Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard Reviews & Specials - Bluewater Dive Travel

Caribbean Explorer II

4.0833333333333
(3 REVIEWS)
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II
Caribbean Explorer II

Destination: Caribbean

Saba, St. Maarten and St. Kitts (7 Nights) | From $299++/night

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Caribbean Explorer II Quick Pitch

The Caribbean Explorer II covers the Northeastern Caribbean which offers a great blend of Dutch, British, French and native cultures on some of the most scenic islands of the Caribbean. With a combination of diving and optional island access, not only do you get about 5 dives a day, but also ample time to explore forts, rainforests, duty-free shops, and museums.

 

Location

Departing St. Kitts & St. Maarten, the trip runs Saturday to Saturday.

 

Dive Overview

The variety of the topography and types of dive sites that are visited will amaze you! Saba is known for its submerged offshore pinnacles, St Kitts offers a great mix of wrecks, reefs, and dropoffs

[See: Saba & St. Kitts Dive Travel Guide]

 

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Accommodations

Types of Cabins, Amenities and Photos

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Caribbean Explorer II Cabin Details

The 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.

Caribbean Explorer II Caribbean Explorer II Caribbean Explorer II

Main deck cabins

Caribbean Explorer II's lower deck cabin Caribbean Explorer II's lower deck cabin Caribbean Explorer II's lower deck cabin

Lower deck cabins

 

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General Facilities

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Caribbean Explorer II's salon Caribbean Explorer II's salon

Caribbean Explorer II's Salon

Caribbean Explorer II Caribbean Explorer II's dive deck

Caribbean Explorer II's sundeck and dive deck

 

Caribbean Explorer II Boat Features

  • Air-conditioned salon
  • TV, CD/DVD, video library
  • Lounge area
  • Large sundeck with lounge chairs
  • Boutique
  • Satellite telephone for incoming and outgoing calls worldwide

 

Caribbean Explorer II Dive Facilities

  • Large dive deck
  • Storage bins
  • Camera table with low-pressure air hose
  • Recharging station
  • Air and nitrox filling stations
  • Tank racks
  • Separate fresh water rinse for both scuba and underwater camera equipment
  • Photo/video lab

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Food & Drinks Aboard 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 bread, 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 to find low-fat, gluten-free, or soy products, fresh fruit, fish, and other items common elsewhere.

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Caribbean Explorer II Deck Plan

Caribbean Explorer II

 

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Schedule, Rates & Availability

Caribbean Explorer II Schedule & Rates

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Prices are in USD, per person and do not include fuel surcharge, immigration, and Marine Park fees.

[See also: Inclusions & Exclusions]

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Inclusions

  • 7 Nights/8 Days Aboard The Vessel
  • Up To 4 or 5 Dives Daily (Weather Permitting and Depending on Season)
  • 3 Meals Daily, Except Friday’s Evening Meal
  • Between-Dive Snacks
  • Alcohol And Non-Alcoholic Beverages
  • Towels
  • Use Of Tanks, Weights, And Weight Belts

 

Exclusions

  • Flights  
  • Airport Taxes  
  • Port, Immigration and Marine Park Fees: US$115 per person
  • Fuel Surcharge: US$140 per person
  • Crew gratuities, dive instruction, optional island tours, dive gear rental (other than tanks, weights and weight belts)
  • Nitrox: US$10 per fill or US$150 per week
  • Rental Gear & Dive Courses  
  • Airport transfers currently run about US$15-30 per person in St. Maarten and US$10-15 per person in St. Kitts. 
  • Prices for optional land tours are $35 pp in Saba and $50 pp in St Kitts (prices can change anytime).
  • Travel And Dive Insurance  
  • Guaranteed Single Occupancy Is Billed An Additional 65% Of The Stateroom Price

 

RATES & AVAILABILITY

For more information on other departure dates, rates, and on availability email us at info@bluewaterdivetravel.com or call us at +1-310-915-6677 and we will gladly help you plan your dream dive vacation!

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Dive Information & Itineraries

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Northeastern Caribbean Itinerary Overview

In the Northeastern Caribbean, there are 2 itineraries, depending on the week you choose to dive. They depart alternate weeks from St. Maarten and St. Kitts. If you choose a charter which begins in St. Maarten, the charter will end in St. Kitts and you will fly home from there. If you choose a charter that begins in St. Kitts, the charter will end in St. Maarten and that will be your return location. Package includes 7 nights/8 days aboard the vessel; up to 5 dives daily (weather permitting).  

 

Caribbean Explorer II

 

St. Maarten Departures Sample Itinerary

Days aboard the vessel generally involve breakfast from 7 to 8 am (cold breakfasts are available for late risers), followed by two morning dives, lunch at 12:30 pm, two afternoon dives, dinner at 6:30 pm, and a night dive. Island tours will be arranged at each island visited for those interested; further island access is available daily upon request. Please note that these itineraries are examples only, and will change depending on weather and logistics at the Captain's discretion.

  • Saturday: St. Maarten
  • 1500: Guests board
  • 1830: Dinner (snacks or dinner available for those arriving on later flights)
  • 2000: Captain's Briefing, documents, etc.
  • 2200: Depart for Saba (2 1/2 hours) (Sometimes departure is earlier or later, but flights should not be scheduled for arrival after 4pm on Saturday)
  • Sunday - Tuesday: Saba
  • 5 dives daily; optional island tour on Monday. Night crossing to St. Kitts (2 1/2 hours).
  • Wednesday-Thursday: St. Kitts
  • 5 dives. Night at mooring.
  • Friday: St. Kitts
  • 2 dives and lunch; return to Port Zante. Afternoon island tour and dinner ashore, with night spent aboard vessel at dock.
  • Saturday: St. Kitts
  • 0700-0830: Continental breakfast
  • 0900: Depart the vessel. Should you be leaving on an afternoon flight, feel free to leave your luggage aboard (or on the dock alongside) until you depart.

 

St. Kitts Departures Sample Itinerary

Days aboard the vessel generally involve breakfast from 7 to 8 am (cold breakfasts are available for late risers), followed by two morning dives, lunch at 12:30 pm, two afternoon dives, dinner at 6:30 pm, and a night dive. Island tours will be arranged at each island visited for those interested; further island access is available daily upon request. Please note that these itineraries are examples only, and will change depending on weather and logistics at the Captain's discretion.

  • Saturday: St. Kitts
  • 1500: Guests board
  • 1830: Dinner (snacks or dinner available for those arriving on later flights)
  • 2000: Captain's Briefing, documents, etc. Night spent at dock.
  • Sunday -Tuesday: St. Kitts
  • 5 dives daily; optional island tour on Monday. Night crossing to Saba (2 hours).
  • Wednesday - Thursday: Saba
  • 5 dives daily; optional island tour on Thursday. Nights spent at mooring.
  • Friday: Saba - St. Maarten
  • 2 dives at Saba before lunch; early afternoon crossing to St. Maarten. Afternoon at leisure and dinner ashore, with night spent aboard vessel at dock.
  • Saturday: St. Maarten
  • 0700-0830: Continental breakfast
  • 0900: Guests depart the vessel. Should you be leaving on an afternoon flight, please feel free to leave your luggage aboard (or on the dock alongside) until you depart.
 

[See: Saba & St. Kitts Dive Travel Guide]    

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Other Information

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Boat Specifications

  • Registry: Vanuatu
  • Boatmaker: Camcraft, 1978
  • Recommissioned: 1999
  • Construction: All aluminum
  • L.O.A.: 115 ft
  • L.W.L.: 101 ft
  • Beam: 20 ft
  • Draft: 7.5 ft
  • Maximum Displacement: 99 tons
  • Maximum Speed: 12 knots
  • Maximum Range: 1,000 nautical miles
  • Engines: 2 GM 12 V 71 diesel main engines, 450 hp. each
  • Generators: 2 John Deere Diesels producing 110 V AC/220 V AC, 75 KW capacity.
  • Fuel Capacity: 2,500 gallons
  • Freshwater Supply: 2 reverse osmosis watermakers, 1,200 gallons per day, 1,500-gallon storage
  • Air Systems: 2 Bauer K-14 9.7 cfm compressors, electric, with cascade-type storage banks, located in engine room. Nitrox membrane, producing 32% nitrox, bank storage
  • Maximum guests: 18
  • Number of cabins: 9
  • Number of bathrooms: 10 (one on dive deck; private facilities in each cabins)
  • Number of crews: 8
  • Safety Equipment: Life rafts (4), life rings/strobes (4), life vests/strobes (25), emergency position locator, flares, oxygen, and first aid equipment
  • Tender: 16-foot rigid hull inflatable (25 hp. engine) used for passenger transport

 

Practical Information

  • Time Zone: UTC-4
  • Currency: USD (US Dollar) is widely accepted
  • Language Spoken: English
  • Electricity: 220 V and 110 V
  • Payment Onboard: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover or cash

 

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Got Questions? Ready to Book?

Call us today at +1-310-915-6677 or email us info@bluewaterdivetravel.com

And let us book your dream vacation!

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Underwater Gallery

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Caribbean Explorer II Caribbean Explorer IICaribbean Explorer II Caribbean Explorer IICaribbean Explorer II Caribbean Explorer II 

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Reviews (3)

5
3
4
0

CARIBBEAN EXPLORER II - EXPLORER VENTURES - ST KITTS/SABA/ST MARTIN REVIEW

Explorer Ventures has been running the Saba/St.Kitts/St. Maarten liveaboard for a while now, and I've been been on this boat three times now, once in the Southeastern Bahamas and twice on this tour. The staff and the diving always keep me coming back for more, so much that by now it even feels a little like returning to a vacation home whenever I arrive at the boat.

The Caribbean Explorer 2 is a comfortable 115' boat with 9 air conditioned staterooms housing up to 18 divers total. The rooms are cool and comfortable, although they can feel a little cramped if two roommates are both carrying extra bags of camera and video gear. Each is equipped with a private head and shower and all the soaps and shampoos are generously provided.

The salon is not air-conditioned, although it felt very cool on our trip with the constant island breezes blowing, but I wanted to point that out in case anyone may be turned off by it. The accommodations exceeded my own expectations and I think it’s a great value for a week of diving the waters of the West Indies. I slept like a baby every night and was always perfectly comfortable on the boat.

The staff is top-notch with Explorer Ventures. Every trip on the Caribbean Explorer 2 is like a reunion with staff members that have been there for many years. That alone should tell you something. They are a hard-working, passionate bunch of dive professionals and I would put them up against any liveaboard I've ever been on. Not only that, the staff back at the office has always been amazingly helpful, this past trip they happily helped straighten out my "little" ticketing mistake with our return travel. I'll keep those details to myself out of embarrassment, but I do owe them my thanks. I was also appreciative of the attentive care and handling my camera got as they lowered it into the water at the start of the dive and took it from me at the back deck when the dive was over.

THE DIVING

The dive conditions this year (July 2014) was not as good as the last time I was there a couple of years ago, but we did see some great things. All the usual suspects were there plus three frogfish and a pretty large seahorse... the first one I've ever seen after 250+ dives. There were sea hares, sea slugs, octopi, an amazing neck crab (also a first for me) and plenty of eels often seen out in the open. Mostly I would recommend a macro lens for these dives as there were so many little things to shoot, although we did had some exciting wide-angle action with a couple of smallish reef sharks after Divemaster Brett speared some lionfish and offered them up. I also enjoyed an extended communion with a couple of reef squid that circled me like curious dragonflies... and communion is the right word as I do believe they were welcoming me into the tribe!

A few dives were affected by too much current, lower vis than I remembered before, and a few of the reefs were a little beaten up, though plenty of fish abound. Yet there is a dive site called Tent Reef that is just as wonderful as I remember it from before, with lots of ledges, nooks and crannies just chockablock full of sea-life of all kinds. We had a few dives in this magical spot, and the place never gets old for me!

I remember my biggest worry about going on my first liveaboard years ago: feeling like I would miss out on some amazing meals in the land-based restaurants. After all, part of a vacation for me is the food! Luckily, my concern was totally unfounded. The meals (and snacks) on the Caribbean Explorer 2 are a delight, easily comparable to the meals you get in any restaurant. All the guests were very complimentary of the freshly-made food each day from the hot breakfasts in the morning to the scrumptious deserts capping off the evening meals. I was always more than fueled for the five daily dives (the last one being a night dive) and the multitude of beer and spirits kept my own up after the diving was done.

OTHER FUN STUFF

The land tours of Saba and St. Kitts were fascinating and well worth it if you have never seen the islands. Saba is home to the "Road That Couldn't Be Built," a precarious-looking series of switchbacks that claw their way up the craggy hills, and the St. Kitts tour features the amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site called Brimstone Hill, a 1700s fort that seems right out of the Pirates Of The Caribbean movies. You may also see the ruins of an old Sugar Cane factory and the grave of Thomas Jefferson's great great great grandfather, Sam Jefferson II.

To sum it all up, I think the Caribbean Explorer 2 is a great value for the money. I've had so much fun on this boat in the past and I look forward to many voyages to come!

Visited on 07/2014 - Submitted on 08/09/2014
5
5
5
5

Arrived in St Maarten a few days ahead of joining Explorer Venturer's live aboard the Caribbean Explorer II to check out the diving in St Maarten itself. Though you boarded the ship in St Maarten you did not dive St Maarten. I chose to try out Octopus Diving because they were on the opposite side of the Island from the cruise ship traffic and had fast boats that serviced both sides of the island. By Florida standards the pricing may have seemed a little high but when you considered they provided everything we needed except camera gear it was well worth the convenience of not having to unback our gear packed for the liveaboard. The two man crew loaded and unloaded our rental gear and we just got to walk away. One got an excellent tour of the island and the boats were new. The directions from the guides was very concise and clear. We dove 2 dives each on two days and both dive boats served us well. There were only 4 guest total and I think they only take a max of 6. You did have to walk out to the boat in about chest deep water but we were going to be getting wet anyway! The visibility was not good, nor was the reef, and the surge was rough to deal with for photography but it was another spot to pin on the world map and I did get to shoot a pair of nudibranchs. There were huge barrel sponges and feather dusters, and a number of crinoids.

Visited on 01/2014 - Submitted on 02/27/2014
5
4
4
4

I booked one of Explorer Ventures "Crazy Insane Specials" departing St Maarten on to Saba then final destinatin St. Kitts, 7 nights 5 days per day (4 daytime a 1 night) for $999 per person, for that I have to give the overall value 5 stars. Though the room was small and did not have a desk, there was amble storeage under the bed and the attatched private bathroom had a full shower and home style toilet. The dive deck had a large camera station with air hose for drying housings, plenty of towels, 2 large dedicated rinse buckets, a toilet, and hot shower. The crew of 6 + Captain were energetic, happy, and attentive. After night dives with octopus and nurse sharks, you got wrapped in a warm towel and handed a hot coco or hot mixed drink before retiring to your made up bed with chocolates on the pillow. Though we did see reef and nurse sharks, large rays and turtles we did not see any eagle rays or mantas so I gave 4 stars. I did get a pic of my first Bumble Bee shrimp thanks to the guidence by the divemasters. The food was fresh, varied and well prepared but did not offer any fish so I gave 4 stars. The crew were very careful with camera gear.

Visited on 01/2014 - Submitted on 02/27/2014

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