About Us

More than twenty years ago, in June of 1987, the 100-foot, 18-passenger Caribbean Explorer inaugurated the fleet, beginning operation from St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles and offering week-long itineraries visiting the islands of Saba, Statia and St. Kitts in the Northeastern Caribbean. In 1999, Explorer Ventures acquired the 72-foot, 18-passenger power catamaran Nimrod Explorer based in Cairns, Australia and expanded its liveaboard diving operations to include 4- to 8-day itineraries in the Far Northern Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, including remote reef systems just south of Papua New Guinea.In 2003, Explorer Ventures again added to the fleet, purchasing the 18-passenger, 115 foot Caribbean Explorer II to take over the company’s longest-running itinerary in the Northeastern Caribbean. The original Caribbean Explorer was extensively refit and moved to Providenciales, in the Turks and Caicos Islands just southeast of the Bahamas, to again offer week-long itineraries accessing the area’s crystal-clear waters and dramatic underwater drop-offs.In early 2005, the 20-passenger, 130 foot Turks & Caicos Explorer II became the newest addition to the Explorer Ventures Fleet, and took over the Turks & Caicos itinerary. The largest and most luxurious vessel in the fleet, it now operates year-round from Providenciales and offers an exceptional week of diving in the islands.

The original vessel was again moved, this time to the islands and cays of the Southern Bahamas. Now based year-round in Georgetown, Great Exuma, the original Caribbean Explorer I is still considered one of the best liveaboard dive vessels in the Caribbean, and provides guests with an affordable liveaboard diving experience they will not soon forget.

In February 2007, the newest addition to the Explorer Ventures Fleet entered service – the 16-passenger vesseloffers 8-day liveaboard diving excursions from the central Galapagos archipelago.

On October 25th, the vessel that started it all, the Caribbean Explorer I, said good bye to her last guests and has retired. Over 12,000 guests – many of them more than 10 times – have used Caribbean Explorer I as a floating hotel to experience the wonders of the Northeastern Caribbean, the Turks & Caicos Islands, and most recently the Bahamas.  Since 1987, she has provided her guests with fond memories both above the water and under the water. Her most recent and very popular itinerary in the Southern Bahamas will be taken over in the spring and summer months by the 18-passenger Caribbean Explorer II, which accommodates all guests in 9 air-conditioned staterooms with private bathrooms and showers. In the fall and winter months, Caribbean Explorer II will return to the Northeastern Caribbean to show her guests the history, culture and outstanding diving of St. Maarten, Saba, Statia and St. Kitts.

In early October 2008, we said goodbye to another old friend.  Nimrod Explorer, their Cairns, Australia-based liveaboard dive vessel, was unexpectedly sold to be used as a mothership for the World Health Organization, and is already on station in the Solomon Islands. 

Even with the changes of Explorer Ventures‘ fleet over the past few years, the foundation of the company is still the same – providing guests with world-class liveaboard diving vacations at an exceptional value. Explorer Ventures continues to hope that each guest we have aboard our vessels becomes more than just a guest – a life-time friend!

Responses

  1. My husband and I had the pleasure of diving aboard the CEXI this past June. We enjoyed our trip so much we came home and planned our next EV trip. This June we’ll be aboard the CEXII and we can’t wait!

    I love the new website and the blog. Great color scheme and easy loading of pages. Much easier to find forms and info now I think. Keep up the good work and good luck with your business. I hope you continue to be able to keep the prices lower than your competition. I’m planning on doing all the itineraries!

  2. Thanks for the comment Irene! We are glad that you enjoyed your trip in the Bahamas and we look forward to you sailing with us on CEXII in June!


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