Move Protects Wildlife, Diving in Turks and Caicos
Just offshore from the Turks and Caicos is home lies one of the longest reefs in the world.
In fact, nearly all of the Turks and Caicos island lies over what’s left of an ancient coral reef dating back to the Cretaceous period. Limestone sediments from the ancient reef are responsible for the powdery white color and texture the beaches that ring the islands.
Reefs are very delicate, and can be easily damaged or even destroyed by human activity. In October the Turks and Caicos government announced some great news:
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government has partnered with the Reef Check Foundation to establish a coral reef monitoring program throughout the islands.
In September 2014, DEMA hosted workshops on the islands of Grand Turk and Providenciales to train professional and recreational SCUBA divers in coral reef monitoring methods.
The partnership is just one of a number of green initiatives championed by the Turks and Caicos government to ensure that the tourism industry continues to have a low environmental footprint.
Coral reefs near The Sands at Grace Bay include the ever-popular Coral Gardens. There are also catamaran tours to coral reefs departing from Provo, and snorkeling excursions to Smith’s Reef.