One last thing, the Explorer swings on it's mooring a lot.
True, but liked it. I would burn up most of my remaining gas hanging off the rudder strut and enjoying the ride. She swings is a strange figure-8.
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One last thing, the Explorer swings on it's mooring a lot.
good tip but on next trip I will bring a red filter to put over light alsoYes, I tend to cover my light with my hand whenever we see a light-sensitive creature on a night dive, letting out just a little bit of light between my fingers and from around the edges; that little bit of light, plus the light from other divers' lights, is usually enough to see the creature well, but not enough to scare it away. Does anyone else do this?
agreed- brings you for a nice ride but got to wait for other divers to surface so a bunch not clinging to ropeTrue, but liked it. I would burn up most of my remaining gas hanging off the rudder strut and enjoying the ride. She swings is a strange figure-8.
great photos and we as divers do not want 5 Star, we want great diving and friendly service. And I like yourself would return in a second to Explorer III was on the Turk & Caicos Explorer in the fall of 2014. Here are some of my impressions:
The Boat & Crew:
The boat is not a 5 Star resort, but within a few minutes, it will be home.
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Dining area and Main Salon
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The Dive Deck
You will be made to feel welcome and the crew will hit that magical balance of treating you like family while still looking after your every need. The two DMs while I was on board were a pair of sisters from the UK, Pippa and Bunjee Jo. Their dive briefings are among the best I have ever seen. Here is an example from the week that I was on of their briefing for a dive site known as "G Spot" (unfortunately, the sound is not that great).
The Diving:
IMHO, the reefs were healthy but perhaps not spectacular. There was abundant fish life and as noted, it was very "sharky", with Reef Sharks being seen almost every day. The "typical" dive site would be a sandy flat at about 50 feet leading to a sheer wall that drops of to the abyss.
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Coral Head in the shallows
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The edge of the wall
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The face of the wall
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Reef Shark in the shallows
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Over/Under shot
Conclusion:
I guess the best way to sum up any trip is to ask myself "If I had the chance, would I do it again?" I would whole heartedly answer that with "Yes".
We also hung off the back one night and watched the reef sharks feed in the bow lights - later that night when we were done diving they moved to the back and I watched them feed there also.
As far as reef sharks, I've never seen more than at French Cay except at shark feeds and I've dove a Bahamas liveaboard also. I also counted about 2 dozen Stingrays one dive - most sleeping on the sand near the mooring. Many with their compannion fish so that was cool to see. A couple let me get real close b4 raising their tails to warn me off - I'm talking 3-4' away. I was ambushed by a big old turtle at one of the West Caicos sites - swimming out to the reef he was suddenly in my face. The DM said sometimes he bumps people in the chest as he goes by.
We also hung off the back one night and watched the reef sharks feed in the bow lights - later that night when we were done diving they moved to the back and I watched them feed there also.
We didn't see any dolphins but heard them once at a site they were known to visit. As mentioned no wrecks except Thunderdome - a shallow re-bar set of domes used by a defunct tv show. It's one of the first dives you do off NW Point.
One night dive we followed some conch for a while, they make very distinct patterns in teh sand. A huge eagle ray flew over.
The water is crystal clear so you need less light than you think. I amused myself at safety stops lighting up the bottom 60' below and I only have a cheap 200lumen dive light.
I'd go again...
Short answer: Not necessarily. I really enjoy both destinations, and will be on the Aquacat (out of Nassau) in October.Conversely, having done liveaboards in both destinations, would you agree with this statement: "A bad day of diving in the Turks & Caicos is better than a good day of diving in the Bahamas?"
Did the sharks or any other large predators follow you and use your dive lights to hunt on night dives? It is typical for tarpon to follow divers and their lights on night dives and use them in order to hunt on Bonaire. I did six night dives on Bonaire, and we always had at least a few tarpon following us and our lights.