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

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Explorer Ventures -- T&C Explorer II, Jul, 2012, by Ms Lynda Durfee, VA, US ( Top Contributor 49 reports with 24 Helpful votes). Report 6627.
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	I had read reports here describing the boat's swing, and it was much more than I expected (probably an arc of 100 yards or more). However, once you got used to it (by the 2nd or 3rd dive), it was a matter of locating the boat by sound, then sight, and either grabbing the hang lines or killing time in the general area (bus stop) and waiting for it to swing by again. Safety stop while hanging on the line was like a carnival ride--great fun watching the fish below. I won't repeat earlier reviews about the accomodations and food--super! There were only 5 divers (I was the only female guest), and we all had our own cabins. Plenty of hot water in cabin showers and showers on lower deck right next to dive platform. Sharks (reef and nurse) on almost every dive. Saw squadron of three spotted eagle rays on last dive. Lots of big jacks, especially on night dives when they were hunting. The photographers went nuts over the sharks, especially when they circled us for 10 minutes or more at a time. I love looking for the relatively rare fish (such as indigo hamlets) and I wasn't disappointed. Walls were beautiful; most dives started with short swim to wall, 20 minutes or so cruising along the wall, then the rest of the dive on top of the reef. Visibility wasn't 100 feet or more because of wind/chop and sponges spawning. It was really neat to see the tube sponges spawning--like smokestacks! With a small group (5 plus DM), it was easy to get good 60 minute dives; just had to watch your O2 load. This is not a trip for beginner divers due to depths and boat swing. Everyone was on NITROX (some of us switched to air for night dive to avoid bumping the oxygen limit or skipped dives). Because of windy conditions at beginning of week, we started at NW point, then to West Caicos and French Cay. I'll definitely go back next year. Be prepared for chaotic waiting area at airport. Nine flights depart within 45 minutes on Saturdays around 2 pm; the waiting area is jammed; hardly any room to move, let alone avoid getting banged with someone else's roller bag. I'm glad I paid the extra $40 to check the 2nd bag (1st one was free on Delta with Delta AX card.)
Websites	Explorer Ventures -- T&C Explorer II
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Hawaii, Aruba, Bahamas, St. Maarten, Saba, Statia, St. Kitts, Curacao, Palau, Lake Tahoe, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy, dry	Seas	choppy
Water Temp	80-83°F / 27-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-80 Ft/ 15-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	no deco; nitrox limited to 110 feet.
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	Dedicated LARGE rinse tank, separate oounter & towels for cameras. Crew handed cameras to divers and took them aboard after dive; very careful with equipment. I'm not a photographer, but the set-up was top-notch. All outlets onboard (including cabins) were 110 volts for recharging.

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

Explorer Ventures -- T&C Explorer II, Jul, 2012,

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