A good mix of reef and pelagics.
It's there. Sharks on
every dive off French Cay. Sharks on many dives off West Caicos. One dive - I believe off West Caicos - I counted 23-24 Stingray's in the sand by the mooring. A couple let me get really close - like 2-3' before twitching their tails to let me know that was close enough. Many had their companion fish (snapper?) hovering overhead. Frequent turtles, lots of big lionfish down the wall, some cuda, conch at night, some big crabs - the kind that look like finger crushers if they got yours.
There's also an insane amount of macro, one of our group shot hundreds of baby fish, nudis etc. I often saw him completely under a coral head near the boat. I spent most of one dive filming up/down one coral head - probably 3-4 dozen baby fish species, small crabs, those spotted shells that move, feather dusters, etc. Off NW Point JoJo the dolphin might pay a visit (google him) We heard - but did not see - a pod at the site with the submerged engine.
Looks like the T&C dives run a bit deeper if you choose but not always necessary. I saw some dive time limits but don't recall if any listed for Explorer.
The moorings at many sites are 40+ - some as deep as 60' but that's unusual. Often near some little islet or West Caicos - the moorings are between shore and the wall. I don't think there is a time limit, they allow plenty of time for 2 dives and gnerally move the boat before meals. They don't babysit but no deco. On our boat there was a newer couple who asked for a DM about 1/2 the time. Most of us followed one once at West Caicos looking for something he said we'd never find on our own (plane wreck?) Other than that we
never played follow the DM except on the drift dives.
Here's the number one thing to know about the moorings. The Explorer drifts on it's mooring -
a lot. And it's fast since the side of the boat catches the wind. So when returning to the ship if it's anywhere near about 1 O'clock relative to your safety stop location - you already missed it. Wait five minutes and it will be back. People try to swim to it and catch it - most never have. The crew will tell you this also. And they're long moorings so a trick is to ask the DM when the boat is closest to the wall (hint - usually away from the land mass) since it will save you a decent swim to it.
I know the Explorer anchors to dive. Do any of the liveaboards do drift dives or a combination of drift and anchored dives?
Though they usually moor, they do drift dive also. Often along the walls in the channel between the two islands. Depends a little on conditions but we did four. You do follow the DM on those dives because the captain follows you with the Exporer. When everyone surfaces he brings the boat in close, cuts the prop power and pickups up divers who are instructed when to swim in to the boat. Repeat as necessary. That's about the only time it's crowded on the dive deck because everyone gears up, stands on the dive platform and splashes together.
And solo per se isn't a make or break. I would just prefer an operation that doesn't require you to stick right with the guide and options for Eric if I decide to sit out a dive.
This is my personal experience so YMMV. I dive with a regular buddy but we have different interests. On our trip a guy we had a single diver looking to pair up. Since he had the same interests as my buddy - the first few days we splashed as 3 but I almost always left them right after that. After a few days I quit the charade and would often let the dive deck mostly empty before splashing myself and solo diving. I didn't much exceed 60' - more times closer to 40' but those are my personal limits.
I don't have a solo card or own a pony and did not rent one from them. No crew ever asked/questioned me. Or made any comment about it. So IMO there's policy and there's reality.
Anyone know how the pony bottle fills work on a liveaboard if you bring your own? Or best to rent?
All fills on the boat are done with whips off the compressor bank. Our insta-buddy had a pony since he travels by himself - it got filled before the first dive somehow. I don't remember what kind it was but probably a standard yoke - I do remember the 2nd/hose bungied around it. If you've got one of the fill adapters just fill your pony and ask the DM to top your tank off. They often did anyway to get our fills above 3K when they cooled.
Here's the divedeck looking towards the stern showing the fill whips on tanks.
the most important crew is Stan
Agreed. Cap't Ken told me he's never dived. They think maybe he can't swim.
I had to wait for the boat to come back by me, 5 or so minutes later but that was no hardship.
