Tag Archives: sandbar

Sea Stars

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Cushion sea star or starfish in the shallows.

A more modern name for Asteroidea or starfish is now Sea Stars. Usually they have five arms but sometimes a few species have more. Here are some beautiful Sea Stars that I have found and photographed around Providenciales out at Bonefish Point, Grace Bay, Taylor Bay as well as other areas of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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Snorkeling the underwater world often brings an exciting discovery of a brightly coloured cushion sea star

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Knobby spines create a geometric design of orangey brown and yellow.

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Loads of starfish or sea stars found in Grace Bay

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Tiny crab found on the under side. Tube feet located under the arms have small suckers.

The red cushion star can be very large, sometimes growing to about 50 centimetres (20 in) in diameter. It usually has five thick, broad arms projecting from a cushioned disc  therefore the name. The colour of adults is some shade of red, orange, yellow or brown. The juveniles are greenish-brown with mottled markings which provide camouflage from predators.

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A juvenile Cushion Sea Star

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Small two spined sea star washed up as the tide goes out

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Front and back of the two spined sea star found out at S W Bluff on Providenciales

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Burying itself in the sand

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Not sure what kind this one is

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Pretty shot as it buries itself in the sand

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Seemed to have one longer arm?

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Pretty painted toes as a size guage

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Showing the underside with small suckers or tubes

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Red Spiney Sea Star found out at South West Bluff on Provo

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This one had lost an arm

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Osprey Rock in the background with a little Red Spiny sea star

Sea stars are often found in calm shallow waters (depths from 1 – 37 m) and more commonly occur on calcareous sandy bottom. The ones I’ve found have been mainly out at Bonefish Point just off the sandbar. It’s a beautiful spot to enjoy our “beautiful by nature” Turks and Caicos Islands on your next trip to Provo.

Happy Sea Star watching everyone.

 

Marta

 

www.harbourclubvillas.com

The Sandbar at Bonefish Point

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The sandbar at Bonefish Point......an idyllic afternoon of lazing in six inches of water.

Light winds and pretty smooth seas so off we headed to Bonefish Point. We hadn’t been out there for ages and it was spectacular as always.  The shore line has changed somewhat but as usual, we nosed right onto the sandbar and stepped off the boat into about two feet of water. Right away we sighted some beautiful pin cushion star fish, a large orange and a yellow one and then a smaller sandy coloured one. They were just laying in the shallows and our little munchkin was fascinated by them.

Malaika was enthralled with the starfish as we taught her to keep them under the water.

As you can see, the sandbar is really shallow and extends quite a ways out to where the boat is anchored in two feet of water.

We strolled along the deserted beach looking for shells and bits of coral.

 

Malaika stops to call out to her Dad who's on the boat.

We thoroughly enjoyed the day  and walking along this stunning stretch of shoreline. A big bonus was seeing all the starfish and getting a close up look at them in the shallows.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Storm Clouds at Bonefish Point

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Ominous thunderclouds roll in at Bonefish Point

Ominous thunderclouds roll in at Bonefish Point

What an amazing sight as our friends swam back out to the boat before the storm ……… the ocean turned to a deep turquoise as the ominous thunderclouds rolled in. The sandbar and beach at Bonefish Point created a sparkling sliver of brilliant white breaking up the intensity of the brooding sky and sea.  We pulled up the anchor and headed back to Harbour Club Marina.

 

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Playtime at Taylor Bay Beach

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Malaika was fascinated by the wavelets rippling along on the sandbar

Malaika was fascinated by the wavelets rippling along on the sandbar

she'd run up to them and then run back and try and get away from the waves

She'd run up to them and then run back and try and get away from the waves

Once again the sandbar at Taylor Bay beach made for a great afternoon of play, fun and even lunch time snacks.

Once again the sandbar at Taylor Bay beach made for a great afternoon of play, fun and even lunch time snacks.

Perfect timing to enjoy the sandbars at Taylor Bay beach. We anchored the boat in two feet of water for the afternoon and played in the clear warm water as Malaika tried her new SwimWays outfit with a built in inflatable ring.
Come on down to Taylor Bay which has the most perfect shallow and calm waters just made for your little ones.
We’re there almost every Sunday!
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Taylor Bay Beach and Sandbar playtime

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How lucky can she be.......a whole sandbar playground to herself!!

How lucky can she be.......a whole sandbar playground to herself!!

Lucky little munchkin……….not many can say that they had a tropical sandbar playground to themselves for the whole afternoon. A magical afternoon as the tide drifted out and exposed the sandbars at Taylor Bay.  A gentle breeze ruffled the water and wavelets lapped around the edges of the sandbar.

Forget all those other toys....she wouldn't let go of the Joy detergent bottle

Forget all those other toys....she wouldn't let go of the Joy detergent bottle

It’s amazing how babes choose the simplest of things and play with it for hours. Lil’ munchkin loved the Joy bottle Mom had brought with her and had no interest in the bucket, spade or other water toys.

The best time to go to Taylor Bay is at low tide especially if you have little kids.

The best time to go to Taylor Bay is at low tide especially if you have little kids.

Hot work all this playing and time for a cold drink.

Hot work all this playing and time for a cold drink.

A sandbar kids’ playtime with inches of warm, gentle water sparkling as the sun sinks lower in the western sky. The sand ripples can be clearly seen through the water. It doesn’t get any more perfect than this. Head out to Taylor Bay with your kids and enjoy an afternoon of fun and sunshine.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sandbar at Bonefish Point

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As the tide flows out, the sandbar at Bonefish Point is in just inches of water.

As the tide flows out, the sandbar at Bonefish Point is in just inches of water.

It doesn’t get any better than this……a beautiful afternoon and the boat is anchored out off the sand bar and a beautiful beach. Time for some great photos as low tide means just inches of water over the sands of the sandbar that has been built up out at Bonefish Point.

Soft sand and cool clear water ....... that's what the Turks and Caicos is all about.

Soft sand and cool clear water ....... that's what the Turks and Caicos is all about.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Water Therapy

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Blue skies, turquoise water ........... floating your cares away. It doesn't get any better than this.
Blue skies, turquoise water ……….. floating your cares away. It doesn’t get any better than this.

Bonefish Point on a brilliantly sunny afternoon. The water was calm, the colours were unbelievable. Wayne looks like he’s fallen asleep while floating a few inches off the sand on the sandbar. You too could be enjoying our soft sandy beaches and crystal clear, turquoise seas.

Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Another Taylor Bay Sunday

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Low tide, the exposed sandbar and our boat is anchored out in only two feet of water.

Low tide, the exposed sandbar and our boat is anchored out in only two feet of water.

 I guess it’s becoming our favourite place to go on Sundays………….tranquil Taylor Bay with its powdery soft white sand and all that shallow water ideal for babies and little kids. Today we seemed to be miles from shore but it was low tide and we were anchored in two feet of water.

This little Miss and her family was at the beach for some fun in the water

This little Miss and her family was at the beach for some fun in the water

This little one just shrieked with delight as she splashed in the water

This little one just shrieked with delight as she splashed in the water

It was absolutely wonderful at Taylor Bay today. The anticipated tropical storm didn’t make it as far as the Turks and Caicos Islands although we did get some two inches of rain. Oh how we love the rain!!! We had madly spent two days trying to get everything fertilized in time for the rains. So a day out boating and lazing in the water was a welcomed event.

Late afternoon and the tide started to come in creating ripples and waves over the sand bars.

Late afternoon and the tide started to come in creating ripples and waves over the sand bars.

Take time out to spend a few hours in Taylor Bay on your next Provo trip. We’ll likely be there!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Bonefish Point Sandbar

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A perfect afternoon on and in the water with the boys pulling us up to the sandbar..........it simply was the best

A perfect afternoon on and in the water with the boys pulling us up to the sandbar..........it simply was the best

We both had family visiting so it was an opportunity to take a leisurely run out to the sand bar at Bonefish Point. We took off from our marina at Harbour Club Villas. There’s a deep water channel ( 12 feet deep or so ) to the right of the sandbar and all of a sudden you’re in a foot of water. The guys put the anchor out and then decided to walk it into the shallows.

Barry floats along in the clear water and enjoys the best view in the world

Barry floats along in the clear water and enjoys the best view in the world

We saw some beautiful sea cushions ( see my previous post) and some smaller white starfish. Laura explored some rocks in the shallows and found numerous hermit crabs.

Laura shows me her find.............tiny little shells with crabs in them

Laura shows me her find.............tiny little shells with crabs in them

Here's a small hermit crab just walking along the edge of the water

Here's a small hermit crab just walking along the edge of the water

 

Barry, Tina and Sheldon stayed in the water pretty much all afternoon.

Barry, Tina and Sheldon stayed in the water pretty much all afternoon.

We all cooled off by staying in the water beer in hand. The Bonefish Point sandbar is on the south west tip of the island and accessible by road now. It never used to be……….the only way of getting here a few years ago was by boat or doing an excursion with Capt. Bill of Ocean Outback. This trip by the way is a great way of seeing the south shoreline. Hope you get to see this part of our island too.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com