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Dive Review of Explorer Ventures in
Turks and Caicos

Explorer Ventures, May, 2006,

by Barry Zigas, DC, United States (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 7 reports with 2 Helpful votes). Report 2572 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments The T&C Explorer II is a well-equipped and comfortable home away from home. The cabins are on 3 decks. Most passengers are on the lower deck in bunk-bed doubles, with ensuite bathrooms with hot showers. The bunk beds are somewhat narrow, particularly on top, and the ceiling heights a little cramped, but we hardly spent any time in them when not sleeping. AC is especially powerful during the day, comfortable at night. The main salon is large and comfortable with tables and two couches for reading or lounging. The upstairs sun deck is covered (and used by smokers if they're on board) with tables and chairs. The main dive deck is roomy with tanks arrayed on a central island and on both sides of the boat. Equipment is hooked up on tanks on arrival, then tanks are refilled in place after every dive. The dive platform is a short flight of stairs down from the deck. Some of our divers could not navigate the short trip when geared up. The crew was available always to carry equipment down and back up at the end of the dive for these divers. The food was plentiful, fresh, and well prepared. The boat moved only a few times during the week, and we had 5 dives per day, including night dives every night. Bad weather cut this down one day, but we still logged 4 dives before and after a storm passed through. On the first day there were long waits on shore for divers arriving early in the day, and we were shuttled to the boat on a zodiac from a beach as they have no docking privileges in a marina at this time. Diving was easy and full of smaller fish, and some larger species. The coral and fish life seems diminished from my first dives here 13 years ago, but maybe I've just been to better sites since then. We carried the full capacity of 20 divers and it did not seem crowded. Unlimited wine, beer and cocktails. DVDs for viewing in the evening, though most hit the rack shortly after dinner to prepare for the next day's first dive at 7:30 am.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving New Zealand, Hawaii, Grand Cayman, California, Turkey, Australia, Curacao, Florida, Mexico
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 70-75°F / 21-24°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 60-100 Ft/ 18-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions No deeper than 130', back on board with 500 psi
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Dedicated rinse tanks on dive deck, charging station in a cabinet on dive deck, dedicated carpeted shelf for cameras. Crew handed cameras to divers once in the water, always took them back at the end of the dive before divers climbed the ladders to protect the equipment. Very helpful and considerate.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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