"A Diver's Delight" a Turks and Caicos Islands Travel Page by kucha

The Turks and Caicos Islands are a coral-reef paradise, largely shut off from the world, free of pollution and crowds -- although a lot of constructions sites seem to point toward a Bahamas-in-the-making. Still, the beauty and tranquillity of this island chain remain.

The highlight of Turks and Caicos is an incredible array of beaches, some stretches of soft white sand run for miles and some of the world's most magnificent underwater life. You can enjoy almost 500 miles of pristine underwater coral reefs whether you are a diver or a snorkler!!

Conde Nast once rated this pristine, white beach as one the best in the world. Others claim it's the best in the Caribbean. Certainly, if you picture the quintessential Caribbean beach, this is it. Clean, powedery white sands, not too many crowds, turquoise water. The only glitch is that the beachfront is now domniated by a strange and awkward new type of bird -- namely the giant construction crane. Avoid being annoyed by this by keeping your eyes turned firmly out to the crystal blue waters of the ocean.

I was told by a local that you cannot find better conch anywhere in the Caribbean, Indded, I had conch four different ways over the course of a four-day trip. It's fabulous and the ways and places places to try it, include:

Hemmingways Restaurant: Conch Strips
Aqua Restaurant: Pecan-Crusted Conch Filet
Gecko's Grille: Conch Fritters
Hole in the Wall: Conch Chowder

On the other hand, if you're not into eating it, just collect the beautiful shells that wash up on the beach -- like the one in this photo!