Harbour Club Villas and Marina is not amongst the “famous and popular” resorts of Grace Bay. It is a place of total relaxation, peace and tranquility. And, if you are like us, this is why you’re here. You are surrounded by beautiful gardens, a pool complete with its own tiki hut, a private veranda and your own villa. Who could ask for more? This is a private, quiet place to unwind. A place to experience things not offered at home. But yet, there is more. You have, literally, at your beck and call, two of the kindest individuals to ever run a resort. Not pretentious nor stuffy, Barry and Marta immediately made us feel welcome. Honestly, if you need them to bend over backward, they’d probably give it a try. From the fresh flowers on the table every day to the knowledge of the island, these two left a lasting impression. We didn’t meet the “owners of the resort” we met two new friends. They invited us into their home and made us feel like family. A rarity in life. On to the diving. This is the reason we came. The Turks and Caicos consistently rank high on the list of world class dive destinations. We now know why. This was our first time here and hopefully won’t be our last. On our hosts’ recommendation, we went with Flamingo Divers. (to Marta: “Thank you, thank you, thank you!!”)

Have you ever been on dive boats with what seems like a hundred people? You are one of the crowd, just another dollar? Flamingo Divers might not have the newest, shiniest boats, but they offer so much more. Lynn, Wayne and Carol have enough knowledge of diving and the surrounding waters, they could make their own documentary. In fact, their pictures and writing have been published. That alone should speak volumes about their credibility. They offer a personalized service with safety at the top of the list. Their genuine care for the underwater environment is evident. The type of divers who maximize your experience while making certain you are truly cared for. When choosing a site, they consider all factors…..visibility, current, winds, skill level and most of all crowds or lack thereof rather.

We were never pressured. We were able to go at our own pace and our numerous questions were always answered with patience. Plus, they did everything but breathe for us! Very accommodating. And the reef life was spectacular, the walls beautiful. We saw everything from flying gunnards to several reef sharks! Eagle rays, turtles, jacks, spades, grouper ….all in abundance. So many dives you “might-maybe-sort of” catch a glimpse of a larger animal. Here, they are common. All this in only 6 dives. Were we just lucky? Who knows? Four dives off West Caicos and two off French Cay and ALL were outstanding. And the fish seem less shy.

Maybe just the imagination, but after floating perfectly still for several seconds, even the most timid of creatures, a turtle, decided to investigate” up close and personal Truly humbling. You'll realize soon enough that you’ve stumbled upon a bit of heaven. Enjoy!

We came to celebrate my 60th, hoping for lots of snorkeling, kayaking, walking and good food. All of which we have enjoyed. Best day was 15th , sunny all day not too windy. We kayaked out to Bay Cay….deserted island with the iguanas.