Tag Archives: hawksbill turtle

Snorkeler’s dream day at the Bight Reef

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Swimming with a hawksbill turtle at the Bight Reef

 Mike’s birthday today and so we took off to the Bight Reef for some snorkeling and just to laze around in the water. It was simply magnificent….a dream of an afternoon. Seas were calm and the sunlight rippled the water with prisms of colour. And swimming with turtles was the order of the day.

Ahh, the colours of the water and sky….just perfect!

Take time out to do some great snorkeling. A ton of fish to see as well as turtles, rays and more.

We do ask you to NOT touch the coral, fish or any sea creatures such as the turtles.

It’s important to use reef safe sunscreens too!  

Do not touch the coral. Touching a coral can damage it or even kill it.

The Bight Reef consists of one main ridge of coral. It goes out to about 350 feet (107 m) out from the beach. The depth of the water at the outer edge is at about 15-20 feet (4.5-6 m).

Mike snorkels with little Jack and his first time out seeing lots of fish.

The Bight Reef is just off shore and is therefore a great place for kids to experience the fun and excitement of snorkeling. Tons of fish and usually lots of green turtles and hawksbills.

A green turtle grazing on turtle grass…..there’s a large patch to the left of the reef where you’ll generally spot them.
The reef from a drone and that’s Snuba TCI down below.
The reef is protected by a circle of orange buoys so please stay on the outside of those buoys.
Mike takes the plunge, puts on his fins and off he goes to explore the reef.
Some of us enjoy a good book!
The underwater world is just magical
An eagle ray glides past….such beauty and grace
A brightly coloured Queen Angel fish
A pin cushion sea star that’s a beautiful orange. Please just look and enjoy!
How about these little squid

Great snorkeling for everyone in the shallows as well as further out where the reef drops to about 15 feet. Please be cautious and and don’t allow your flippers or feet to touch the corals.

Love those colourful parrotfish
Little guys can have the time of their lives seeing underwater fish and life
Mom’s there too as she sights a beautiful green turtle.

Green turtles are frequently seen at the Bight Reef. However they are on the endangered list. They are only 2″ long at birth but can grow up to 5 ‘ in length and can weigh up to 700 pounds. Watch them as they feed on the sea grasses and periodically come up to the surface for air. That’s when you can take a real good look at these wonderful creatures.

A small turtle hides as snorkelers take a a closer look.

A hawksbill turtle at the Bight Reef

Hawksbill turtles are also endangered and they are one of the smaller turtles. An adult can weigh 100-200 lbs and grow up to to 2-3 feet in length. They were highly prized and hunted for their shells ….tortoiseshell combs, jewellery and decorative objects and therefore became almost extinct.

A hawksbill is named for its sharp, bird like beak

A school of blue tangs scoot on by with such a flash of colour.

A cruising Southern Sting ray puts in an appearance.

A nurse shark rests on the bottom of the ocean.
The Bight Reef on Grace Bay is such a beautiful spot

Enjoy Grace Bay beach and snorkeling at the Bight Reef when you come for your next island visit. Marta http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Beaches and more beaches

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Mike floating about on Grace Bay beach at the Bay Bistro

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

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

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.

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

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

 

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