73diver
Contributor
I just returned from a ver pleasant dive trip aboard the Turks & Caicos Explorer II. There was a crew of 6 (captain, purser, engineer, chef and two mates). The crew members were scuba instructors. The first thing that impressed me was the energy and passion of the crew. The food and accommodations were excellent. The 18 passengers were allowed five guided dives per day. Hot towels after a night dive was a welcome treat. Tanks from 60 to 100 cu. ft. we’re available; 80 cu. ft. was typical. Nitrox 31% was available. Divers normally stayed with the guide. However, divers could go as separate buddy teams or solo divers (possessing appropriate certifications) by providing a dive plan. Divers were asked to limit dives to 90’ with no deco and return to the boat with 500 PSI. Two divers with physical limitations required assistance with the collective weight of BCD, ballast weight and tank. This was handled smoothly by the crew. It appeared that every aspect of diver safety and convenience had been incorporated into the layout of the dive area: Hot showers, numerous rinse tanks, large camera bench, warm area for wet suit stowage, individual “cubbies” to store small gear, etc. The ground transportation to and from the airport was seamless.