Dive Review of
Caribbean Explorer I in
Bahamas/Sab Salvador & others

Central, South Pacidic, California, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Mexico,
Caribbean

Dive Conditions

13o fet on air; 110 feet on 32% Nitrox  

Photo table, air hoose, separate rinse tank  

Overall Rating

The CEX-1 is a nice boat.  You fly into George Town,Great Exuma where the
boat is docked.  Transport from the airport is not included and is about
$20.00 per person.  Boarding time is 1600 (4 PM) Saturday.  The boat is
listed as 110 feet in length but that's only if you include the bowsprit
and dive platform.  Really about 96 feet.  Cabins are extremely small and
all your luggage goes in there.  Pack minimally.  My wife and I had a
deluxe cabin (top deck) and the two daugters got the below deck cabin which
shares shower and head.

We first dove San Salvador for three days and the coral was in great shape,
except for the overwhelming algae growth.  The swim through and grottos
were impressive.  Marine life was minimal.  A shore excursion was offered
to see where Columbus ostensibly first came ashore in the New World.  Next
we moved to Conception.  Here the algae problem cleared up but the fish
life did not materially improve.  Two days later we travelled to Long
Island which held some pretty good Bahamas diving, absent swarms of fish. 
On Friday we motored back to Stocking Island off Great Exuma and dove a tug
wreck which was very interesting.  Altogether, 27 dives are offered.

Our fifteen year old daughter took her Advanced Open Water class on the
trip and was enthralled with the instruction.  It was indeed competent,
knowledgeable, and extremely professional.  This comment applies to the
vast majority of the crew.  The Captain is priceless, full of dry British
humor.  There is always someone to help you or dive with you.

This was a good trip, a perfect family liveaboard vacation.  Our
eleven-year-old daughter was a bit apprensive about spending a week on a
boat but soon rolled right into it.  Now both of them are insisting on
liveaboard vacations.

The CEX-1 (as far as acomodations is concerned) is not quite up to Hughes
or Aggressor standards, but then again you're paying much less.  It offered
by far more amenities than Blackbeard Cruises did and the price
differencial is not that much removed.  Remember, to the cost of the basic
trip, you must add the fuel surcharge, port tax, transportion and dock
charges.  

On balance, a fine and memorable trip.  I'd go with Explorer Adventurers
again but probably on one of their other boats.

 

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