Bar Rigged Tuna

Bar Rigged Tuna

Las Arenas and over Turks and Caicos

Just north of the Caribbean is a dream made up of eight islands and numerous cays. Turks and Caicos Islands are just south of the Bahamas and about 500 miles south of Miami, FL. The most visited islands here are three Grand Turk, North Caicos and Providenciales, or Provo as it is known commonly. The entire island of Grand Turk is only 6 miles long and 1 mile wide. Recently, a visitor center and cruise ship pier built by Carnival Cruise Lines has tourism increased exponentially.

The sand on the beach in Grand Turk is so soft that it feels like powdered sugar on their feet. Passes between the fingers as a massage feathers. It is pure white glare as snow. Few things are as beautiful and delight the sense of touch as this arena. Whilevisiting Grand Turk as a port in a sailing Carnival The Elation my family and I took a trip on a semi-submersible vessel. Our guides will be asked how it was that the sands surrounding Grand Turk were so soft. Us dismayed to learn that all sand is the waste product of fish parrot. The fish feed on algae growing on coral reefs surrounding the island. Much of coral Virgin is due to the limited number of tourists who have been allowed to visit Grand Turk. The parrot fish has teeth that extend the throat used to chew on a coral thin slurry to remove the algae. The part that remains after digestion is fine and dusty bits of coral sand beach make you enjoy.

There is a spectacular area adjacent to Grand Turk Island known as the fall of 7000 feet. In fact the name of this area is the Columbus Passage. Divide the Turks and Caicos Islands from the Bahamas. This is a natural coral reef in the sea which is 0ver 180 miles long. Many varieties of sea creatures make this reef home. If you visit Grand Turk, in the Spring is likely to see dolphins or sharks feed on the smaller forms of marine life that live there. We visited in the summer heat and were able to view all sizes of the lines in their natural habitat of our security branch within our semi-sub. We also saw many types of coral and has gained a new appreciation for
the preservation of these beautiful natural habitats.

So what can be done here if only for a day on a cruise? For those of you who prefer a huge party there is a restaurant called Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. It is the largest in the Caribbean. It has a pool bar and huge pool area that everyone can have access to all the family until late at night when it is off limits to children as the bar scene heats up. You can use a beach chair and the beach free too. Many excursions are offered by cruise lines and in private too.

For the adventurous types can be learned to dive and test their new skills. For those who are already certified to dive you are in for treatment of his life in the views that will take. If you're like me and prefer minimize their interaction with marine life, but still want to see it up close and personal you can take a trip on a semi submersible is about 12 feet below the surface water. This tour is often bundled with a snorkel trip. Blue water fishing is also popular pastime. His line is rigged with bait to "fish" Tuna, Blue Marlin, Dorado or sharks. What could be more exciting than that?

So make a trip and enjoy everything that Turks and Caicos has to offer and do it soon, before the masses to discover and that is overloaded like many other places in the Caribbean that were once pristine. Just remember to take photos only through memories only.

About the Author

Ann Childs is a freelance writer and travel consultant. Her specialty is Caribbean travel including beach vacations and cruises. She is the editor and featured writer at Cruise and Travel Review Post your own reviews at Cruise and Travel Review Forums

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