Dive Review of Explorer Ventures -- T&C Explorer II in
Turks and Caicos/Provo, West Caicos, French Key

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Explorer Ventures -- T&C Explorer II: "Turks and Caicos diving with a great crew", Aug, 2015, by Jocelyn Gill, ON, CA ( Reviewer 3 reports). Report 8356.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Our flight to Provo from Ottawa, Canada was rocky, United Airlines failed to load luggage for about half the passengers out of Newark. Our delay was about one hour. I did not get my luggage until the next day. Luckily, I had a full day spare for complications like this one, but UA service and attitude were lousy, and I will not book with UA again. The crew were quick to help us board, and orient us with the boat, including a safety drill. Our captain Jean-Francois Chabot was a sweetheart, helping fill tanks, fix computer problems, and clean up after dinner. The dive masters, Jo and Pippa were the highlight of the trip. Sisters from the UK, both university educated, they made dive briefings fun and memorable with wacky costumes, silly underwater signs for various critters, and playful banter with the divers. Their dive briefings included showing us what critters to look for in one of the ID books. Jo, and especially Pippa were outstanding in locating small (microscopic) head shield slugs, gaudy clown crabs, skeleton shrimp and nudies, pointing them out with a magnifying lens. I was very impressed with their knowledge of the fauna, including the proper scientific names. They also had a number of "up to date" fish and critter ID book on board. However, I was shocked to see how much the reef had degraded since my last visit in the 1990's. No more big schools of creole wrasse, blue chromis, tangs or large parrot fish. However, there were juvenile reef sharks and nurse sharks (a juvie and a pup). The better dive sites are further out to sea at French Key and West Caicos. Gearing up is easy, and the water entry is effortless. Simply step off the back of the boat, grab your camera from one of the crew, and afterwards, exit using an easy in water ladder. The crew were always quick to help with gear. The boat had a habit of swinging on its mooring line, but once you get used to seeing your hang line whiz by, and knowing it will come back again, the swing had it's charms. Dive times were set to a max of 60 minutes, but rarely enforced. You could follow the dive masters or do your own thing, including solo if certified. They also offered courses during the week, and each divemaster (Jo, Pippa and Andy) are also instructors. The crew also helped celebrate milestone dives with enthusiasm and fun. My buddy did her 50th and was encouraged to wear a tutu underwater. She did: it was lots of fun for her and the others. I have dived off of 4 other liveaboards and rate this one as the best. The boat was very comfortable, the chef was very careful to accommodate vegetarians and people with other dietary needs, the cabins very clean with individual heads (that worked), complete with cabin fairies that make your bed every day, and turn down at night, leaving a chocolate. Nice touch. My buddy loved it so much, she stayed for a second week. At the end of her week, hurricane Erika struck, forcing her to re-book her flights, etc. Captain JF was outstanding in helping her with calls, etc. Kudos to his professionalism and level of customer service. I would highly recommend this liveaboard for beginners, and photographers who thrive on macro photos. One negative. Turks and Caicos is expensive when eating or staying on shore. A 2 egg, bacon, hash brown, toast and coffee breakfast = $30 US. Taxis are very very expensive... ($45 from our hotel to dock). Major credit cards all accepted.
Websites	Explorer Ventures -- T&C Explorer II
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Red Sea, Indonesia, Komodo, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Caribbean islands (many), Cozumel, Florida
Closest Airport	Provodenciales	Getting There	United Airlines YOW to EWR to PLS
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, no currents
Water Temp	82-84°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	80-100 Ft/ 24-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	60 minute max dive time, but loosely observed. Also, if you drink alcohol, your diving is finished for the day.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	1 or 2	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	Camera table was well set up and included compressed air for drying. Rinse tub was adequate. The crew were exceptional with their handling of client's expensive cameras, taking great care. Crew were also quite helpful in providing photography tips to those who wanted them. No big pelagics, mostly small critters. A macro photographers trip.

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Dive Review of Explorer Ventures -- T&C Explorer II in Turks and Caicos/Provo, West Caicos, French Key

Explorer Ventures -- T&C Explorer II: "Turks and Caicos diving with a great crew", Aug, 2015,

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 -- T&C Explorer II in
Turks and Caicos/Provo, West Caicos, French Key