Resort Report

From harpooning leviathans to holding them dear. By Ben Stubenberg “I need everyone’s eyes on the water,” Captain Kell Talbot earnestly tells the guests on the Deep Blue Charters whale watching boat three miles east of Salt Cay. “The front of the boat is twelve o’clock, the back six o’clock. When you see a whale surface, call ...

Tissue Loss Disease a threat to TCI reefs. Story and Photos By Erin Bowman and Heidi Hertler, Ph.D. In a time when climate change is wreaking havoc on coral reefs worldwide, the reefs of the Turks & Caicos Islands remain some of the most resilient and pristine in the Caribbean. They are home to more than 60 ...

Using whale sightings by citizen scientists in the Turks & Caicos Islands By Cathy E. Bacon M.Sc., Mithriel M. MacKay Ph.D., and Katharine Hart M.Sc. Photos By Katharine Hart, Deep Blue Charters, Grand Turk There are few places in the world like the Turks & Caicos Islands where humans can enter the water and photograph some of the ...

The clock is running out on TCI’s conch fishery. By Kathleen Wood Earlier in 2019, research spanning decades in the Bahamas concluded that without significant intervention and changes to fishing policy, the Bahamian queen conch Lobatus gigas fishery will collapse within 10–15 years (Allan W Stoner, Davis, & Kough, 2019). Conch populations in legal fishing grounds in ...

The annual roller coaster. By Paul Wilkerson As a tourist to the Turks & Caicos Islands, I can count on one hand the number of times it has rained during our stays! Many visitors don’t realize what a commodity rainfall is, and how desperately it is needed here. When it comes to water availability, it is ...

BWIC student Chelsea Stubbs. By Kathy Borsuk ~ Photo By Daphne Roots Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. Most of us are familiar with the Bible verse that tells us that we reap what we sow. It’s always uplifting when ...

Organic soaps with an island vibe. By Jody Rathgeb ~ Photos By Jody Rathgeb and Sandra Walkin Wouldn’t it be nice to take home one of those sky-cleansing Turks & Caicos rainbows to remember your visit? You can if you buy all five types of soap from the Lucayan Soap Co. Sandra Walkin, the engine behind this ...

South Bank is an intriguing new residential resort community. By Kathy Borsuk ~ Photos By Georg Roske Waterfront. The epitome of property, in the Islands it conjures images of sparkling seas in shades shifting from turquoise to aqua to lime green. It means refreshing sea breezes, whether a gentle breath as languid as a puff of smoke ...

Visits to the National Museum trigger common memories. By Candianne Williams As a museum professional, I get to experience many cultural exchanges between our visitors which makes my own experience very enriching. The TCI National Museum exhibits give them a “sense of place” which Fritz (1981) defines as the specific experience of a person as a result ...

Why national museums and archives are so important. By Vanessa Forbes-Pateman Traditionally, a museum’s role is the housing and protection of cultural and heritage material; preservation and conservation of artifacts of historical or religious value and sentiment; the research and scholarly work associated with those artifacts and public education on and enjoyment of them. While the Turks & ...

FortisTCI introduces its electric vehicle program. By Kathy Borsuk ~ Photos Courtesy FortisTCI Driving in Providenciales during morning and evening “rush hours” or in the aftermath of a road closure or traffic accident reveals the sheer number of vehicles operating on the roadway. This exponential growth over the years mirrors that taking place around the world. Vehicle ...

Some of the world’s largest single-celled organisms come from TCI. Story & Photos By Franziska Elmer, Ph.D., School for Field Studies, Center for Marine Resource Studies The islands of Turks & Caicos are home to many astonishing flora and fauna. Today I would like to introduce four very special species of TCI algae to you: the sailor’s ...

Taking a close look at the treasures on TCI beaches. By Jody Rathgeb ~ Photos By Marta Morton and Tom Rathgeb The renowned beaches of the Turks & Caicos Islands provide the backbone for so many activities, from paddleboarding and parasailing to quiet beach walks. Yet here’s something that those enjoying the activities might not realize: You ...

Embry Rucker was the Islands’ first resident pilot. By Trish Flanagan ~ Photos Courtesy Embry Rucker Today, a regular daily air service links the islands of the Turks & Caicos, while international connections bring travellers to and from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Haiti (among other countries). But 50 years ago there ...

Dispelling the myths about sharks. By Kelly Currington ~ Photos By Kelly Currington and Eli Martinez You can feel it in your soul before you ever step off the boat and sink below the surface. You are entering the world of creatures who have been portrayed as “mindless killers” and “vicious predators,” and yet you are excited ...