Turks & Caicos Explorer II
Completely retrofitted, the 124-foot Turks & Caicos Explorer II is a well-appointed base for your Caribbean diving. There are ten cabins for a maximum of twenty guests. All cabins have private bathrooms, individually controlled air-conditioning, port lights or windows, and plenty of storage space. Four of the cabins come with a television. Two cabins have a large queen bed, five cabins have two lower twin beds (three of which may be converted into queens), and three cabins have a lower twin bed and an upper twin bed. A comfortable and spacious salon has a bar, an entertainment area with a television, DVD player and stereo equipment. The boat deck offers ample room for sunning and relaxing, and the covered fly bridge has a barbecue with a wet bar.
The large dive deck offers easy access to the water; most of the diving is done from onboard. Individual gear bins, rinse tanks, camera table and recharging facilities are all located in the vicinity. There are two rigid hull inflatables. The Turks & Caicos Explorer II offers gear rental, dive courses and Nitrox. Seven night cruises depart on Saturdays from Providenciales.
Rated #1 Scuba Divers Reader's Choice 2022 Awards - Quality Staff & Cabins!
Please note also that this itinerary is an example only, and will change depending on weather and logistics at the Captain's discretion.
Saturday: Please see the Arrival section under FAQ for information on how to reach the vessel. Due to tides, weather, the vessel's size and available facilities in Providenciales, the location and departure schedule of the vessel may change.
- 1500 Guests may begin to board the Turks & Caicos Explorer II
The vessel will normally be located at Caicos Marina but may depart early due to tides or weather. If you are staying on island, please check in with the vessel on Saturday morning to determine when and where to meet the boat. If you are arriving on Saturday, you will be met at the airport. - 1830 Dinner (snacks or dinner available for those arriving on later flights)
- 2000 Captain's Briefing, documents, etc.
Sunday: Provo's Northwest Point. Four to five dives, with night spent at mooring.
Monday: Two morning dives at Northwest Point, followed by 2-hour trip to West Caicos. Three dives, with night spent at mooring.
Tuesday: Up to five dives at West Caicos, with night spent at mooring.
Wednesday: Two dives at West Caicos, transit to French Cay, three dives at French Cay, with night spent at mooring.
Thursday: Five dives at French Cay, with night spent at mooring.
Friday: Dawn dive and morning dive at French Cay, with departure for the 2-hour trip back to port. Afternoon at leisure; dinner ashore, with night spent aboard vessel.
Saturday:
- 0700/0830 Continental breakfast
- 0900 Depart the Turks & Caicos Explorer II. Should you be leaving on an afternoon flight, you may leave your luggage aboard for pickup later. However, cabs are very expensive and it can be costly to return to the vessel.
Registry: Turks & Caicos, Boatmaker: Swiftships, 1975/1995
Recommissioned: 2005 Construction: All aluminum, L.O.A.: 124 ft, L.W.L.: 115 ft, Beam: 22 ft
Draft: 8.0 ft maximum
Displacement: 99 tons
Maximum Speed: 14 knots
Maximum Range: 1500 nautical miles
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 watermakers, 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)
On the Bridge: 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, Satellite phone with data link, Cellular telephone, SSB Radiotelephone and VHF radios, Engine and bilge alarms, Internal telephone system
Heads: 6 lower deck, 1 dive deck, 5 main deck, 3 boat deck
Accommodations: 20 passengers in 10 staterooms, all w/private ensuite bathrooms and showers. Up to 10 staff in crews' quarters.
Safety Equipment: Life rafts (2), life rings/strobes, life vests/strobes, emergency position locator, flares, oxygen and first aid equipment
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.
For more on the boat, watch HERE
