Dive Review of Explorer Ventures in
St. Eustatius

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Explorer Ventures, May, 2006, by Chris Cubbison, OH, USA . Report 2587.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	We departed from St. Maarten on the Caribbean Explorer II and dived 2 days at Saba (the best dives of the trip), 2 days at St. Eustatius and 1.5 days at St. Kitts. Five dives per day were offered (27 in all) incl. night dives each nite. Only 7 divers on a boat designed for 18 meant lots of space on the dive deck and attention by the dive staff. Crew was as nice and helpful as I could ever imagine. Briefings were good and guides always available. Several PADI classes available (I got NITROX certified - others took AOW class). Tanks always filled in excess of 3100 psi with absolutely no pressure to end dives early and no unreasonable restrictions. The best dives were at Saba with vertical walls and tons of colorful marine life. St. Eustatius was great too but less color. St. Kitts was the least interesting but I learned to find the small critters and cleaner shrimp stations which were everywhere. A hot, fresh water rinse awaited when we emerged and the crew had hot water ready to pour into our suits after night dives-hot chocolate and hot towls on the dive deck too. Entry was by giant stride (@5 ft) off the side with twin ladders and help from the crew at the stern. Grant, the S.African Captain, brought me to the bridge for the night passage to St. Kitts after I expressed interest in the navigation and communication eqpt. They used redundant GPS gear to drive directly to a buoy that was actually submerged at the time. Impressive! The food was mostly American but all of it was great. No requests went unaccomodated incl. unlimited milk with my meals. Lots of beverage variety incl. alcoholic at no extra charge when diving was done. Cabins were small but most had private heads. Definitely ask for dive deck cabins if available - much more convenient than lower deck. I would go again in a heartbeat.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Florida Keys and Atlantic coast, Florida springs (many), central US freshwater quarries
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, cloudy	Seas	calm, surge
Water Temp	82-84°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	70-100 Ft/ 21-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Surface with 500 psi; stay with buddy unless certified as solo diver (they offered that certification); observe Nitrox depth limits
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Standard camera tables/charging station and rinse tank

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Dive Review of Explorer Ventures in St. Eustatius

Explorer Ventures, May, 2006,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Explorer Ventures in
St. Eustatius