About Turks & Caicos Explorer II® 

Scuba diving in the Turks & Caicos Islands

The Turks & Caicos Explorer II liveaboard was designed to be the ideal dive yacht to cruise the beautiful Turks & Caicos Islands. Custom designed as a dive boat, she is equipped with Naiad stabilizers and a heavy keel. The vessel serves efficiently as a liveaboard for these remote islands and is ideal for the open-water excursions to the Silver Bank, 80 miles north of the Dominican Republic.

This liveaboard is a favorite among many and carries up to 20 passengers and 8 crew. All staterooms throughout the vessel have port lights or windows, individually-controlled air-conditioning, and private ensuite bathrooms. Turks & Caicos Explorer II is also crewed by a fun, energetic, and hardworking team of divers who are devoted to personalized service and friendly camaraderie above all else. The crew is committed to safety and set a high standard having worked for many years in the liveaboard industry. They will ensure you have an unforgettable diving holiday. 

Turks and Caicos Explorer vessel boat

A liveaboard trip is not just about diving. It’s also about relaxing surface intervals, scenic views, and of course the delicious food! The menu is a mix of locally inspired recipes, American favorites, and gourmet dishes from the chef’s imagination. While on board you will enjoy three meals a day, plus in-between dive snacks. You’ll never be hungry! 

Breakfast is served from 7 to 8 am with cold breakfasts available for late risers, followed by two morning dives with an in-between dive snack (often a fresh-baked pastry or cookies). Lunch is at 12:30 pm, with two afternoon dives and an in-between dive snack. Then a delectable dinner is served around 6:30 pm with a scrumptious dessert. Hot cocoa is offered following the night dive, which divers often enjoy while lounging under the stars on deck. For the duration of your holiday, you will also have access to unlimited soda, juice, tea, coffee, and when finished diving for the day, alcohol, beer, and wine (brands depend on availability.) 

Green Fins digital member

This vessel has been certified by Green Fins as an eco-liveaboard. Green Fins Certified Members are operators who have committed to following the Green Fins Code of Conduct and have achieved a minimum standard of environmental performance during their annual assessments. Learn more here.

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Registry: Vanuatu, 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 gallons 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 a 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 with 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.

Flybridge

The awning-covered flybridge is accessed via semicircular stairs from the boat deck, and features settee seating for 12 to 15, a barbeque, wet bar and helm station.

Boat Deck

The boat deck features a large sunning area with comfortable lounge chairs and chairs, and provides access via an outside walkway to the two VIP staterooms located amidships, as well as the pilothouse forward. Transit storage for the vessel’s tenders is located at the stern. A serving area for buffet meals is located next to the semicircular staircase leading up to the flybridge.

The VIP staterooms 1 & 2 feature individually-controlled air conditioning systems, as well as a queen-sized bed, desk, chair, and private bathroom and shower. Forward of them is located the expansive pilothouse, with access to the Captain’s Stateroom.

Main Deck

The aft half of the main deck is where diving operations take place. The dive deck is equipped with individual gear lockers, camera table, recharging station, air and nitrox filling station, tank racks and separate freshwater rinse baths for dive equipment and cameras. It also has a wetsuit hanging area, freshwater showers, and a bathroom. Large stairways lead down to the dive platform itself, where two in-water ladders hang for easy access to and from the water. Forward of the dive deck is the air-conditioned main salon, where breakfasts and dinners are served. The salon also contains an entertainment center with TV/DVD and stereo, as well as a boutique display and access to all staterooms and the galley.

Staterooms 3 & 4 on the main deck each have twin beds, desk with chair, hanging closet, wardrobe, storage, individually-controlled air conditioning, and private bathroom and shower.

Staterooms 5-7 on the main deck each have twin/queen beds, desk with chair, hanging closet, wardrobe, storage, individually-controlled air conditioning, and private bathroom and shower.

Lower Deck

The lower deck of the vessel includes the compressor and dive gear storage room aft, accessed from the dive platform through two watertight doors.

Staterooms 8-10 are accessed via a circular staircase from the main salon; each includes twin upper/lower beds, wardrobe, hanging closet, individually-controlled air conditioning, and private bathroom and shower. Also located on the lower deck is the communications room, and crew cabins.