Enjoy this colorful article all about diving in the Turks & Caicos...
Not far ahead of the dive boat I can see the occasional head pop up, breaking the surface for a sniff of warm, tropical air. Sea turtles. The sighting is enough to send the snorkelers on board scrambling to prepare their gear. People spit into their masks, quickly rubbing it onto the glass to prevent fogging once in the water. Our boat captain unpacks the waterproof spotting charts and deals them around. The dog-earred pages are filled with coloured pictures of sponges, corals, tropical fish, intimidating looking sharks and, of course, sea turtles.
“These waters are part of the marine sanctuary,” explains Brent Forbes, a guide with eco-outfitter Big Blue Unlimited. “This zone is protected against anchoring and fishing, conching and lobstering. When you get in you’ll see the turtles, but watch for spotted eagle rays, stingrays, parrotfish and nurse sharks.”
Turks and Caicos, a chain of 41 small islands, straddles the seam between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Incredible water in shades of blue that defy description — turquoise, navy, marine, aqua, teal — and the marine life below the surface draws visitors to these island pedestals of coral limestone.
According to Forbes, the gin-clear water and bountiful coral reefs have long been magnets for experienced divers. “It varies by season — in the busy season we see more divers than snorkelers, but people still come to snorkel all year round.”
Read the rest of the article here... from the Toronto Star via the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board. {photo from here}
