Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Diving FleetReviews of explorerventures.com

I was on the Turks & Caicos Explorer II from 4-19 to 4-25. From the moment I stepped on to the boat to even after leaving boat I received nothing but excellent service. On the first day I was a little seasick and "Cat" a crew member came an offered various remedies. All members of the crew were always providing information, direction and making sure we knew what the dive plan of the day would. I am new to diving and all crew members were always around to make sure I was comfortable with my dive. I still have taking off my fins and they were always there assisting with removal of fins and helping me out to the water. My sleeping quarters were maintained on a daily basis. Bunk was made and towels provided as needed. The food was delicious. The daily homemade soup hit the spot. All 3 meals were fresh and tastily. All in all it was the most enjoyable vacation I have been on in a long time.

PERFECT OUTSTANDING TEAM GREAT OCEANIC SAFARI

Overall, I would rate this trip 2 out of 5 stars. However, if I were to separate the different aspects, I would rate the crew 4 out of 5 stars and the boat 1 out of 5 stars. The term "Live-A-Board" is not a fair description and should be better aligned with a basic scuba day boat with rooms. Crew: The crew was friendly, courteous, and treated guests exceptionally well. The food was the best amenity on the boat. Meals were well-prepared, themed each day, and featured amazing flavors and options. The chef was exceptional and received nothing but positive feedback about his culinary skills. Thanks, Miguel, for being the best part of the trip. Boat: The boat is very outdated, poorly organized, and has almost no space for your stuff. The bathroom size was almost identical to those found on an airplane, and after a week, even the most basic functionality was a challenge. There was very little storage, making it difficult to keep personal items organized. The sewer system had issues and many times a day, the toilet wouldn't flush. We were told to wait 4-10 minutes while the tank was pumping to flush. Not convenient when you just used the toilet and now have to wait 10 min to leave the restroom, and this happened several times a day. The beds felt almost as old as the boat and were not comfortable. Dive Schedule: The dive schedule had no flexibility, and getting into the water at certain times felt forced. Our trip was chartered fully by the same dive shop, and each day was like being on a one-day dive boat. This was my ninth live-aboard, and the structure made this by far the worst one to date, which I absolutely loved every past live-aboard to set the bar. We stayed at the same dive spot all day, and it was not possible to explore the Turks as a live-aboard should allow. The purpose of paying a lot of money for a live-aboard is to vacation, have flexibility, tour unreachable areas, and relax. Most dive spots had day boats at it and didn't feel very "exclusive". Boat Design: The boat design caused the boat to drift 180 degrees every few minutes. Whenever you were coming up on the safety stop, the boat would disappear, and you would be 300-400 feet away and need to surface swim. We were told it was due to some heavy front-end design, but never had to chase any other boat as much as this one. Conclusion: I would never recommend this boat to anyone who wants to experience a true live-aboard. The boat’s conditions, lack of comfort, inflexible, aggressive schedule, and lack of basic amenities make this a 1 out of 5 experience and is basically just a day dive boat that stays out for a week. My only positive comment would be the crew and the food. Other live-aboards work to keep you entertained. If there’s an island or beach that’s uninhabited and you wanted to go see it, the boat would entertain trying to make things fun, but any suggestion beyond their strict 5 dives a day schedule was met with a firm "no", which aligns with a structured day boat.

The staff, crew, DM's deckhands were so very professional and really made the experience one to remember. First time on a liveaboard and I can say I am hooked!

This was a trip of a lifetime, and the crew of Explorer Tiburon were a true highlight!!! The attention to detail, the positive and happy atmosphere, the fabulous food, the room care, care of our dive equipment, the list is endless!!

We had a fantastic trip. This was our first "live aboard" and it was truly memorable in the best of ways. The entire crew was incredibly helpful, professional and kind. They were one or two steps ahead of us, ensuring our safety and our enjoyment. The Chef accommodated our needs, the dive guides and purser were exceptional, the Captain was lovely and the Technician and overnight watchman took care of us at every turn. Thank you.

The Caribbean Explorer II crew went way above and beyond our expectations. Dive masters were amazing. Chef had incredible meals, especially the filet mignon tender enough to cut with a fork, Crème Brulé and freshly made yeast rolls to mention just a few of the highlights. There is storage under the beds for suitcases and if this isn't enough the crew can secure them below decks (secure and dry). The water entry was a giant stride drop of 5-6 feet. Nobody on our trip had any problem with it. You could have gone down the ladder to the swim platform, but this way was much more efficient. 18 divers plus 2 leaders could be in the water in just a couple minutes. Handy if there was any current. While waiting for the other divers, there was a line to hold onto. Very well organized and run. Briefing before each dive where dive leader would show detail map of site and describe the intended route. Leaders were very knowledgeable about fish identification and where we were most likely to encounter wildlife.

First class crew with great attitudes, knowledgeable, helpful, friendly, and skilled at what they do. Fantastic cruising route and dive spots selected. Land tours in Saba and St. Kitts were also very interesting. The vessel is well equipped and comfortable. Always felt safe, even in some of the rougher seas.