Skip to content 
CARIBBEAN
Restore And Rejuvenate the
Turks and Caicos Way
In the Turks and Caicos Islands, Ilona Kauremszky dives into the riches at Ocean Club Resorts and discovers ecotourism and conservation are high priorities.
As sunbathers are snagging sun time along only one of the most famous beaches in the world, I’m hovering over a fish tank on the other side of Grace Bay Beach in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), watching an indoor aquatic food show for no ordinary animal.
“See that,” motions Gracie Perry-Garnette, armed with a turkey baster. The resident coral aquarist at the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund (TCRF) is gingerly basting clouds of nutrients to a crop of corals as we watch wide gaping holes emerging from them. “They’re mouths,” she explains about the marine specimen so fragile, it can be declared the unofficial national treasure in these parts.
The Turks and Caicos Reef System is prominent everywhere. As one of the largest contiguous barrier reefs in the world, it is the lifeline to this archipelago of islands that includes Providenciales, the third largest of the nine inhabited ones. Providenciales or “Provo” is part of the Caicos Bank, a massive underwater plateau, and Grace Bay Beach, the gem in this crown.
In 2019 an invasive disease called Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) was first detected in the Turks and Caicos Islands, threatening hard or stony corals and putting species like pillar corals at high risk. “We are not finding pillar coral babies,” Gracie notes about the coral loss as her inked forearm of a sea turtle suspends over the tank of itty-bitty corals, while the turkey baster blows over top of them.
Stony corals are slow growers and only grow 1 to 3 centimetres per year. Surprisingly, at this living coral bio-bank, of which there are 11 species, a growth spurt has been found when coral fragments are sliced and placed close together on unglazed terracotta tiles. With a weekly feeding of fish food and freeze-dried marine plankton, Gracie says these marine creatures are fusing back together.
Coral reefs are often considered the lungs of the ocean, producing oxygen, and providing marine life living in the coral gardens ecosystems of macro algae. Thankfully, conservation and cultural preservation are priorities, with the use of reef-safe sunscreens, and the national government designating several national parks and nature reserves in an effort to safeguard critical habitats. Hotels have also picked up the environmental gauntlet, working with NGOs like TCRF through the Reef Keeper Conservation Partnership Program. Reef Keeper hotels value and actively work toward protecting these islands’ environments, and strive for sustainable commitments. In November, Ocean Club Resorts, with its pair of beachfront properties in the heart of Grace Bay Beach, became the latest Reef Keeper hotel.
Guests staying at Ocean Club Resorts know they can visit and observe 183 corals living at the bio-bank and even opt to add a $2 per night donation to their bill, contributing to reef preservation.
While Turks and Caicos has long been a beloved Canadian sun hub, today’s island visitors are attracted to a growing niche in ecotourism, and immersive local experiences. After a four-hour direct flight on board Air Canada, I arrived in Provo to begin the eco-friendly, locally-rich beach break. I arrived in style bypassing the long passport line with a SkyPass Caribbean Roundtrip Fast Pass, getting expedited, escorted service to this British Overseas Territory. Although the currency is in U.S. dollars, the time zone is the same as in Toronto so jet lag was avoided and beach time was rewarded.
My recent trip also coincided with shoulder season—fewer crowds with less strain on the local environment. Summer has also pivoted into a low season choice, giving island seekers heavenly white powder beach strolls sans foules (without crowds).
I chose Ocean Club Resorts for two reasons: sustainable achievements and personalized service. With duo-beach properties—there’s the original Ocean Club East, which opened in the ’90s and Ocean Club West, which has direct beach access—guests are offered curated stays at these affordable luxury accommodations.
Reservations for activities are recommended. There are the ever-popular pickleball courts, complimentary bike, kayak and SUP rentals, on-site spa treatments, and even rum tasting for small groups. Free hotel shuttles to the sister property for à la carte dining (no buffet lines)—all of these can be arranged seamlessly at reception.
Recognized as Turks and Caicos’ first Green Globe certified hotel in 2021, the condo-suite resorts are as high as the palm trees, use solar energy, have lagoon-style pools, refrain from loud party music and have removed single-use plastics.
Staying at Ocean Club West, I relished its prime location. Mornings began with beach yoga, the soundtrack of waves setting a tranquil tone for the day. A leisurely 20-minute beach stroll led to Cabana, at the sister property, where I savoured their spicy breakfast burrito.
Afternoons were a blend of relaxation and exploration. I pedalled to Princess Alexandra National Park to watch parasailers soaring above the turquoise waters and cycled back, passing shops showcasing island treasures, before retreating to Spa Tropique for a blissful massage.
Dining at Ocean Club Resorts is a culinary journey offering three distinct restaurants like West’s Solana and East’s Cabana, both alfresco but each boasting its own specialties like seasonal conch and sushi. Opus, with its elevated fine dining, could easily rival Michelin-starred establishments. Every meal was a treat, but the island’s culinary scene really came alive at the famed Thursday Night Fish Fry.
An all-out Junkanoo parade, the rhythmic beats of drums set the pulse as some locals coiffed stylish hairdos, or dressed in glorious outfits. Everyone was following the costumed band, dancing through the crowd. The scent of fried snapper and conch fritters filled the air, as hungry patrons queued by food trucks.
On my final morning, swells of foaming waves spilled onto the white powder sand, taking me back to Gracie at the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund. My journey came full circle. I thought of this “Coral Warrior” as friends call her, ever passionate, diving into the tank, as her 25-year-old spirit sporting a braid as long as an eagle-ray tail demonstrated the beauty and fragility of these living organisms.
Watching her care for the corals reinforced how interconnected we are to these underwater ecosystems. As I reflected on my trip, the sustainability efforts of places like Ocean Club Resorts made it clear: Turks and Caicos isn’t just about stunning beaches, it’s about preserving paradise for generations to come.
Did You Know?
You can Adopt-a-Coral from the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund. For more details, see tcreef.org/adoptacoral. Visit on Wednesday afternoon for the 2 p.m. coral feeding. Reserve a cab at the resort’s reception and it’s recommended to arrive 15 minutes early.
Fast Fact
Damaging, collecting or selling coral (live or dead) is illegal. Strict marine conservation laws include hefty fines and potential imprisonment.
Travel Planner
For fast entry to the Turks and Caicos, register in advance for SkyPass Caribbean’s Roundtrip Fast Pass skypasscaribbean.com. Air Canada offers direct summer service, twice weekly from Toronto to Providenciales International Airport and once weekly from Montréal aircanada.ca. For hotel reservations, visit oceanclubresorts.com. For more travel information about Turks and Caicos, visit turksandcaicostourism.com
