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

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Explorer Ventures -- T&C Explorer II: "Underwhelming liveaboard trip", May, 2024, by Hugh Hyman, SC, US ( 2 reports). Report 13124.
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	We had high hopes for our trip aboard the Turks and Caicos Explorer II, but it didn’t quite live up to expectations. Many of the dive sites were underwhelming, with visibility surprisingly poor for the Caribbean. Often, it was limited to about 50 feet, and at times, we couldn’t even spot the boat unless it was directly above us. While weather conditions can’t be controlled, the dive site selection left something to be desired. Our first dive near Turks was somewhat promising, with decent marine life and slightly better visibility. Unfortunately, things went downhill once we reached West Caicos—visibility dropped further, and larger marine life was scarce. Though we saw a few bigger creatures, the overall experience didn’t measure up to other liveaboard trips, even within the same fleet. We’d heard a hurricane might have affected the sites, but if that’s the case, the crew could have easily chosen alternative locations rather than staying within such a short distance of each other, seemingly to save on fuel. As for the boat, it’s seen better days. The wear and tear were obvious, with various areas needing repair. It’s understandable for an older boat to require constant upkeep, but it did feel like some things had been left unattended for too long. Our room was typical of liveaboards in size, bedding and such was not attended to like past liveaboard experiences. The food onboard was plentiful, and generally good, though some of the meals felt overly gourmet for a dive boat at least for us. Dishes like couscous and spinach-carrot soup weren’t exactly what we were craving after a long day of diving. Admittedly some guests seemed to enjoy the variety, we would have preferred heartier, more familiar options like vegetable soup, baked chicken, or or even tacos. Thankfully, by the end of the trip, the menu did shift to more comforting fare. The dive deck was functional, though not perfect. The camera area was partly exposed to rain, and the charging station under the dive table wasn’t very convenient. We ended up using the indoor charging stations instead. One major downside was the extra costs at the end. While we were aware there’d be some additional charges, each of us ended up with around $800 in fees for fuel, taxes, park access, and tips. Payment processing felt outdated—credit card details were written down by hand, which didn’t seem very secure. Even though they had Skylink-type internet onboard, it wasn’t used for online payments, which would have been a much more secure and streamlined option. Offering internet access for passengers, even for a fee, would have also been appreciated. The crew was competent, but there wasn’t anyone who made the experience stand out. Having logged over 500 dives, we’ve seen what excellent dive masters bring to a trip, and the team on this boat didn’t quite hit that mark. Some barely engaged with the guests. All in all, we won’t be rushing back to Turks and Caicos for diving anytime soon. There are far better places to get your money’s worth.
Websites	Explorer Ventures -- T&C Explorer II
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Jamaica, Red Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Bora Bora, Turks and Cacaos, Saba, St Kitt's,
Closest Airport	PLS	Getting There	Normal Caribbean travel
Dive Conditions
Weather	rainy	Seas	currents
Water Temp	81-83°F / 27-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	25-50 Ft/ 8-15 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	[Unspecified]
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 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 area exposed to the weather.

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

Explorer Ventures -- T&C Explorer II: "Underwhelming liveaboard trip", May, 2024,

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/West Caicos