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Turks & Caicos Explorer II

About Turks & Caicos Explorer II

Turks & Caicos Explorer II is a 125ft long scuba diving liveaboard yacht. They have 10 air conditioned staterooms with port lights, or windows and ensuite bathrooms for a total of 20 guests. There are 2 VIP staterooms, 5 main deck staterooms, and 3 lower deck staterooms. Enjoy our blog article on the Turks & Caicos.

Turks & Caicos Explorer II Diving

Most scuba diving trips are 7 nights or 8 days. The vessel typically travels to the west end of Providenciales (Provo). Then down to West Caicos. Finally, you'll travel over to French Cay before returning home. Along the way, Turks & Caicos Explorer II will stop and some days dive up to 5 times, but average around 27 dives for the week. Nitrox 32% is available if you want to help reduce nitrogen levels. Since there are only 2 dozen dive sites out here. Therefore, plan to dive a few of the dive sites 2 times or more (including night Dives), but this really isn't problem for most divers, as the dive sites are large. So, on some dives you will head north or west, and on the next dive go south or east. Sites include: Shark Hotel, Black Forest, The Dome, Elephant Ear Canyon, Double D, Rock & Roll, and G Spot.

Attractions and Activities

On board the Turks & Caicos Explorer II, everyone tends to gather either in the common room or on the flybridge with the barbeque, wet bar, extra seating, and lounge chairs.  A typical day includes breakfast, followed by two dives, then lunch, followed by two dives, a snack, relax, then a night dive. On the dive deck, there are individual gear bins, rinse tanks, a camera table, a recharging station, and a ramp style stairway to the swim platform. Inflatable tenders are used with rigid hulls. Possible itineraries can also be requested in advance including Grand Turk, South Caicos and French Caye. Humpback whales annually traverse the waters between Grand Turk and the Caicos. Dolphins, groupers, turtles, mantas, rays and sharks are just icing on the cake.
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20 Guests; 10 air-conditioned rooms with private bath and shower.
110 V outlets located in staterooms and public areas.
Though transfers are not included in the package, you will be met at the airport by a local driver who will be aware of the boat's location. Due to tides, weather conditions and her size, the vessel's weekend location and schedule is tide-dependent, and she may be located either in Caicos Marina or anchored offshore. Cab fares can vary and depend on how many people are traveling together. Boarding time is 3:00pm. If you arrive on an early flight, you'll be given the option to stay at the airport restaurant to relax or to go the shopping/restaurant area called Salt Mills. Since you may be picked up by dinghy at the beach , you will be more comfortable if you wear sandals or deck shoes and either shorts, or trousers or pants that can be rolled up.
Aboard the Turks & Caicos 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, danish and fresh fruit. Lunches vary from soup and sandwiches, burgers, pasta and assorted salads. 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 note that 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.
The US dollar is the official currency; most major credit cards are accepted widely throughout the island. Taxis require cash. Though all meals (except Friday’s dinner), beverages, 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 retail items, incoming and outgoing telephone calls, scuba instruction, rentals, port tax, fuel surcharge, nitrox and crew gratuities. 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 10% and 15% of price per passenger. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.
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, though all restaurants are “casual”). 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 CDs, IPod playlists or DVDs, feel free to bring them. All linens (including sheets, comforters, bath towels, hand towels, dive towels, and wash cloths) are provided on board. If possible, pack your regulator, dive computer, mask, a swimsuit, change of clothes, necessary medications and toiletries in your carry-on bag. Having these few items with you will make an unexpected luggage delay far more bearable.
The weather in the Turks & Caicos Islands is remarkably consistent year-round. The temperatures range from the 70s (F) or higher in the winter months to the low 90s during the summer, with nearly constant sea breezes. Water temperatures range from a low of about 72 degrees F in winter to a high of about 82˚F in summer. There is normally little appreciable current at the sites we visit, and visibility is generally between 75 and 150 feet. Most divers are comfortable with a 3 mm wetsuit in summer and a 5 mm wetsuit with hooded vest in winter.
The majority of dives aboard our vessels are offered at scheduled times, up to 5 times daily. This is to allow adequate surface intervals provides the option for guided dives on as many sites as possible,and allows the vessel to travel on a schedule to different locations.
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 therefore allows children as young as 10 years 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 these reasons, 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.
To ensure your safety, we require the following of all divers: 1. All divers must be certified as open water scuba divers by an internationally recognized certification organization. 2. 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. 3. All divers must adhere to the buddy system, unless certified, equipped and adhering to standards for solo diving. 4. All divers must log in and out of the water with a member of the diving staff. 5. All divers must have a submersible console. In addition, a timepiece must be worn by at least one diver in a buddy system. Dive computers are strongly recommended. 6. On night dives, a cyalume lightstick or marker beacon must be worn by each diver. 7. Decompression diving is not allowed under any conditions. The maximum allowed depth is 130’ (110’ on nitrox). 8. Diving activities must cease when the consumption of alcohol begins. 9. 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. 10. Dive Accident insurance is strongly recommended (and required for divers under 18 year of age).

Turks & Caicos Islands

Climate: Average air temperature ranges between 29 – 32°C / 85 – 90°F

Water Temperature: 24 – 31°C / 75 – 87°F

Time: UTC -5:00

Language: English

Currency: United States Dollar USD

Electricity:  120 V – 60 Hz., US standard.

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

Airport(s): Providenciales International Airport (PLS)

Hyperbaric Chamber: Associated Medical Practice

The history of The Turks and Caicos Islands reads like a pirate story. Wrecks and legends of pirate booty are part of the local lore. An archipelago of 40 islands and cays located 30 miles Southeast of the Bahamas at half way between Miami and Puerto Rico. They cover 193 square miles and are surrounded by a continuous coral reef. The islands are made of two groups of island –  the Turks Islands and the Caicos Islands. The islands are one giant wall, with 6000 feet of vertical drop circling the islands. Many wrecks have been sacrificed to the sea and provide shelter to a vast aquatic life.

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Sue

The trip was great. I did all 27 dives. The crew was wonderful: knowledgeable, attentive, and lots of fun. The boat was very nice. When moored it swung like crazy which made it challenging to find the boat. We had a VIP room. It didn't seem that much bigger than the standard rooms. Not worth the extra money. Food was only average. It was a bit spicy and I am not the only one who thought so. The dive sites tended to be a little deep, they were all starting at about 50 feet or deeper. The reefs were nice, better than in the Bahamas. Because I travel a lot, I didn't see a lot of new stuff, except for a different nudibranch. We saw some big stuff: sharks and turtles. We enjoyed the macro. One dive master was amazing when it came to finding the small critters. Overall, it was very enjoyable....

Humberto

Sitting in T & C airport headed home. The trip was absolutely terrific. I was pleasantly surprised how nice the boat was. Much nicer than any of the other boats I've been on. The crew was excellent and very attentive. The diving was really good. Lots of sharks and other good stuff. I would highly recommend the Explorer charter. Would definitely do it again....

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