The Caribbean islands of Turks & Caicos are the perfect antidote for the 24-7 lifestyle. These isles immediately force a slower pace, encouraging any visitor to take time to get into the local rhythm. I was immediately encouraged to take time at Grace Bay, discovering the super soft white sand and brilliant blue ocean water an antidote to my busy, daily schedule.
With an average 350 sunny days per year and temperatures hovering between 80-84F, Turks & Caicos is the optimal place for a laid-back lifestyle. But when some adventure is needed, the ocean is the playground and snorkeling the best way to explore.
With 65 miles of coral reefs found not far from the shoreline of the islands, those who want to explore underwater will see the benefit of crystal clear turquoise water and the abundance of marine life. I signed up for a tour with Sun Charters to sail up the Caicos Cay chain and head below the waves to see the flora and fauna in the reefs.
After leaving the marina, the sailboat nosed its way away from the shoreline, heading towards the offshore reefs. The white water waves was the tell-tale sign, as the sailboat navigated around the reefs, looking for a calm spot to drop anchor.
The captain explained to us to head towards the yellow coral, easily visible above the waves from the boat deck, and to follow the coral, being careful not to touch the reef. As I dropped into the cool ocean water, I reminded myself to breathe slowly to adjust to the snorkeling gear as I swam towards the reef.
The brown and yellow reef was like a fence on the ocean floor, and as I swam beside it, the unique formation, as well as the plants, soon revealed a lush environment, where fish were plentiful. From the bright blue to the silver striped, to black and white and all the colours one could imagine, schools of fish darted out of my way, not wanting to come too close.
I followed the reef, occasionally spotting a lone fish, such as a large gray grouper, trying to hide closer to the ocean floor or an eel, whose mottled skintone was trying to blend into its surroundings of brown coral and green plants. The silence of the underwater world was a soothing song to me, as my eyes focused on the schools of fish.
I became enamored of a bright blue fish with a yellow stripe along its side, and wanted to chase the tiny silver fish, whose group kept eluding me as I followed them along the reef.
Surfacing, I could hear the chatter of others not wanting to snorkel and preferred to descend again, noticing the white sand along the ocean floor and the stillness below the waves. I kept looking for the infamous Nemo, aka the clown fish, but the lack of anemones meant it was a fruitless search along this reef.
I kept looking for more fish, wishing I had a mental catalogue of fish varieties to remember all the colour variations and patterns I was seeing. It made me happy to see so many fish darting in and out – and I felt like one of them, weightlessly gliding through the water thanks to the snorkel and fins.
Heading to the ocean’s surface, I saw the captain’s signal, and slowly I made my way back, establishing myself back to landlubber status, tired from the snorkeling and swimming and happy to have the scent of the sea to console me.