Dive Advice Travel
dive liveaboard specialists .... the world's finest diving
T & C Explorer II
The 115-foot (35-meter) Turks & Caicos Explorer II accommodates up to 20 guests in 10 cabins. She takes divers to explore the sponge& coral-covered plunging walls of Turks & Caicos.
A word from Dom : " For a great Caribbean escape vacation, T & C Explorer II offers classic Caribbean diving, but beyond that, she does trips annually to the Silver Bank for swimming with humpback whales. We love getting the glowing feedback from divers at the end of each of these trips. If you haven't had the pleasure yet, it's something no one should miss." ...... Dominick Macan
ON BOARD TURKS & CAICOS EXPLORER II
2 upper deck DOUBLE cabins All have individually controlled air conditioning and a private bathroom. up to 5 dives per day (weather permitting) accommodation & diving international & domestic airfare
queen bed, TV & picture windows
2 main deck TWIN cabins
2 side-by-side twin beds & picture window
3 main deck DOUBLE / TWIN cabins
1 queen bed or 2 adjacent twin beds & picture window
3 lower deck TWIN cabins
bunk style twin beds & porthole
scuba gear rental available (tell us in advance)
most dives from the main vessel
nitrox available
water temperature: 72 - 82F, 22 - 28C
3 -5 mm wetsuit recommended
meals, snacks
alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages
compressed air, tanks, weights & weight belts
transfers
port hotel tax, departure tax
scuba rental gear (please ask in advance)
fuel surcharge
Friday evening meal ashore
GENEROUS SPACE & EASY LIVING
Turks & Caicos Explorer is 4 decks of diving liveaboard comfort and relaxation. Starting at the top of this roomy vessel, you find the fly deck with a large, awning-covered fly-bridge, a wet bar and seating for 12 to 15. On the main deck is located the air-conditioned main salon with dining tables, TV, CD/DVD, video library and lounge area. Behind this area is a large sundeck with lounge chairs, barbecue and buffet area. Also on this deck are two of the staterooms. At the front of the vessel on the next deck down (the dive deck) are 5 of the staterooms while 3 more staterooms are located on the lower deck.
You'll enjoy hot breakfasts with fresh fruits while lunches include soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers. Homemade baked breads, cookies and brownies are offered between dives. Evening meals consist of fresh vegetables and meats. If you have any dietary restrictions or requests, please let us know on your application form.
The dive deck is equipped with a bathroom, individual gear bins, camera table, recharging station, air and nitrox filling stations, tank racks, freshwater showers, and a separate fresh water rinse for both scuba and underwater camera equipment. There are two large stairways accessing the dive platform, where two in-water ladders hang for easy access to and from the water.
Island shore excursions will be arranged when possible for those interested. The Turks & Caicos Explorer II is equipped with a satellite telephone for outgoing calls worldwide.
LAYOUT & SPECS
DECK PLAN
SPECIFICATIONS
Boatmaker: Swiftships, 1975/1995
Recommissioned: 2005
Construction: aluminum
Length: 124 ft
Beam: 22 ft
Draft: 8.0 ft
Displacement: 99 tons
Maximum Speed: 14 knots
Maximum Range: 1500 nautical miles
Heads: 6 lower deck, 1 dive deck, 5 main deck, 3 boat deck
Other Equipment: Full service all electric galley and refrigeration, Scotsman Ice Flakers (2), Boatwide stereo audio system, recharging station for strobes, batteries, etc.
Tenders: Rigid hull inflatables, used for passenger transport and diver pickup
MACHINERY
Engines: 2 John Deere 6135AFM75 main engines, 500 hp each
Generators: 1 John Deere Diesel producing 110 V AC/220 V AC, 100 KW capacity; 1 GM 671 Diesel producing 110 V AC/220 V AC, 75 KW capacity
Fuel Capacity: 5,600 gallons
Freshwater Supply: 2 Reverse Osmosis water makers, 5,000 gallon per day total, 4,500 gallon storage
Air Systems: 2 Bauer K-14 9 cfm compressors, electric, with cascade-type storage banks, located in lazarette
Nitrox System: Nitrox Technologies membrane system, producing 32% nitrox, located in lazarette
Electricity: 220 V and 110 V AC power (110 V AC 3 prong grounded outlets in all cabins and heads)
NAVIGATION
48-mile Simrad radar with proximity alarms
Autopilot
Global Positioning System (GPS) with location alarm
Digital Depth sounder with alarm
Digital bottom recorder
computerized chart system with GPS link
COMMUNICATIONS
Satellite phone with data link
Cellular telephone,
SSB Radiotelephone
VHF radios
Engine and bilge alarms
Internal telephone system
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Life rafts (2)
life rings/strobes
life vests/strobes
emergency position locator
flares
oxygen and first aid equipment
ITINERARIES
The Turks & Caicos Explorer II offers up to 5 dives daily on itineraries to Provo, West Caicos & French Cay in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos.
Caribbean reef sharks are common, as are spotted eagle rays, jacks, grouper, and turtles. Hammerheads and blacktips are spotted on a frequent basis and occasionally manta rays and dolphins make an appearance. You'll dive spectacular walls filled with huge gorgonian fans, barrel sponges, hard-coral arches and macro life.
There are also special Grand Turks itineraries (diving Grand Turk, South Caicos, French Cay and/or Salt Cay) on a full charter basis. Contact us for details.
TRAVEL & CRUISE LOGISTICS
The regular Turks and Caicos cruise itineraries run from Saturday to Saturday, departing from and returning to the Caicos Marina and Shipyard, Providenciales (Provo). Guests will be met at the airport by a local driver. If you arrive on an early flight, you’ll be given the option to stay at the airport restaurant to relax or to go to the shopping/restaurant area called Salt Mills (this is a few dollars more than a direct taxi ride to the vessel). In either case, the driver will deliver you to the vessel around the 3 pm boarding time.
Sunday to Friday encompass full days of diving and cruising between Turks & Caicos dive sites. Days on board generally involve breakfast from 7 am to 8 am followed by two morning dives, lunch at 12:30 pm, two afternoon dives, dinner at 6:30 pm, and a night dive.
The Turks & Caicos Explorer II arrives back in Providenciales mid-day Friday. Transportation will be provided for a casual dinner on Friday evening. Guests spend Friday night and have Saturday Continental breakfast on board between 7:00 and 8:30 am, departing the vessel after breakfast. There will be sufficient time to catch a flight out at any time on Saturday.
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