as you snorkel the coral reefs and waters of the Turks and Caicos on your next island vacation.
Marta
Green Turtle
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
Unfortunately, these beautiful creatures are often caught for eating and are now on the endangered list.
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
Smith’s Reef
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
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,