Tag Archives: Beaches

Surfs up!

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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

Long Bay Beach

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The eastern end of Long Bay beach is so quiet and peaceful

The eastern end of Long Bay beach is so quiet and peaceful

I can’t believe that it took me this long to discover another little piece of paradise. Several weeks ago when Yogi and Pat were visiting, we stopped to take a look at this area of Long Bay. I had heard that this was where the kite boarders went for lessons because of the shallow nature of the water and also, sadly in my opinion, another new development (5 stories high!!!!) is going to be built.

The water was like a mirror and storm clouds were threatening.

The water was like a mirror and storm clouds were threatening.

It was late in the afternoon so the water was warm and so very calm with not a breath of wind. We just lazed in the shallows enjoying the last few rays of the sun as storm clouds brewed out at sea.

Footprints outlined in the sand along the shoreline

Footprints outlined in the sand along the shoreline

Yogi took a walk and I snapped this photo of the footprints he left behind and the deepening shadows. I just love this time of day for picture taking. He called us to come and see what he had found…………a blue crab in the water. I took several photos and then realized that my digital takes photos under the water……….it just goes against the grain to put a camera into the water and friends tease me as I always hold it up high trying not to get it wet. When we got home and I put the photos up onto the computer, I was again surprised as the photos showed not one but two crabs who were mating.

A blue crab mating pair is called a "doubler"

A blue crab mating pair is called a "doubler"

The male cradle carries the female for two to seven days until molting is imminent. This serves two purposes: the male protects the female from predators and it assures that the male will be present when the female’s shell is soft and she is able to mate.

The male blue crab defends his mate as my camera came closer

The male blue crab defends his mate as my camera came closer

Once the female molts, the male releases her. She’ll only mate this one time in her life while her shell is soft. The male turns her upside down so that their abdomens are touching and copulation will last some five to twelve hours. Once again the female is clasped and cradle carried until her shell has had a chance to harden. The male will continue to mate with others while the female won’t release any eggs until 2 to 9 months after mating.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Summer fun on Provo

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Hard to believe but the water really is this colour......Malcolm Roads beach and you can see a dive boat in the background

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

 

http://www.diving.tc

Water Spout

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Here's Eva in the shallow waters off Osprey Rock with ominous black clouds rolling in

Here's Eva in the shallow waters off Osprey Rock with ominous black clouds rolling in

Yet again we hit a perfect day even with the thunderclouds hovering over the ocean and creating such colours in the water.

Eva got out of the water as this stingray came towards us and if you look carefully on the horizon, a water spout was forming

Eva got out of the water as this stingray (see the shadow?) came towards us and if you look carefully on the horizon, a water spout was forming

First we sighted the stingray and Eva quickly got up on her feet as we grabbed cameras. We were busy snapping photos of the ray when we noticed a water spout forming. Water spouts are basically a tornado that forms over water and is only the second one that I’ve ever seen.

Here's a closer view and Wow, look at the water colour due to the dark clouds

Here's a closer view and Wow, look at the water colour due to the dark clouds

Meanwhile, the stingray was still gliding along in the shallows and I managed to get several really good photos.

The stingray was cruising along in the shallow waters by Osprey Rock

The stingray was cruising along in the shallow waters by Osprey Rock

The Southern Stingray usually lies hidden under a thin dusting of sand and feeds on crabs, small fish and worms. It does have a long poisonous spine but it usually takes off at the first signs of someone getting nearer.

Look at this beauty!!

Look at this beauty!!

I can’t believe that we were so lucky to see and watch two incredible sights and both in one day. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to have such an abundance of subjects to photograph so make sure you have your camera ready at all times. The South West Bluff area and Osprey Rock are both full of interesting sea creatures so take a look once you’re on island.

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Sea Urchins Part 3

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Skeletons or tests from urchins can be found on our beaches and in the sand.

Skeletons or tests from urchins can be found on our beaches and in the sand.

The above photo shows a test from the Great Red Footed Urchin.  I didn’t realise that both sand dollars and sea biscuits are urchins too.

Here's an urchin with a few spines still attached to the test

Here's an urchin with a few spines still attached to the test

A pretty pink sea urchin test lying in the sand

A pretty pink sea urchin test lying in the sand

Close up view of an urchin test found on the beach at the North West Point.

Close up view of an urchin test found on the beach at the North West Point.

I just love finding these and you’ll be able to look for them too when holidaying here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Hope to see you soon,

 

Marta

 

http://www.diving.tc

Island girls

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Oh so cute..........these two "Little Miss Turks and Caicos Islands" posed for the camera on the beach in Grace Bay

Oh so cute..........these two "Little Miss Turks and Caicos Islands" posed for the camera on the beach in Grace Bay

I tried so hard to get some unposed shots but these two cuties must have been in some beauty pageants or even watched their big sisters.

Smiling kids having fun in the calm waters of Grace Bay

Smiling kids having fun in the calm waters of Grace Bay

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

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

Osprey

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An osprey on our walk out along the beach to the North West Point

An osprey on our walk out along the beach to the North West Point

We went for a long walk along the beach towards the North West Point where we spotted a magnificent osprey. He had just caught a fish which is what they feed on exclusively.

Ospreys will soar along the coast line as they search for ripples made by fish

Ospreys will soar along the coast line as they search for ripples made by fish

The osprey is found throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands where it is a year round resident. Every time we head out to the North West Point, we always see them. This time, I managed to get up fairly close and was happy at how well the photos turned out.

A great beach for beachcombing and an added bonus was to see this osprey.

A great beach for beachcombing and an added bonus was to see this osprey.

The osprey was a little agitated as I got closer and he didn't want to stop feeding on the fish

The osprey was a little agitated as I got closer and he didn't want to stop feeding on the fish

The osprey that breed in the Turks and Caicos Islands are a distinct sub-species that have a faint stripe behind the eye. Ospreys that are not from the region have a pronounced black stripe. If you enjoy bird watching you’ll definitely see ospreys as you wander some of the beaches.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

King Helmet Shell

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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