Very much off the beaten path, Salt Cay is the smallest inhabited island in the country and is home to only 60 people and a number of "wild" donkeys & cows that roam the island freely. Being without a TV, radio, phone, or internet was quite a challenge for the 8 days I spent there. Like the rest of the islands in this part of the world, the climate is arid, the soil salty & of poor quality, and the real attractions are found below the waterline.
One of my first introductions to the residents of Salt Cay. I woke up at sunrise every day in preparation for the mile long walk next to the salinas to the island's only dive shop. These donkeys were grazing right outside my front door.
---------------------------------------
Most of the rental villas and homes are clustered along the island's west coast. My daily walks through the only "town" were tours through history as many of the island structures were built in the 1800s.
---------------------------------------
The island's north coast is the most spectacular. Unfortunately it's very difficult to get to and has almost no roads. I used a golfcart over a long bumpy dirt track to get to "The Windmills" plantation home to get this shot.
---------------------------------------
The north coast facing Grand Turk.
---------------------------------------
Hot humid days were always a pleasure to leave behind when escaping into the cool ocean blue.
Beautiful groupers were seen on nearly every dive.
---------------------------------------
Shy queen angelfish were also relatively abundant, providing ample opportunities to photograph them.
---------------------------------------
A moon jellyfish hovers over me. I was astounded by how many jellyfish were found here. Swarms of mini transluscent jellyfish with pulsating "lights" were usually found about 15 feet below the surface, with moon jellyfish like these making regular appearances as well. Thankfully none of these beauties offered any toxic stings.
---------------------------------------
A big fat green moray stakes out his turf about 80 feet down.
---------------------------------------
The island's best dive by far is the shipwreck of the HMS Endymion, a British warship that sank off the reef in 1790. The dive starts with this amazing swim-through, and then on to the coral-encrusted anchors and cannons that are all that remains of the ship.
---------------------------------------
Days were spent diving and nights were spent operating ham radio, where I was pleased to pass out a few thousand contacts to people around the world keeping me company. Here the sun sets behind my simple 17m wire dipole antenna.
click here to see my Turks & Caicos radio license
