WEDDINGS 2016in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Where When How Turks & Caicos Islands May / June 2016

WEDDINGS

Story By Mandy Rostance-Wolf
Photos Provided By Our Advertisers

“I still cry at my weddings,” confessed NILA Destinations owner/wedding planner Luise Bayley. She laughs and explains that while it may sound “cheesy,” it’s more about the genuine commitment that the people are making that is her favourite aspect of planning a wedding. “I stand there when people are actually exchanging vows. At the end of the day, that’s the whole thing,” she acknowledges.

NILA Destinations was the 1st destination and event management company in the TCI. Founded in 2001, NILA has organised and executed more than 1000 weddings and events. Luise took over the company in 2012, an easy and natural transition with her background in restaurants and hospitality, as well as extensive experience organising successful, large-scale charity events. She is joined by wedding planners Mary Thompson and Lynne Watts who have lived here 25 years and 10 years respectively.

A wedding at sunset on Grace Bay Beach. Photo by www.MyParadisePhoto.com

To some, a wedding planner may seem somewhat of an extravagance, but it is one of the best investments you can make, particularly if you are planning a destination wedding. NILA is here to tell you what works and what doesn’t. You have to be the type of person willing to give up some control. Because NILA wedding planners reside on Providenciales, they are able to provide their clients with an unparalleled level of knowledge, together with the advantages of their close relationships with the best local vendors.

I was surprised to discover that these days, the responsibility of pulling off this special day without a hitch does not rest solely on the bride. Luise explained that with the rise in career women, they simply don’t have the time. Today, it’s not unusual for the mother, or sometimes a sister, to be planning the wedding. Additionally, more and more grooms are involved than you might think, she explained. “They tend to be more controlling than the brides. They are very much on top of every little item,” she laughs. I countered, “Perhaps because he knows he has to answer to his bride.” On average, a bride can spend approximately 250 hours organizing her wedding, (that’s 6 full-time working weeks) so the skills and connections of a wedding planner can be invaluable.

A bride against the gorgeous backdrop at Dragon Cay. Photo by www.MyParadisePhoto.com

Most couples find NILA on the internet, and also through weddingwire.com. They have the distinction of being named ‘Couples Choice Award’ 2014, 2015 & 2016. Reviews are posted by the brides, and NILA’s accolades speak for themselves. “Unwavering confidence,” “wedding goddess,” “genuinely cared,” “I would give more stars if it was possible,” “beyond what we imagined,” “a dream executed beautifully,” and one of my personal favourites, “got rid of wedding crashers!”

From 2 to 200, NILA plans dream weddings. Of course, NILA will do everything possible to make all your wedding dreams come true, but there are bound to be unusual requests, like landing the groom on the beach from a helicopter. Sorry, that got vetoed.

The list can seem staggering, but NILA can handle it all. Think legal paperwork, permits, wedding venues, accommodations, caterers, hair stylists, makeup artists, spa treatments and services, wedding cakes, décor, flowers, photographers, videographers. Plus musicians and DJs, that could include steel drums or our celebrated Junkanoo. Don’t forget transportation, rehearsal dinners and extra-curricular activities for your guests. Even your honeymoon.

So just how much time does Luise recommend if you’re planning a destination wedding? “I think six months is a good guideline” she maintains. There is a lot of back and forth at the beginning. She will book the minister immediately, (there are only a few licensed officiators here) followed by the photographer, DJ, florist etc. Then it generally calms down until about a month before the wedding.

A beautiful wedding arch at The Somerset on Grace Bay Beach. Photo by www.AttimiPhotography.com

Some couples choose to do symbolic ceremonies. In these cases, your legal paperwork would have to be completed back ‘home,’ and you will not receive a Turks & Caicos Islands Marriage Certificate.

To maximize your choices, Luise offers the following advice. If you can get married on a non-Saturday, it doesn’t make it less expensive, but it does make your options easier in terms of booking people. Not getting married during peak wedding season (April, May and June) will give you a little more in the way of options. Keep in mind, the larger the event, the more limited your options.

Idyllic wedding venues include the obvious and most popular choice, the World’s Best Beach,* Grace Bay Beach. With accolades like that, it’s no surprise that the Turks & Caicos Islands are a significant player when it comes to destination weddings. Tie the knot in a lush and picturesque garden or pool setting, sail off to a deserted island, or get hitched aboard your private catamaran, sailing schooner or yacht.

Our islands have become a culinary destination in their own right and boast an internationally renowned cuisine created by some of the most talented chefs in the world, in some of the most exotic and incomparable tropical venues for your special day. Choose from barefoot on the beach to the ultimate in fine dining.

A just married couple at Grace Bay Club. Photo by www.Brilliant Studios.com

I discovered that many of today’s modern brides still go for the traditional white dress. But what about the veil? “It’s a bad idea,” Luise insists. “It’s too windy, which also adds to difficulty with photography. Same goes for flared dresses. I’m all about keeping it simple in this environment,” she maintains.

While Luise encourages her brides to go barefoot, there are those who insist on walking down the ‘isle’ in their Manolo Blahniks and Christian Louboutins. Sand becomes a problem. “We had to adapt to that.” Luise admits and adds, “We build a boardwalk that looks like sand, but it’s solid, so they can wear their gorgeous shoes and still have a beach wedding.” And here, photography is ‘no problem.’ Our cutting-edge photographers rival the creative talents of professionals anywhere in the world, with their innovative and extraordinary perspectives.

For a more untraditional and Avant-garde craze, many of today’s couples have chosen to take the plunge, literally! It’s what is known as Trash the Dress. What better place to Trash the Dress with the backdrop of these stunningly beautiful turquoise waters, pristine white beaches and the ruggedly spectacular iron shore coastline - even a shipwreck. I must admit, the first time I heard about this ‘shooting’ trend, I was quite shocked, particularly when you consider the price tag of the average wedding dress. But the results are truly extraordinary and stylishly chic and sophisticated. I asked Luise what percentage of brides were taking the plunge. “About thirty percent trash the dress … that’s getting more and more popular. It’s a symbolic thing. What else are you going to do with it?” she admits.

An unexpected wave caught the bride and groom at their 'trash the dress' photo shoot. Photo by www.AttimiPhotography.com

Also trending, “Some people are switching things up and doing their wedding the day before their other party. So they’ll do the wedding on the Friday and a hangover party the next day … which is fun because the next day all the stress is gone and they’re just hanging out with their friends having a good time,” Luise explained.

Organizing a wedding is a colossal and time-consuming responsibility – a typical wedding generates about 250 emails, together with phone calls. I couldn’t help but be surprised by Luise’s completely calm and relaxed demeanor. She smiled and said, “I am by nature, and I think that works well because it relaxes my brides. Nobody wants a stressed-out wedding planner. You’ve got to be able to chill people out. My brides tell me, I’m glad you’re just so calm, that’s awesome.” She went on to explain that most of the stress happens beforehand. By the time they actually get here – there’s nothing more they can do. They just relax and enjoy their friends and family. Let it go.

Say ‘I do’ to a wedding in paradise. Join your hearts and entwine your destinies in one of the most romantic and memorable destinations in the world. The Turks & Caicos Islands.

AT ONE WITH PARADISE

For all of today’s innovations and modernisations in technology, it seems we are more disconnected and distracted than ever before. Telecommunications now connect us globally, instantaneously making us accessible from even the most far-flung and isolated tropical outpost. Devices that used to linger in our pockets and handbags are now virtual appendages, and our language has been diminished to a vocabulary of acronyms and abbreviations – anything to save time in this increasingly fast-paced, high-tech world.

It’s time to STOP. It’s time to silence the cell phone, lose the laptop and ignore the i-whatever. Take a deep breath in … now slowly exhale. It’s time to take care of YOU.

Since ancient civilisation, water has been heralded for its life sustaining, therapeutic and healing qualities. It is an element of nature, essential to life and fundamental to the earth’s very survival. It covers roughly seventy percent of the earth’s surface and 97 percent is salt water.

A couples massage at The Palms Resort and Spa. Photo by www.MyParadisePhoto.com

SPA is derived from the Latin phrase ‘sanitas per aquas,’ which means health through water. As in ancient practices, spa rituals continue to evolve around this most basic and vital element – water.

The brilliant and intoxicating waters of the Turks & Caicos Islands offer their own revitalising, refreshing and hedonistic properties, for calming the mind, body and spirit, and melting away stress. Once you immerse yourself in the warm and silky tropical waters, you are at one with paradise, weightless and at peace.

GET YOUR PRIORITIES IN ORDER

Renew your consciousness, as you gaze at the unobstructed view of the ineffable shades and hues of the Caribbean Sea. Your eyes may be momentarily blinded by the brilliance of the alabaster-white sand, but you tip your sunglasses yet again in another futile attempt to put a name to these luminous and dazzling colours of the aqueous phenomenon before you. Remember to breathe, even though this glorious spectacle is certain to take your breath away.

‘PRACTICE’ MAKES PERFECT

If it is a more hands on approach you crave, our islands boast a multitude of spa options, with an extensive and comprehensive menu of treatments and services guaranteed to satisfy even the most discriminating palate. From an intimate and private treatment session in the seclusion of your own villa or suite, to extravagant and lavish world-class resort spas and everything in-between, age-old treatments coupled with contemporary knowledge and modern technology can fulfill your every wish and desire. Just as the spa techniques and principals of yesterday have evolved, so too have our attitudes. No longer considered pure indulgence, both men and women have come to acknowledge and appreciate the curative and restorative effects, plus the improved health benefits that can be derived from the spa experience. It is an essential component of our well-being and the pathway to wellness and inner peace. And it’s not just for grown-ups anymore, teens and even children are getting in on the action, making spa treatments a family affair.

The Turks & Caicos Islands have become a significant player in the Destination Wedding market, attracting couples and their entourages from all over the world. Who wouldn’t want to get married on the World’s Best Beach?* Brides, grooms and their wedding parties can make it truly memorable and indulge in a surfeit of services and tempting treatments as they chill out and celebrate this special milestone together.

A healthy lifestyle doesn’t take a vacation, and those committed to an on-going program of physical fitness can take advantage of our state-of-the-art facilities, personal training and an extensive selection of classes and disciplines including yoga, Pilates, core fusion, spinning and aerobics.

It has often been said that your body is your temple. Some temples may require more refurbishments and maintenance than others, but if you take the time to relax, renew, restore and rejuvenate your body in paradise, you will be more productive, positive and complete, with your mind, body and soul in perfect harmony.

*TripAdvisor, Traveler’s Choice Awards

Care was taken to ensure correctness of information at press time. Information is subject to change without notice. Ad Vantage Ltd. accepts no responsibility for such alterations or for typographical errors or omissions. Entire contents of this page may not be reproduced in any manner without written permission of Ad Vantage Ltd. © May / June 2016 Where When How - Turks & Caicos Islands.

Turks and Caicos Islands SPAS

Where When How Turks & Caicos Islands May / June 2017

The Art of
Relaxation

Story By Sophie Newstead

Water, like breathing, can serve a purpose far beyond just survival. It’s not only a necessary means to exist, but a luxurious means to restore, once basic survival needs are fulfilled and pursuit of higher needs, to feel good, come into play. And when it comes to that, there’s no other place that maximises it with such panache than that heavenly three-lettered acronym… S.P.A.

Latin for ‘Sanitas per Aquas’, or ‘health through water’, connotations are almost godlike: restore, heal, rejuvenate, replenish, heal, cure, bathe, detox. The bathing culture the spa originated in harks back to the Greek times, but remains a permanent fixture on today’s pampering hotlist: saunas, mud baths, steam rooms, Jacuzzis, thermal and mineral hot springs, the list goes on. The difference in today’s relaxation market is the diversity of treatments on offer, with modern day spas presenting more ways than one to reach that much needed R&R.

Spa Tropique comes to you with mobile spa services. Photo by Steve Passmore at Provo Pictures.

Globally-inspired massage techniques combined with breathing therapies, beauty treatments, mobile spas and organic products, mark the new wave of treatments to hit the island. So in light of the new age of relaxation, here’s some spas worth taking a look at, broken down into three distinct areas: appeal, architecture and atmosphere, and signature treatments.

Widely regarded as the quintessential luxury spa, The Palms is a good choice if you’re looking for the classic or exotic spa experience. The treatment range combines the staples of massage, scrubs and facials with holistic therapies from around the globe, along with high-tech methods and locally sourced ingredients. The dressing rooms alone warrant a visit, equipped with a sauna, steam room, indoor and outdoor showers, and an outdoor courtyard for some tranquil pre and post treatment drinks. The spa stands alone from the resort, comprising a collection of quaint buildings that enclose Zen-inducing gardens, local Frangipani trees, stand alone cottage treatment rooms, sun loungers and a yoga area.

Beauty and spa services to pamper your wedding party. Photo by Brilliant Studios.

The newly re-launched spa menu features two-hour massages using natural cocoa oil and Frangipani flowers, mother of pearl foot scrubs, and dreamy treatments in their tranquil ‘Zareeba’ Garden, inspired by North African and Jamaican bush medicines. Product lines feature 100% organic and ECO certified ‘Tata Harper’, and marine-based ‘Voya’, which uses minerals like mud, salt, seaweed and algae to balance the skin via osmosis.

Holistic therapy is available, and extends the focus to wellbeing as well as relaxation. The common combination of ailments and concerns such as back pain, stress and wanting to get fit, are treated with a multi-disciplinary package combining Mindfulness (the focus on one’s internal breathing as a tool to relax), beauty, fitness and spa treatments. A typical package would include the likes of a massage, manicure, mindful breathing and a sunrise or sunset yoga class.

Thalasso Spa by the sea, at Point Grace. Photo by Steve Passmore at Provo Pictures.

Fusing cosmopolitan sophistication with open plan luxury, The Gansevoort draws on a wealth of experience from their parallel branches in New York and Dominican Republic, particularly in regards to their spa, Exhale. The team of highly-trained therapists are experts in attending to the dermatological needs of a global client-base, all with different lifestyles, skin types, allergies and preferences, which in turn, yields repeat clientele from all over the world.

The open layout of The Gansevoort, means Exhale has been integrated into the resort’s elegant grounds without sacrificing its privacy. Relax in peace while residing just a few minutes walk from Grace Bay Beach, their delicious beachside café ‘Zest’, and Exhale’s yoga pavilion and fitness room.

Beautiful setting at The Palms Spa. Photo by www.MyParadisePhoto.com

A shaded relaxation garden, spacious (and super relaxing) treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor showers and a nail salon, comprise the spa’s grounds. If you’re not adverse to a deeper massage… (keep in mind you can also adjust pressure to preference), I recommend Exhale’s signature ‘Provo Deep Flow’ treatment. Combining lymphatic drainage with techniques used in deep tissue, it opens up locked muscles, stretches limbs, frees energy blockage and relieves tension. The techniques are built to prolong the effects long after you’ve left the spa, and wow…is it effective.

Customise massages with your choice of Exhale’s signature oils: uplifting, detoxifying, or a herbal blend, and if you’d like to combine with a facial, Exhale’s signature ‘Z Peel’ is a dreamy Japanese mushroom enzyme mask, used to remove excess dead skin and stimulate blood flow. Want a bit of everything? The ‘Caicos Coco Calmer’ goes the whole nine yards: enjoy a foot massage, exfoliating coconut body polish, a coconut oil Swedish style massage, and an express facial. The newly launched Eminence Organic Skin Care line contains fruit and plant extracts rich in nutrients, from pulps to plants and spices.

Manicure or pedicure at The Palms Spa. Photo by www.MyParadisePhoto.com

So if you’d like to combine your pamper day with a touch of cosmopolitan sophistication with a spot of lunch (with a view) afterwards, or a ‘Core Fusion Barre’ class merging pilates, ballet and yoga, head to Exhale.

Hunting for a centrally located spa? Or a spa treatment that can be delivered to you, wherever you are, even if you’re on the beach? Spa Tropique is an accessible, flexible spa service brimming with friendly therapists and customised services. Independently owned and operated, the spa’s owner lives here on island and champions a lighthearted approach towards the industry.

Operating across three channels, you can find Spa Tropique either at their resident four spas (one of which is conveniently located in Grace Bay’s Ports of Call), Drift Spa at the Windsong Resort, or through their gloriously unique mobile service. This service takes the logistics out of R&R by capturing the entire spa experience and bringing it to you, whether on the beach, in a villa, yacht or resort.

Welcome to The Palms Resort and Spa. Photo by www.MyParadisePhoto.com

Spa Tropique’s unique services don’t stop at their mobile capabilities either, signature treatments include ‘Wrapture’, a water lily wrap using actual crushed water lilies to cool the skin, ‘The Royal Treatment’, a facial using collagen and caviar, and ‘Wild’, a wild berry body polish offered at the Drift Spa in the Windsong Resort. A treatment worth noting is the ‘Sea & C Oxygen Factory Facial’ as it left my complexion restored and glowing for days. Vitamin C and seaweed is used with a peel to balance pores and rejuvenate the skin, it’s like a steam room, scrub and sauna for your face (and a cold gin and tonic afterwards)... rolled into one. Spa Tropique’s skincare line features botanical and fruit-based products that champion local fruits of the Caribbean, from papaya, pineapple, to coconut, and mango.

Relax with a cup of tea at The Palms Spa. Photo by www.MyParadisePhoto.com

Walk down a web of small pathways under a canopy of lush local flora, and you reach three stand-alone elevated cottages, a.k.a… Dune Spa. Located in a secluded area of The Shore Club on Long Bay Beach, each cottage is an individual treatment room, decked out with a private balcony should you want to enjoy a glass of champagne and a breathtaking view before or after your treatment. The private outdoor shower overlooks the ocean and inside, you have the option to swap air conditioning for a calming ocean breeze, with the doors left open during treatment. Dune Spa represents the ever-changing dunes on Long Bay Beach, and their constant evolving form caused by the natural environment. Emphasis on local ingredients here are paramount, such as sand from Long Bay Beach, coconut oil from the island, sugar cane from Middle Caicos, and Frangipani flowers from the local island trees. The menu also draws on a multitude of wellbeing techniques from Jamaican bush medicine to ancient Chinese medicine and holistic therapy. Signature treatments include the ‘Sea Salt Caramel Body Glow’ that uses ingredients such as raw honey, vanilla and local coconut, along with customised massages, which adjust variables like frequency of brush strokes, pressure and time spent on each stage in response to the client’s needs.

The path to your private spa cabana at The Shore Club. Photo by www.MyParadisePhoto.com

The Dune Spa is relatively new, launching this year as part of the highly-acclaimed Shore Club Resort. The location is wild, natural and quite frankly, stunning, and when paired with natural ingredients and an ocean view, presents a great option if you’ve been coming here for years and on the prowl for something different.

If you’re in need of a specialist hair and nail salon, Maxime Le Salon in Grace Bay has an extensive selection of services on tap. The resident seasoned specialists have been chopping barnets and preening nails for years, so if you’re looking for some hair and nail pampering in a convenient location, look no further. Call to book or to find out their full range of services.

To whomever the need for relaxation is felt by: the bride, mother of the bride, maid of honour, groom, best man, the island has some excellent packages for weddings. The extravagance varies from simple mani-pedis for the girls and treatments for the men, to whole 12-hour packages for the bride-to-be, spread across multiple days. Wedding pampering services are available across many spas and limited by little, but are very popular so call well in advance to book.

Relax with a couples massage at The Shore Club on Long Bay Beach. Photo by www.MyParadisePhoto.com

For those unfamiliar with the term ‘Thalasso Therapy’, it’s the idea of using seawater as a form of therapeutic treatment. And considering we are surrounded by toasty waters and ivory sand most of the year, if you want to go au naturale for your spa, head to the beach. Grace Bay Beach is revered as one of the best in the world, so if you find yourself yearning for some beachside pampering, D.I.Y it with things like exfoliating with sand, restoring the skin with seawater, and sunbathing in the heat to relax any tension. Hard life...

So what defines the modern day spa in 2017? The very concept of the SPA itself is expanding and evolving, it’s less ‘health through water’ more ‘health through water, breathing and beauty therapies’. The art of relaxation on the island, lies in customising treatments, drawing on worldly techniques, and integrating our world-class seascapes and natural resources into the spa experience. Spa treatments now are more accessible than ever, and with different techniques available for different physiques, and optional extras like breathing, beauty and fitness packages, there’s never been a better time to catch that bathrobe R&R.

Care was taken to ensure correctness of information at press time. Information is subject to change without notice. Ad Vantage Ltd. accepts no responsibility for such alterations or for typographical errors or omissions. Entire contents of this page may not be reproduced in any manner without written permission of Ad Vantage Ltd. © May / June 2017 Where When How - Turks & Caicos Islands.

Turks and Caicos Islands SHOPPING

Where When How Turks & Caicos Islands March / April 2017

Your Tropical
Agenda

Story By Sophie Newstead

It’s an undeniable truth that holidays and shopping go hand in hand. Access to worldly wares from afar, paired with a sense of freedom to indulge, embodies that age-old traveller’s want to take something home from a place that encapsulates both nostalgia and unique local craftsmanship. The unique selection of local goods inherent to a culture: fabrics, minerals, botanicals, and the consequent clothing, beauty, art and décor items that result from it, are great ways to retain a connection with a place long after you’ve left. So here’s a breakdown of local items in three general price brackets, to help find the right island sentiment for you.

Find a large selection of T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, snorkel equipment and more at Caicos Adventures in the Regent Village.

A LITTLE SOMETHING TO TAKE AWAY

There’s nothing like a good trinket emblazoned with palm trees, nonchalant looking turtles and a stamp of the ‘Turks and Caicos Islands,’ to say you’ve been in the sun and sand. Small, little commitment on the price front and always a winner as a novel gift, it’s little surprise trinkets such as key rings, shot glasses, thimbles and fridge magnets are the most popular ‘keepsakes’ on the island. Small shells and coral, sand dollars and starfish are a few examples of inexpensive souvenirs. Other small and fun ways to take a little bit of the Turks and Caicos with you are bottle openers, lighters, spoons and beer cosies.

The festive period may seem far away, but with many Christmas trees baring decorations holding memories from different places, purchasing a locally made ornament holds a sentiment that can be relived year-on-year. Hand-painted glass and creations from hummingbirds to ceramic shells, are examples of Christmas wares that can be found year round in our galleries.

If you or your friends are golf-enthusiasts, the pro shop at Provo Golf Club has great quality polo shirts along with caps and logoed golf balls. While you’re here, it’s worth catching lunch or a drink with serene views of the greens from Fairways Bar & Grill, next to the shop.

Take a tasting tour of our brewery on weekdays and find Turks Head Beer souvenirs.

FOTTAC (‘Flavours of the Turks and Caicos’) is the official one-stop shop for all your Caribbean culinary staples. The Bambarra rum cakes are local delicacies, with small ones going for around $8. Although not a permanent keepsake, they’re a delicious and easy way to bring a flavour of the TCI home with you. Bambarra rum, the national local spirit, is made in six varieties, ranging in price from $10 to $34. By way of condiments, a selection of Bambarra rum chutneys from papaya to mango, sauces from jerk, hot to BBQ, and spices from blackened, salted to jerk, make ideal cupboard fixtures for anyone looking to bring Caribbean flavours to their plates.

A LITTLE MORE

Whatever your objects of desire; jewellery, t-shirts, oils, bath stuff, cigars, pottery or art; TCI’s proximity to the surrounding waters means the ocean lies inspiration to, and the subject to the creation of, exquisite and locally made goods. Corals, shells, sea glass, and the minerals and textures sourced from such a flourishing marine environment, give anyone who’s a fan of striking blues, pearly pinks, sea and shell inspired patterns, as well as natural pampering products, plenty of selection to choose from.

Swimwear and designer clothing at Wish Boutique at The Palms Resort and Spa.

There’s only one way to start the mid-range priced product breakdown, with the most local and symbolic item in the Turks and Caicos: The Queen conch shell. This has to be one of, if not the, most widely known and widely loved resource in the TCI. Its foothold in our culture is particularly prominent, due to Providenciales housing the only conch farm in the world, harvesting conch for its meat. The shell, the archetypal symbol of island life, is depicted on our national flag, with its variety in size, extravagant fan-shaped lip, and lustrous pearly pink inner shell making a stunning ornament for the house. A host of jewellery, spoons, trivets, and bowls made out of conch shell are available to purchase. Keep in mind that the Turks and Caicos is one of very few places in the world from where you can buy conch products to take home. You must have a receipt for customs when you arrive home, to prove you haven’t taken a shell from a restricted jurisdiction.

You may find the artist at work at Driftwood Studios in Caicos Cafe Plaza.

Sand jewellery, bracelets and necklaces are found in a variety of places on the island, and encapsulate a miniature paradise of small tiny shells, beach glass and seeds. Sand pearl bracelets are exquisite creations from local jeweller Wellington Williams, with a fascinating process in which sand is hand-rolled and solidified, resulting in waterproof beads that won’t crumble.

Atelys Adrian creates stunning handmade Larimar and silver jewellery, championing a shade of blue very popular to visitors seeking items resembling tropical colours. Pandora has a collection of five exclusively made Turks and Caicos charms for their bracelets, including pendants with a starfish, conch shell, and three different coloured Murano glass charms, all with ‘Turks and Caicos Islands’ engravings. Other island-nostalgic jewellery include the Alex and Ani Sealife collection of fine bangle bracelets, available in gold and silver finishes, and complete with a pendant depicting an aspect of island life, from mermaids to seahorses, anchors and lobsters.

Find a large selection of Bambarra Rums, seasonings and sauces at FOTTAC in the Regent Village.

The island really is a natural spa, with the ocean’s saltwater and even the country’s locally cultivated salt, making excellent pampering agents for our bodies. Salt from (surprisingly) Salt Cay, is coined ‘white gold’, and is used to make an array of products from bath salt, skincare exfoliants, and of course, a quality condiment for the dinner table. Products made from our local organic coconut oil span candles, soaps and moisturisers, so you have plenty of ways to enjoy this super food of the beauty world. Should you fancy a spa day, a comprehensive range of treatments is on offer, many using local ingredients, with treatment and aromatherapy products available to purchase.

A further resource utilised in the Turks and Caicos is fanner grass and straw, used traditionally to weave anything from sturdy baskets, to place mats and useful bags. For the art-lover, local artwork and photography champions many different styles and techniques depicting the beautiful blue hues of our island landscape. Every local artist’s interpretation is different, with many photographs showcasing stunning panoramics of beachscapes with dramatic skies, and paintings creatively interpreting the vivid shades of blue. A great visual keepsake to take home with you.

Cool cotton clothing, hats and accessories at L’éte in the Le Vele Plaza.

HIGH-END

Providenciales has some outstanding luxury goods to buy, with two clear perks of purchasing here. Firstly, items are tax and duty-free, and secondly, certain luxury goods are completely unique to the TCI, in particular, conch pearls. Extremely rare, only one in around 15,000 conchs produces a pearl, all unique in colour and size, and just 10 percent of these are sufficient quality. Many visitors come here just to purchase these sought-after jewels of the sea. Pearls are pink or salmon-pink in colour, and are available at select jewellery stores ranging from approximately $3,000 to $7,000. The selection at Jai’s features necklaces and rings, often paired with diamonds. Due to the pearl’s extreme fragility, the pearl is left largely in its purest form, resulting in stunning lustrous centrepieces for necklaces, rings and droplet earrings. Jai’s also offers a bespoke service for custom-made conch pearl jewellery.

Other popular gemstones on the island are aquamarines, turquoise, and blue topaz, a reminder of the fluorescent turquoise waters encapsulating our islands. Popular brands include Judith Ripka, Tacori and Ippolita. For watch-enthusiasts, Jai’s houses excellent collections from luxury brands such as Rolex, Cartier, Breitling and Bvlgari among others, with watches marking superb craftsmanship, in styles ranging from classic luxury to purpose-built sports watches.

Sea sage is a luxury line of clothing, swimwear, scarves, kaftans and pillows, featuring prints inspired by the natural surroundings of the Turks and Caicos. The innovative, striking designs take influence from sea fans, sunsets and conch shells, to banana patches, the ocean and palm trees. Brainchild of local designer Amy Brown, the line champions eye-catching creations that can be worn year-round, in multiple ways. You’ll find items from a multitude of local fashion designers on the island, representing many designs inspired through the creative eyes of our island’s artisans.

Beach themed art, paintings, clothing, accessories at Anna’s Art Gallery in The Saltmills, Grace Bay.

PRICELESS

Wherever you go, whatever you do, bringing together loved ones for quality time on holiday is priceless, creating memories that hold a sentiment lasting far longer than a place can quantify. Providenciales is home to what is widely regarded as the best strip of beach in the world, so for that ultimate keepsake of the island, book in for a professional and fun family portrait with one of the most idyllic backdrops in the world.

THE LAST WORD

The highlights of nature here: ocean, sealife, sunsets, night sky and beaches, combined with materials abundant in a tropical landscape: sand, shells, coconut palms and sea glass, form not only inspiration for the island’s artisans, but unique final items that are reflective of the island’s culture and environment. With the age-old traveller’s ethos being to collect, find and take home worldly wares from afar, the goods here are perfect ways to encapsulate this corner of the world, loved and known to be ‘beautiful by nature.’

Photography by www.LisaAdaraPhoto.com

Care was taken to ensure correctness of information at press time. Information is subject to change without notice. Ad Vantage Ltd. accepts no responsibility for such alterations or for typographical errors or omissions. Entire contents of this page may not be reproduced in any manner without written permission of Ad Vantage Ltd. © March / April 2017 Where When How - Turks & Caicos Islands.

Turks and Caicos Islands WALL DIVING

Where When How Turks & Caicos Islands November / December 2016

The Caribbean
Wonder of the World

Story By Sophie Newstead

Means Of Exploration: Foot Or Fin

The quintessential explorer; often wrapped in connotations depicting a safari colour code, worn clothes, a pair of binoculars or a rather large monocle, they venture to the world’s farthest corners in pursuit of treading new, unchartered ground. Such pursuits, in stepping on the soil of many countries, is a notion although romantic, satisfies only half the possible ground left to explore, by virtue of its very mode; by foot. If traditional perceptions of adventure are based only on what we can step, wander and tread on, our exploratory compass is suddenly narrowed to what’s above sea level. Why must the world’s farthest corners reside on land? The world’s mass as we know it is predominantly below sea level anyway, with the very landmasses we know as countries, mere tips of the icebergs to their origins beneath. Such geological support structures, rising from the earth’s core up through the ocean, hold our countries down and pin them to their geographical coordinates. It’s logical then, even necessary, to apply as much emphasis put on exploring far-flung countries above land, to exploring countries below land. Luckily for the Turks and Caicos, that’s a shift that’s already occurred.

Diver at the wall at Northwest Point. Photo by David Gallardo of Brilliant Studios.

Wall Diving By Definition

Above the water’s surface, the edge surrounding a landmass is a coastline. Below the surface, this edge is known as a wall, descending thousands of metres to the ocean floor. This is an impressive feat, considering the dry-land equivalent of a ‘photo-opp-worthy’ coastline averages just 100 metres. The landscape here is, inevitably, defined by its depth; shallow meets the deep very quickly, creating vertical drop offs resembling that of underwater cliffs. The result, is an environment in which small and big fish are brought into the same scope, providing a Goldilocks situation for divers and photographers; just the right amount of visibility and abundance of sealife to enjoy nature at its best.

Since the rise of recreational scuba diving in the heyday of the Jacque Cousteau 1940s, exploring walls surrounding landmasses has allowed divers to gain access to the world’s most stunning natural wonders, the most popular being the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Palau, Cayman Islands and Cozumel in Mexico.

Why Dive?

There are three things you can get diving you can’t anywhere else. One, the feeling of weightlessness, which unless you’re about to embark on the next cosmonaut space mission is as close as you’re going to get. Two, the surreal atmosphere of being under water. The zen-like feeling of being 60 foot down and actually being able to look up at the water’s surface, and the sky behind it. Three, a tangible understanding of the personality of fish. My favourite species is a Pufferfish, but this wasn’t always the case. I’d seen pictures and descriptions of how it behaved, but no idea how slow and calculated its movements were until my first dive. Of course, such movements can be seen on video, but the discovery of the subtle, authoritative personality a Pufferfish exerts in relation to fish around it, is an insight rarely acquainted with recreational sports.

Filefish spotted at the wall at Grand Turk. Photo by David Gallardo of Brilliant Studios.

TCI: Wall Diving The Grand Canyon

It’s needless to say there are a multitude of worldly tropical coordinates that offer quality wall diving at bath-like temperatures, but the colour, size and diversity of TCI’s underwater landscape, are just a few reminders of why its worthy of its world-class status. Kelly Currington, a Master Scuba Diver Trainer from Dive Provo, fills us in. “When you ask divers why they chose to come here; it’s always the same answer; the walls. From the experienced to the beginner, the easy navigation and absence of strong currents means it’s highly accessible, which is different from a lot of dive destinations around the world.” Notable calendar highlights are the North Atlantic Humpback whale migration from late January to early April, and the spotted eagle rays and possible manta rays of the winter months. “It’s very common to hear Humpback whales on dives, and if you’re lucky, you might see them.”

Home to the third largest barrier reef on the planet, the size of TCI’s reef is what gives the vertical walls here their dramatic drop-offs. “The variety of marine life among these drop offs is so abundant, you can dive the same sites repeatedly and always see something new. With very little current, healthy reefs, and plenty of sharks to maintain its eco-system, it is a huge draw of pleasure for divers and photographers.” To put TCI’s wall into perspective, the Grand Canyon has a depth of approximately 6,000 feet (approximately one mile). The Wall reaches depths of 6,000 feet, so if you can imagine the Grand Canyon underwater, you’re pretty much on the money.

Contrasting Dive Sites TCI

It’s easy to get the impression from a single wall, that the landscape throughout will be the same. Characteristics however, vary extensively, in depth, geological formation, and the marine life both these generate. In the Turks and Caicos Islands, what holds the wall in such world-class contention is the degree of its variety; it’s vast, unparalleled and exactly why divers come from far and wide to explore. So with insight from Master Scuba Diver Trainer Kelly, who over 2,000 dives in TCI alone has gained more knowledge of the ocean than a migratory fish, these distinctions are outlined in her own words, highlighting the appeal differentiating TCI diving from the rest of the world. Characteristics are based on topography, coral and sponges, and marine life of four contrasting dive sites.

Lionfish on the reef at Providenciales. Photo by David Gallardo of Brilliant Studios.

1. Elephant Ear Canyon - West Caicos

This site has something for everyone, the wall is covered in massive barrel and tube sponges, sea fans, gorgonians, and sea whips; a visual kaleidoscope of colours and textures. Make your way to the edge of the wall to see the stunning topography it holds. Starting at a depth of about 55 feet, it drops off to a breathtaking 6,000 feet. As well as an abundance of milk conch, queen conch and southern stingrays, divers who love macro are in heaven here. Under the boat is a huge sandy patch with lollipop algae, housing sea creatures including pipehorses, fireworms, tiny shrimp, crabs, and juvenile fish in the coral heads.

2. G-Spot - French Cay

The drop off here is dramatic, and in most parts it’s sheer; a straight drop to 6,000 feet. The ‘G’ shape of a particular section of this site indicates the best spot to dive, where the way currents and tides run leave an abundance of nutrients prime for seeing the big stuff: spotted eagle rays, sharks, huge schools of horse-eye jacks. Hawksbill turtles and moray eels also make regular appearances. A large forest of deep-sea gorgonians wrap around the wall to the west side of the “G.” Corals, sponges, fans, plumes, including barrel sponges (larger than an actual human), are everywhere. My favourite dive here was when the barrel sponges were spawning; it looked like huge caldrons with smoke billowing out of them, it was magical.

A Caribbean Spiney Lobster on the wall at Providenciales. Photo by David Gallardo of Brilliant Studios.

3. Amphitheatre - Northwest Point

Amphitheatre is a unique site named after a feature on the wall, which looks like someone took a big ice-cream scoop and scooped out a section of the wall, before dropping it right in front. The overhang is covered in sponges and black coral, while the seating is the portion in front with a spectacular view of marine life, from schooling horse-eye jacks to big tiger groupers. The terrain under the boat is a series of rubbly coral ridges, divided by 40 foot sand channels running from east to west towards the wall. The wall here has spectacular varied drop off sections, some sloping down and some very sheer. A favourite dive here was when I was surrounded by a flurry of creole wrasse cascading over me like a purple waterfall.

4. Pinnacles - Grace Bay

Grace Bay offers some spectacular dives in relatively shallow water, with the name referring to its pinnacle coral formations. Depths range from 28 feet to the wall dropping to only about 100 feet, meaning sunrays easily penetrate it for excellent visibility. In what’s called spur-and-groove formation topography, these pinnacles divide the contrasting deep sand channels. Abundant colourful tropical fish cover the top and edge of the wall, with other marine life including huge Caribbean and banded lobsters and moray eels. Cleaning stations are everywhere here with so many cleaner wrasse and gobies it looks like confetti.

A Hawksbill Turtle with divers at the wall at Grand Turk. Photo by Blue Water Divers on Grand Turk

The Last Word

Over eight years of diving on average six days a week, 40 weeks a year, including two years on a Scuba Liveaboard vessel, Kelly distils what she’s gained from diving, and explains how its therapeutic effect in relieving a challenging time, instigated her entire career. “I’ve gained a deep-seated respect and desire for conservation of our oceans and marine life. After a tragedy that numbed me for many years, diving gave me my life back. I could suddenly see colour for the first time since the tragedy, I could feel my heart beating again. I learnt to appreciate the small moments that constitute our lives and give them balance in the otherwise hectic world we live in. The encounters I’ve had with the creatures here; from the largest to the tiniest, have changed me forever. I’m truly blessed to live and dive here every day surrounded by the beauty and creatures that are the Turks and Caicos.”

Diver giving the OK in Turks and Caicos Islands. Photo by Mickey Gopigian of Flamingo Divers.

Quintessential Adventure

The modern day explorer. Often wrapped in connotations depicting a pair of fins, an air cylinder, a mask and a rather scientific-looking wrist device, they delve to the depths of the world’s farthest corners in pursuit of discovering new, unchartered ground. If that isn’t a credible perception of adventure in 2016, perhaps that space mission is what you’re about to embark on...

Special Thanks to Master Scuba Diver Trainer: Kelly Currington of Dive Provo.

An open mind is appreciated in regards to dive site preference. Dive operators visit sites based on weather and sea conditions that day, and are subject to change. The lack of control and spontaneity over what you will see under water, is appreciated above water, as often is the case... that the best creatures come, when you least expect it.

Care was taken to ensure correctness of information at press time. Information is subject to change without notice. Ad Vantage Ltd. accepts no responsibility for such alterations or for typographical errors or omissions. Entire contents of this page may not be reproduced in any manner without written permission of Ad Vantage Ltd. © November / December 2016 Where When How - Turks & Caicos Islands.