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Caribbean Explorer II

About Caribbean Explorer II

The Caribbean Explorer II is 135m long and has 9 luxury staterooms with air conditioning and ensuite bathrooms. So, it typically runs scuba diving excursions from St. Kitts to St. Maarten and from St. Maarten to St. Kitts the following week so your point of departure and arrival depends on the week that you book your trip. Enjoy our blog article on 110,000 Reasons to Go Liveaboard.

Caribbean Explorer II Diving

The Caribbean Explorer II departs on Saturdays for an 8 day/7 night excursion. This allows for 5 1/2 days of diving, including night dives. So, the vessel may spend 2-3 days around the Saba Marine Park and scuba diving various pinnacles. It then may spend 2-3 days around St Kitts and Nevis, where there are reefs and wrecks. There are 70 species of coral to count, and 500-700 species of fish. Some popular dive sites around St. Kitts and Nevis include: the 144ft long freighter River Taw , Devil's Cave, MV Corinthian, Coconut Reef, Camps Reef, and Monkey Shoals. Popular dive sites around Saba include: Diamond Shoals, Man O' War Shoals, Tent Reef, and Greer Gut. As a result, expect to see long snouted sea horses, frogfish, tuna, conch, rays, black coral, barracuda, barrel sponges, lobsters, nurse sharks, and several wrecks.

Attractions and Activities

Nitrox is available on the Caribbean Explorer II, so you can get up to five dives a day including night dives. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served buffet style. A typical schedule includes, breakfast, dive 1, snack, dive 2, lunch, dive 3, snack, dive 4, dinner, and lastly a night dive. The tanks are filled in place so you never have to dissemble your gear between dives. On the dive deck there is a large camera table, rinse tanks, wet suit drying racks and a battery charging station. Some days you may wish to skip a dive and do a land tour to a Rain Forest or shopping on Saba or visit Brimstone Hill, a museum, or shop at St. Kitts. There are also up to 3 island tours so that you can explore the forts, rain forests, duty free shops and markets the islands have to offer.
They also do special itineraries, to St. Kitts, Redondo, Montserrart, Saba, and St. Maarten.
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Packing for a liveaboard trip is much easier than packing for a land-based vacation. The climate doesn't require much more than shorts, T-shirts, and swimsuits (you may consider slacks, dress shorts or sundresses for dinner ashore in St. Maarten or St. Kitts). Soft luggage is recommended as it takes up very little space when empty. Sunscreens, sunglasses, a visor or hat is recommended. In case of rough weather or if you have a tendency towards seasickness, come prepared with motion sickness medications or Transderm patches from your doctor. If you have favorite CD's, IPod playlist or DVD's, feel free to bring them. All linens (including sheets, comforters, bath towels, hand towels, dive towels, and wash cloths) as well as soap and shampoo are provided on board. If possible, pack your regulator, dive computer, mask, a swimsuit, change of clothes and toiletries in your carry-on bag. Having these few items with you will make an unexpected luggage delay far more bearable.
Please note that a passport is required of all visitors arriving in St. Maarten or St. Kitts. Please verify passport expiration date requirements for each island if your passport will expire within 6 months of your boarding date. A paper copy of your valid return or onward airline ticket is also required. Important information: whether your trip starts from St Maarten or St Kitts, all incoming passengers must complete and submit the Immigration and Customs ED form which includes a Custom and Border Form at knatravelform.kn. Departure from St Maarten: Boarding start at 3pm and the boat will leave the harbor around 6pm, depending on the tide. Please plan to be in St. Maarten by 4pm the latest on the date of departure in order to facilitate the vessel’s clearance and timely departure for Saba. If you’re arriving at 4pm or later, please send us a copy of your passport prior to your departure. If meeting the vessel in St. Maarten, look for our driver upon exiting the baggage claim area; if no one is present, simply catch a cab to Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg; the vessel will be located near the end of the dock. Departure from St Kitts: Boarding starts at 3pm and the boat will leave the harbor on the next morning. So you can arrive at anytime on the date of departure. Through transfers are not included in the package. You will be met at the airport by a driver; the price is currently US$10-$30 per person each way, depending on the size of your group. If by chance you miss the driver, simply catch a taxi to either Bobby's Marina (St. Maarten) or Port Zante (St. Kitts) - the vessel will be waiting there.
If your flight is delayed or you miss any of your flights and are not able to make it to the Northeastern Caribbean on schedule, please call the vessel. Notify the crew of your updated arrival time should you have that information, and where you may be reached in the meantime. The vessel will not leave port until after the last arrival on Saturday. If you are delayed and do not arrive until Sunday, all is not lost! It is always possible to get to the boat, either by arranging a pickup with us while still at St. Kitts (St. Kitts departures) or at Saba, as there are several flights daily from St. Maarten on Windward Island Airways (offices at the airport). Simply contact the vessel (see above) and coordinate your pickup with the captain.
he vessel arrives at its final destination port on Friday afternoon at approximately 1:00pm. Passengers spend Friday night and have Saturday breakfast on board. There will be sufficient time to catch a flight out of St. Maarten or St. Kitts at any time on Saturday. If you have a flight on Saturday afternoon, you are welcome to leave your luggage on board the boat until it is time to go to the airport. For most flights, the departure tax is included in the ticket price. Please check with your airline for information specific to your ticket.
he Caribbean Explorer II comfortably accommodates 18 passengers in 9 double staterooms, all of which have private bathroom facilities and most of which have queen-sized beds. The semi-enclosed, air-conditioned salon on the upper deck includes dining tables, TV, CD/DVD, video library, light table and lounge area; a large sundeck with lounge chairs is aft of the main salon. The vessel's boutique is located on the main deck, and the photo/video lab is below decks. The large dive deck is equipped with a bathroom, individual gear lockers, camera table with low pressure air hose, recharging station, air and nitrox filling stations, tank racks, and a separate freshwater rinse for both scuba and underwater camera equipment. There are two sets of stairs accessing the dive platform, where two in-water ladders hang for easy access to and from the water. The vessel is also equipped with a satellite telephone for incoming and outgoing calls worldwide.
The vessel has a satellite phone for incoming and outgoing calls. Please be aware that a charge is assessed for both incoming and outgoing calls. You can also use your cellphone while onboard (please check options offered by your provider): signal is very good in St Maarten and St Kitts. Saba has good signal too, but depending on our boat's position, it can be sometimes limited. Satellite Wi-Fi is not available onboard Caribbean Explorer II.
Evening meals usually consist of lots of fresh vegetables, rice, pasta, chicken, beef, turkey, pork, and fish. Breakfast is the usual fare of eggs, bacon, pancakes, French toast, muffins, danish and fresh fruits. Lunches vary from soup and sandwiches, burgers, pasta, assorted salads, and quiche. Homemade baked breads, cookies and brownies are offered between dives. If you have any dietary restrictions or requests, please indicate so on your application form. Please be advised that while the chef is careful not to use allergens in the food prepared for sensitive individuals, the boat has only one galley, one set of prep equipment and dishes and one chef, so we cannot completely eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination. If required, please let the crew know the location of any emergency-use medication when you board the boat. Specific brands of drinks, dressings and foods are often unavailable in the islands, and that it can be very difficult for us to find low-fat, gluten free or soy products, fresh fruit, fish, and other items common elsewhere. While we will do our best to accommodate your requests, please be realistic and consider bringing some of your own foods if the lack thereof may constitute a health risk.
Though all meals (except Friday's dinner), beverages, transportation between islands, and much more has been taken care of with your trip payment, there are additional items which you may charge to your on-board bill. These include: *Port, Immigration and Marine Park Fees - US$115 per person *Departure tax *Fuel Surcharge: US$215 per person *Crew gratuities *Incoming and outgoing telephone calls *Photographic and/or scuba instruction *Optional island tours *Dive gear rentals (other than tanks, weights and weight belts) *Retail sales (shirts, scuba accessories, etc.) The bill may be paid at the end of the trip using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover or cash. Personal or traveler's checks are not accepted on board, and we are unable to provide cash for credit card charges more than invoice amounts.
Crew gratuities are not included in your package. The crew works very hard, 7 days a week and up to 12 weeks at a stretch, providing the best possible service for our guests. The industry standard for crew gratuities on dive trips (if, of course, you are happy with the service which you have received) is between 15% and 20% of the package price per passenger. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.
If you are spending additional time on St. Kitts, you may wish to obtain Eastern Caribbean Dollars. The U.S. dollar is widely accepted and preferred on all islands; therefore, it is not necessary to purchase currency before arriving. Major credit cards are accepted widely throughout the islands as well.
*All divers must be certified as scuba divers by an internationally recognized accrediting organization. *We recommend that divers log at least one dive within the 12 months prior to boarding the vessel or are encouraged to participate in a refresher course on board. Rental/Course Pricing *All divers must adhere to the buddy system unless certified, equipped and adhering to standards for solo diving. *All divers must log in and out of the water with a member of the diving staff. *All divers must have a submersible console. In addition, a timepiece must be worn by at least one diver in a buddy team. Dive computers or dive table are required per person. *On night dives, a cyalume lightstick or marker beacon must be worn by each diver. *Decompression diving is not allowed under any conditions. The maximum allowed depth is 130' (110' on nitrox). *Diving activities must cease when the consumption of alcohol begins. *Please note that, due to a combination of staff and equipment logistics, insurance requirements and local diving regulations, rebreathers, diver propulsion vehicles (DPVs) and multi-cylinder configurations (except for a small pony bottle) may not be used aboard Explorer Ventures Fleet vessels. *Dive Accident insurance is strongly recommended (and required for divers under 18 years of age).
The weather in the Northeastern Caribbean is remarkably consistent year-round. The temperatures range from the 70's F or higher in the winter months to the low 90's F during the summer, with nearly constant sea breezes. Water temperatures range from a low of about 76 degrees F in winter to a high of about 85 degrees F in summer. There is normally little appreciable current at the sites we visit, and visibility is generally between 50 and 150 feet. Most divers are comfortable with a 3mm wetsuit in summer, and up to a 5 mm wetsuit in winter. Your dives will be done from the vessel itself, taking advantage of the easy-access dive platform and other on-board amenities. Entries are usually made from the side exit gates into the water, a drop of 4 feet or so.
The majority of dives aboard our vessels are offered at scheduled times, up to 5 times daily. This is to allow adequate surface intervals, provide the option for guided dives on as many sites as possible, and allow the vessel to travel on a schedule to different locations. It also permits us to offer island tours on the island which we visit, and to work within the guidelines of the marine parks in which we dive.
The minimum certifiable age for divers is 10 for most SCUBA certification agencies; normally, the agencies restrict 10 and 11 year olds to a maximum depth of 40 feet. Explorer Ventures Fleet allows children as young as 10 years (who are certified divers) to participate in our trips, with the following restrictions: 1. All children under the age of 15 must travel and dive with their parent or guardian, unless undergoing active training with an instructor. 2. Our itineraries offer very few diving opportunities at depths less than 40 feet; diving opportunities for 10 and 11 year olds will be significantly less than those for older divers. For this reason, a minimum age of 12 for divers is strongly suggested. 3. A parent/legal guardian will be required to sign the liability release on behalf of a child under the age of 18. 4. All divers under the age of 18 are required to have dive accident insurance that covers recompression chamber treatment and medical evacuation. 5. Younger children are permitted when chartering the whole vessel, contact us for full details on traveling with minors.
The vessel provides tanks, weights, and weight belts for your use. If you prefer to rent the rest of your equipment from us, we have all of the equipment that you will need. Please indicate on your application form what equipment you will require. Otherwise, the following items are the diver's responsibility: Certification Card Diving Log Book (strongly encouraged; required for solo diving course) Mask * Snorkel * Fins * Booties (if you wear them) Buoyancy Control Device (required) * Regulator w/alternate air source * Submersible pressure and depth gauges (required) * Underwater time piece (required) Dive light * Safety marker buoy * Tank Marker Lights (required for night dives) * For solo divers: pony bottle, whistle, knife, compass, and safety marker buoy or flag deployable from safety stop depth * Dive computer (recommended) * Wetsuit 3 mm * Repair kit w/ spare parts *Available for rent on board. Rental/Course pricing (PDF).
Nitrox is available for an additional charge, as long as the diver is Nitrox Certified. Please read our Nitrox page for more information
Solo Diving is allowed as long as the diver has proof of certification of "Solo Diver" (Only the SDI Solo Diver Certification allows a diver to dive solo aboard Caribbean Explorer II & Turks & Caicos Explorer II). We also offer a SDI Solo Diving course if you'd like to get Solo certified.

St. Kitts

Climate: Average air temperature range between 24 – 28°C / 75 – 82°F

Water Temperatures: 26 – 30°C / 79 – 85°F

Time: UTC -4:00

Language: English is the official language, spoken with a distinct accent and West Indian Idioms.

Currency: East Caribbean Dollars, XCD

Electricity: 230 volts, 60 cycles. Most hotels have 110 volts and converters are available.

Marriage Requirements: Please contact the local tourism board for instructions and requirements.

Airport(s): Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International Airport (SKB)

Hyperbaric Chamber: Commercial Diving Academy Institute of West Indies

 

The dark and purple anemones wave gently in the surge as the sting rays sweep the area with seemingly no effort. Lizardfish perch on their pectoral fins watching the reef, and you, vigilantly.

Despite the lure of the underwater world, you must eventually surface and return to land. When you do, be sure to check out the restored fortresses, haunted plantations, and ancient petroglyphs. History is very much alive on St. Kitts and you can almost see the ghosts of the famed British officer Horatio Nelson and his love Fanny Nisbet. Whether you hike the mountain, or lay out on the black sand beach, St. Kitts is a destination you’ll never forget.

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Jeff

We ran into a piece of Hurricane Gonzalo while aboard the Caribbean Explorer II. But the crew was so outstanding that they handled things beautifully, keeping everything safe and under control. They even did the necessary repairs to the panga outboard immediately so that we could get right back to diving as soon as the weather allowed. And we did!...

Jeff

Had a great time!!!! I posted my land pics on my facebook page. Am waiting to get underwater pics from other divers on the boat....

Doug

Just got back from my first live aboard experience on the Caribbean Explorer II and I have to say it was an amazing trip. Most importantly, the diving was excellent! Saba was my favorite, but St Kitts held its own. There was so much marine life and the locations were very fun to explore. We saw turtles and stingrays, sea horses, octopuses, frog fish, an eagle ray, and so much more. The diving was very easy getting in and out. They just fill your tanks and you never have to take your BC off. We had great weather too. March seemed a very comfortable time to be down there. It wasn’t ever hot. On the night dives when it was cool getting out of your wetsuit they had hot chocolate and spirits along with a towel right out of the dryer. Hot showers on deck were always available too. They also had an extra team member on night watch just to be safe and make sure there were no issues over night. I don’t know how many dive boats do this now but it was much appreciated. The dive team (May, Paulie, Kirsten, Demian, and Dale), Captain Bob, and Chef Ernesto were fantastic. They are a very fun group. We had a slightly smaller group of only 8 divers and really got to know them. The food was beyond fantastic! Chef Ernesto’s cooking was so good I did gain a few pounds but no regrets. He made some things that I usually don’t eat but I quickly realized that if he was cooking, I should give it a chance. I wasn’t disappointed. There were always good options for meals and snacks. Looking forward to another trip with Explorer Ventures in the future!...

Mark S.

Wonderful crew, great meals. Diving was ocean not Caribbean diving which means pretty strong currents and somewhat limited visibility. Saw some great sea life, decent wrecks and enjoyed the Saba island tour. I did not do the St. Kitts tour. Recommended for more experienced divers as the currents can be a bit challenging....

110,000 Reasons to Go Liveaboard

110,000 Reasons to Go Liveaboard! There are more than 110,000 islands in the world and many pinnacles that rest just below the surface and each and every one of them may be filled with multitudes of critters and creatures that seldom come in contact with humans. Sure, some of these islands may be inhabited, but most require transportation via some sort of marine vessel to get there and it ma...

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