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Caribbean Explorer II St. Maaten Liveaboard Diving Review

Liveaboard Review Introduction

Image courtesy of Liveaboard.com; for more information click here: Caribbean Explorer II
Liveaboard Quick Review The Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard is a 35m (115f) St. Maaten diving safari boat for up to 18 guests enjoying 9 cabins and 9 bathrooms. This St. Maaten liveaboard has a customer review rating of 9.0 out of 10 and is rated 'Superb'.
Liveaboard Review Tips If you are looking for a superb St Maarten liveaboard diving safari, a great choice is the Caribbean Explorer II diving liveaboard. Here's our quick 7 review tips of why you might like to book this St. Maaten diving liveaboard boat:
1. Customer Rating The Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard has a customer review rating of 9.0 out of 10, and is rated "Superb".
2. Scuba Diving Earth Luxury Rating Summary Diver Benefits: 7 out of 9, Liveaboard Design: 8 out of 9, Cabin Luxury: 2 out of 7, Onboard Comfort: 2 out of 7, Food Luxury: 6 out of 11, Drink Luxury: 9 out of 9. This makes an average Total Lux Rating of 34 out of 52 (see below under "Liveaboard Luxury Features Review" for more details).
3. Cost Per Day The Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard costs from £194 per day ($237/€221)* .
4. Pros A quick list of the main pros of the Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard include: aircon cabins, available for charter, caters for dietary requirements, ensuite cabins, diving courses, paid nitrox, scuba gear rental.
5. Cons A quick list of the main cons of the Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard include: no flexible or extra flexible booking, no internet.
6. Liveaboard Capacity The Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard is 35 metres (115 feet) long, has 9 cabins and 9 bathrooms, which means it can accommodate up to 18 guests/divers.
7. Booking Itineraries The booking itineraries for the Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard include: 8 Days/7 Nights. (But it's worth checking if more diving itineraries have been added or you can book by click here: Caribbean Explorer II).
Booking tips Before you book and pay for your flights, you first need your itinerary dates confirmed for your liveaboard trip. 8 steps to follow: 1. Select an itinerary; 2. Choose a cabin; 3. Select number of people in your party; 4. Enter your email address and confirm; 5. Your trip will be held by the liveaboard operator until your dates are confirmed. 6. You'll receive a booking confirmation by email allowing you 2-3 days before payment is due; 7. Book your flights to St. Maaten; 8. Pay for your Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard trip.
Discover More To find out more or book the Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard you can do this here: Caribbean Explorer II
* Note The above cost per day was correct at the time of producing this article. Also, the exchange rate used for GBP to USD is 1.22 and for GBP to Euro is 1.14. For an up-to-date cost for the Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard, please visit this link: Caribbean Explorer II.
Liveaboard main photo
Image courtesy of Liveaboard.com; for more information click here: Caribbean Explorer II

Liveaboard Discounts

Last Minute Liveaboard Deals Before reading more about the St. Maaten Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard, please take a moment to check any discounts or last minute deals in the list below. (Note: if no liveaboard discounts are listed below, unfortunately this means there are no current deals or discounts available for the Caribbean Explorer II dive boat). Please bookmark this page and check back another time. Alternatively, please check this article here: Discounted Liveaboards Offers & Last Minute Deals.
Latest Liveaboard Diving Discounts Updated
0No Deals
    Last Minute Deals Please Note Many of these last minute deals have a time limit for when the discount expires, so when you click any of the links the deal may have already expired. Also, certain terms and conditions may apply to your chosen booking or discounted deal, and to find out what T&Cs apply, please click on the 'Caribbean Explorer II' liveaboard link above for your chosen last minute deal.
    Last Minute Liveaboard Deals & Discounts
    Liveaboard Discounts If you're looking for a discounted liveaboard trip on the Caribbean Explorer II, it's possible to find liveaboard discounts in excess of 25If no discounts appear above, you may find last minute deals in the itinerary section marked as "Xpecial Discount", as per the above image here: Caribbean Explorer II.
    Liveaboard Diving
    Image courtesy of Liveaboard.com; for more information click here: Caribbean Explorer II

    Liveaboard Review Highlights

    Diving Liveaboard Review St. Maaten Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard review in detail.
    Video Title Caribbean diving vacation St. Maarten, Saba, St Kitts , Caribbean Explorer II
    Flexible Booking This liveaboard does not have flexible booking.
    Nitrox Diving Paid nitrox available, which means you benefit from the many advantages of nitrox diving if you are happy to pay for it. The benefits include extended bottom times so you can spend longer on each dive.
    Dietary Requirements Catered For The onboard chefs will cater for specific dietary requirements, e.g. food allergies like gluten or lactose intolerance, and religious beliefs. This means you can enjoy the onboard meals. You are advised to add any dietary requirements to your special requests at step 2 of the booking form, but limit these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.
    Diving Courses This liveaboard offers diving courses, which means you benefit from being able to advance your diving skills. These training courses are an extra charge.
    Scuba Gear Rental You can rent scuba gear on this dive boat so you benefit from being able travel light and simply rent all your scuba equipment once onboard.
    Internet There is no WIFI or internet available on this liveaboard.
    Ensuite Cabins Cabins on this dive boat benefit from having ensuite bathrooms, so you can shower and get ready in private (Check when booking that the cabin you choose has an ensuite bathroom).
    Aircon Cabins Each cabin has air-conditioning, which means you can choose your own cabin temperature for personal comfort and a good nights sleep.
    Private Charter This liveaboard is available for private charter. If you charter this dive boat you have more flexibility over the choice of dive sites (with the captain's approval), the type of diving and total number of divers/guests onboard (subject to the maximum number of guests onboard - see below).
    DIN Adapters If you have DIN regulators do not worry as this liveaboard has DIN to Yoke regulator adaptors onboard.
    Relaxing between dives
    Image courtesy of Liveaboard.com; for more information click here: Caribbean Explorer II

    Liveaboard Luxury Features Review

    Liveaboard Luxury Features The 'Liveaboard Luxury Rating' concept is to help you choose the right diving liveaboard for your St. Maaten dive trip. This means you can compare this liveaboard with other liveaboards on a like-for-like basis, and makes choosing the right liveaboard much easier.
    SDE Luxury Rating Total (Max 52/52=100%) The Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard has 34 out of a total of 52 possible benefits and features. This total is made up of the following benefits and features:
    Diver Benefits (Max 9/9=100%) The Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard has 7 out of 9 'Diver Benefits' and include: DIN Adapters: YES; Dive Courses: YES; Dive Deck: YES: Gear Rental: YES; Nitrox Onboard: YES; Private Dive Guide: NO; Rinse Hoses: YES; Shaded Dive Area: YES; Tenders For Diving: NO.
    Liveaboard Design (Max 9/9=100%) The Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard has 8 out of 9 'Boat Design Features' and include: Airconditioned Saloon: YES; Charging Stations: YES; Custom Built For Diving: YES; Indoor Saloon: YES; Leisure Deck: YES; Observation Deck: NO; Outside Showers: YES; Sun Deck: YES; Warm Showers: YES.
    Cabin Luxury (Max 7/7=100%) The Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard has 2 out of 7 'Cabin Features' and include: Air-Conditioned Cabins: YES; Cabin Balconies: NO; Daily Housekeeping: NO; Ensuite cabins: YES; Non-smoking Cabins: NO; Seaview cabins available: NO; TV In Cabin: NO.
    Onboard Comfort (Max 7/7=100%) The Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard has 2 out of 7 'Onboard Comfort' features, and include: Beach Towels: NO, Cabin Towels: YES; Complimentary Toiletries: NO; Deck Towels: YES; Internet: NO; Laundry Service: NO; Nearly 1 to 1 Crew-to-Guest Ratio: NO.
    Food Luxury (Max 11/11=100%) The Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard has 6 out of 11 'Food Features' and include: BBQ Area: NO; Beach BBQ: NO; Buffet Style: NO; Dietary Requirements Catered For: YES; Fine Cuisine: NO; Local Food: YES; Outdoor Dining: NO; Snacks All Day: YES; Vegan Options: YES; Vegetarian Options: YES; Western Style Food: YES; (Meal options include: Full-board Option).
    Drink Luxury (Max 9/9=100%) The Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard has 9 out of 9 'Drink Features' and include: Bar: YES; Beer Available: YES; Drinking Water: YES; Fine Wines: YES; Free Soft Drinks: YES; Free Wine With Dinner: YES; Soft Drinks: YES; Tea And Coffee: YES; Wine Available: YES.
    Example of Cabins
    Image courtesy of Liveaboard.com; for more information click here: Caribbean Explorer II

    Customer Reviews of Liveaboard

    Customer Reviews The Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard customer reviews listed here have been chosen for you to get a feel for the scuba diving experience you'll get.
    Customer Review

    Good value trips. Very good trip, small boat and not particularly luxurious but everything worked and it was good value for money considering the great food/drink and service provided by the fantastic crew. Ratings for Diving and Dive Guides together doesnt’ make sense as they are completely independant – guides were excellent (5/5) and the diving was good but not outstanding (3/5) hence the 4/5 overall.” Recommended for: value for money, great crew & food.

    Customer Review By Ceri D, from: United Kingdom scored the Caribbean Explorer II 10 out of 10; Review courtesy of Liveaboard.com, for more reviews and information click here: Caribbean Explorer II.
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    Customer Review

    First live aboard but won’t be my last. As my first live aboard I wasn’t sure what to expect but after just a few minutes on board I knew that this was going to be a great experience. I cannot say enough about the crew, just simply unbelievable service. The food was outstanding and plentiful. And the diving was top notch, 27 dives offered with lots of variation. Wrecks, walls, and reefs from 45 to 130 feet all with lots of life. I am already planning my next adventure with the Explorer family.Recommended for: The crew, the food, the diving.

    Customer Review By David D, from: United States scored the Caribbean Explorer II 9.2 out of 10; Review courtesy of Liveaboard.com, for more reviews and information click here: Caribbean Explorer II.

    Liveaboard Itinerary

    Liveaboard Departure-Arrival Location The Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard departs and returns from the port . Please click here: Caribbean Explorer II to find out how to get from to join the Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard's departure port .
    Itinerary and videos The itineraries below for the Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard don't necessarily tie in with the videos directly below the itinerary heading. The itineraries are examples of dive trips offered by this liveaboard, and the videos are examples of videos taken when diving from the Caribbean Explorer II dive boat.
    Itinerary Option 1 St. Kitts, Saba, St. Maarten - Northbound (St. Kitts - St. Maarten)
    Itinerary Option 1 Detail
    Itinerary 1 Title World's Best Diving: Explorer Ventures Caribbean Explorer II
    Itinerary Option 2 St. Maarten, Saba, St. Kitts - Southbound (St. Maarten - St. Kitts)
    Itinerary Option 2 Detail
    Itinerary 2 Title Scuba diving Liveaboard Sint Maarten, Saba and St. Kitts (Explorer Ventures)
    Title Diving St. Kitts & Saba - Explorer Ventures Caribbean Explorer II
    Another Video
    Title

    Dives and Scuba Diver Experience

    Number of Dives On Trip You will be able to dive up to 25 times in total on the Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard diving trips. The number of times you dive will depend on the itinerary you select.
    Your Diver Certification Level If you choose the Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard for your scuba diving trip to St. Maaten, make sure you select the right itinerary for your diver certification level. Different itineraries include the following alternative PADI certification levels (or equivalent): No Scuba Diving Certification Needed: NO; Open Water Diver: YES; Advanced Open Water Diver: NO.
    Your Logged Dives When choosing the Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard for your dive trip to St. Maaten, make sure you select the right itinerary for how many logged dives you've done. Itineraries on the Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard include the following alternatives: No minimum logged dives: YES; 10 logged dives: NO; 20 logged dives: NO; 30 logged dives: NO; 40 logged dives: NO; 50 logged dives or more: NO; Minimum 60 logged dives: NO; Minimum 80 logged dives: NO; Minimum 100 logged dives: NO.
    Your Diver experience If you choose the Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard for your dive trip to St. Maaten, make sure you select the right itinerary for your level of diver experience. Itineraries on the Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard include the following alternatives: Beginner/Novice (up to 9 logged dives): YES; Advanced Beginner (10-19 dives): NO; Intermediate Diver (20 to 29 logged dives): NO; Advanced Intermediate (30 to 39 logged dives): NO; Proficient Diver (40 to 49 logged dives): NO; Advanced Diver (more than 50 logged dives): NO.
    Type of Diving The type of diving experienced from the Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard includes: Coral Gardens, Deep Dives, Marine Life, Night Dives, Wall Diving, Warm Water Diving, Wreck Diving, Swim-Through's and Caverns.
    Underwater Scooters Onboard Underwater scooters onboard: NO.

    Marine Life Reviewed

    Marine Life Species The sea life you might see on your St. Maaten liveaboard dive trip depends on the time of year you choose to dive, and on which St. Maaten liveaboard and liveaboard itinerary you book. But ultimately the sea creatures you see when scuba diving is always down to nature itself. With these parameters in mind, the marine life you may spot when scuba diving on the Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard in St. Maaten might include:
    Sharks You may see the following sharks species: Bull Sharks, Caribbean Reef Shark, Great Hammerhead Sharks, Lemon Sharks, Nurse Sharks, Tiger Sharks.
    Ray Species You may see the following rays species: Manta Rays, Spotted Eagle Rays, Sting Rays.
    Fish Species You may also see the following fish species: Barracudas, Clownfish (Anemonefish), Frogfish, Flying Gurnards, Garden Eels, Giant (Great) Barracuda, Groupers, Lionfish, Longfinned Banner Fish, Moray Eels, Parrot Fish, Puffer Fish, Reef Fish, Trigger Fish, Yellowfin Tuna.
    Other Marine Life & Bird Species You may see the following marine and bird life: Barrel Sponges, Crabs, Cuttlefish, Hard Corals, Jellyfish, Lobsters, Nudibranchs, Octopus, Soft Corals, Starfish, Turtles.
    Marine Mammal Species You might encounter the following mammals: Dolphins.
    Marine Life Video
    Video Title
    Another Marine Life Video
    Video Title
    Another Marine Life Video
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    Liveaboard Cost and Booking

    Included In The Price The price of booking the Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard includes: Alcoholic Beverages, Cabin Towels, Deck Towels, Diving Package, Drinking Water, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Soft Drinks, Tea & Coffee.
    Paid For Optional Extras The following are optional extras when you book the Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard: Airport Transfer, Gratuities, Land Excursions, Nitrox, Nitrox Course, Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses, Snorkel Equipment.
    Paid For Required Extras The following are required extras when you book the Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard: Fuel Surcharge, National Park Fees, Port Fees, Visas and Fees.

    Boat Capacity

    Boat Length 35 metres (115 feet).
    Maximum Guests 18
    Cabins and Bathrooms The Caribbean Explorer II dive boat has 9 cabins and 9 bathrooms.
    Cabin Types The Caribbean Explorer II has the following cabin types: double cabins, twin cabins.
    Family cabins onboard Family cabins onboard: NO.

    Advanced Divers

    Advanced Diver Benefits (Max 3) The Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard has 0 out of 3 (i.e. 0%) 'Advanced Diver Benefits', which include: Rebreather Support: NO; Sidemount Diving NO; Tech Diving: NO.

    Underwater Photographers

    Underwater Photographer Benefits (Max 3) The Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard has 3 out of 3 (i.e. 100%) 'Underwater Photographer Benefits', which include: Camera Room: YES; Camera Station: YES; Separate Rinse For U/W Cameras: YES.

    Non-Diver Activities

    Non-Diving Activities (Max 17) The Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard has 2 out of 17 (i.e. 12%) 'Non-Diving Activities', which include: Fishing: NO; Glass Bottom Boat: NO; Jacuzzi/Hot Tub: NO; Jet Skiing: NO; Kayaks: NO; Land Excursions: YES; Massage: NO; Naturalist Itineraries: [naturalist_Itineraries]; Naturalist Guide: NO; Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly: YES, Sauna: NO; Snorkel Equipment: NO; Spa: NO; Stand Up Paddle Boards: NO; Wakeboarding: NO; Water Skiing: NO; Yoga: NO.
    Onboard Entertainment (Max 2) The Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard has 2 out of 2 (i.e. 100%) 'Entertainment Features': Audio And Entertainment: YES; Library: YES.

    Traveller Benefits

    Travel Benefits (Max 6) The Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard has 3 out of 6 (i.e. 50%) 'Traveller Benefits', which include: Airport Transfer: YES; Available For Charter: YES, Budget Friendly: NO, Dedicated Local & International Crew: YES; Hotel Transfer: NO; Welcome Cocktails; NO.
    Languages Spoken Onboard The crew onboard the Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard are able to speak the following languages: English.

    Liveaboard Summary

    Conclusion The Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard has a customer review rating of 9.0, is rated 'Superb'. This St. Maaten liveaboard is a 35 metre (115 feet) dive boat for up to 18 guests across 9 cabins (inc. double cabins, twin cabins), and has 9 bathrooms. The Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard has aircon cabins, available for charter, caters for dietary requirements, ensuite cabins, diving courses, paid nitrox, scuba gear rental. To book: Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard prices start at £194 per day ($237/€221)*.
    More Information To discover more about the Caribbean Explorer II diving liveaboard or to check availability for your dive trip to St. Maaten you can do this here: Caribbean Explorer II. But if you want to compare this St. Maaten liveaboard with one of the other liveaboards from St. Maaten, please take a look at the table below. If you are only interested in St. Maaten liveaboards, select "Country" from the list of searchable options from first dropdown menu and type "St. Maaten" in the search box:
    Searchable Liveaboard Countries Countries you can search for liveaboards include: Antarctica, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Fiji, Galapagos, Honduras, Indonesia, Maldives, Mexico, Micronesia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Polynesia, Portugal, Red Sea, Similan Islands, Solomon Islands, St. Maaten, Thailand, Turks and Caicos, Virgin Islands (If you want to search a country other than "St. Maaten", simply copy and past the country name from this list instead).
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    * Note The above cost per day was correct at the time of producing this article. Also, the exchange rate used for GBP to USD is 1.22 and for GBP to Euro is 1.14. For an up-to-date cost for the Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard, please visit this link: Caribbean Explorer II.

    Hope you enjoyed this review about this liveaboard

    Comments or Questions If you have more questions either about snorkelling or scuba diving (or specifically about the Caribbean Explorer II St. Maaten Liveaboard), please comment below with your questions.
    Please Share Please share details about the experience you had on the Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard. Tell us about the dive sites you dived, the time of year of your trip, what marine life you saw, the visibility, the weather and any currents you experienced. Your comments will add to this Caribbean Explorer II Liveaboard review, and they will help other scuba divers decide if this is the right St. Maaten liveaboard for them.
    Have Fun & Be Safe There will also be many more pages and articles about scuba diving and scuba diving safety tips (and on snorkelling too) for you to read and learn about this fabulous sport. Please don't forget to rate the Caribbean Explorer II liveaboard above if you've already dived in St. Maaten from this dive boat, but also make sure you have fun and be safe.
    Caribbean Explorer II St. Maaten Liveaboard Diving Review

    Article written by Russell Bowyer who has been a scuba diver since diving on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia in 1989. After his first dive he trained as a BSAC diver in the UK. He attained his Diver Leader certification with BSAC. He then went on to become a scuba diving instructor, teaching others how to dive and was voted as Diving Officer and Treasurer for the Saffron Walden BSAC club too. Russell has dived all over the world, including the UK, on liveaboards in the Red Sea, the Caribbean, South Africa and the USA. Russell is experienced in all dive types, including drift diving, deep dives that involved decompression stops and recreational dives too.

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