Explorer Bahamas vs. St Kitts/Maarten
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There are two liveaboards with "Explorer" in their name doing Bahamas trips. Are you talking about Caribbean Explorer II or Ocean Explorer??
Liveaboard Diving off Florida and the Bahamas
Which one are you referring to??
DivingPrincessE
Contributor
I just dove St. Kitts and it was "ok" but I'm glad I didn't spend a whole week diving there. Compared to Cozumel, Belize, and Florida (my first dive trip) there weren't really that many colorful fish and/or reefs. I've read on here and heard that St. Maarten doesn't have very good diving. So since the Bahamas is pretty close to FL, I would say that Bahamas is probably better. Just a guess though.
caymaniac
Contributor
If you mean explore the Bahamas or St. Maarten/Kitts, then I would choose St. Maarten as the diving is good there, not as good as reportedly Saba ( a ferry ride away) but still good. I've been to the Bahamas several places and the diving is good it just depends on where you go as in there is a difference between Freeport and San Salvador, or Nassau and Turks & Caicos.
Welcome to the board.
If you fill out your profile alittle more, then when you ask a question like this it can be answered by looking at places you've been or how many dives you've already made.
Here's a pix from Nassau:
Here's a pix from Turks& Caicos
Now it's not quite as dramatic a difference in color as portrayed in these two pics but the diving is better than one over the other. The strobe, for one thing, on the camera housing makes a big difference in pictures.
Welcome to the board.
If you fill out your profile alittle more, then when you ask a question like this it can be answered by looking at places you've been or how many dives you've already made.
Here's a pix from Nassau:
Here's a pix from Turks& Caicos
Now it's not quite as dramatic a difference in color as portrayed in these two pics but the diving is better than one over the other. The strobe, for one thing, on the camera housing makes a big difference in pictures.
robint
Contributor
It sounds like you are referring to the Explorer Ventures liveaboards... Explorer Ventures: Adventures in Live-Aboard Diving
the Bahamas Explorer has some recent trip reports posted here. Just do a search.
It sounds like a great trip, some deep walls, sharks, etc. Boat goes from Georgetown over to San Salvador, no where near Freeport or Nassau.
The Saba/St.Kitts/St.Maarten Explorer trip has one report recently that I read but I don't know if it was here on SB or some other site. It sounds very similar to the Bahamas trip with the exception of a few optional shore excursions. I remember reading that they also have some nice deep walls and shark sightings.
Either trip looks like nice diving and a nice boat. Airfare $$$ would be the biggest difference as the Bahamas boat is out of Georgetown, the other trip leaves from one city then departs from another. It might be more $$$.
robin
the Bahamas Explorer has some recent trip reports posted here. Just do a search.
It sounds like a great trip, some deep walls, sharks, etc. Boat goes from Georgetown over to San Salvador, no where near Freeport or Nassau. The Saba/St.Kitts/St.Maarten Explorer trip has one report recently that I read but I don't know if it was here on SB or some other site. It sounds very similar to the Bahamas trip with the exception of a few optional shore excursions. I remember reading that they also have some nice deep walls and shark sightings.
Either trip looks like nice diving and a nice boat. Airfare $$$ would be the biggest difference as the Bahamas boat is out of Georgetown, the other trip leaves from one city then departs from another. It might be more $$$.
robin
Viking Queen
Guest
Best Liveaboard in the Bahamas is Sea Dragon. They leave out of Nassau and go to the outer islands of the Bahamas. They are by far the best and have been in business for many years, the boat has been run by the same couple all this time, Dan Doyle and Sue Ford.
Have you dove with all the Bahamas liveaboards??
The lack of nitrox onboard eliminates them from consideration for me.
Damselfish
Contributor
the lack of en-suite baths eliminates them for me.
I was talking about the caribbean explorer wit hexplorere ventures. the airfares right now are about equal for st kitts/ maarten an georgetown in june. both are running 650.00.....OUCH!!!!!!!!
thank you for all the helpful replies so far.
I am a new diver..been on 10 dives so far.
thank you for all the helpful replies so far.
I am a new diver..been on 10 dives so far.
scubamickey
I'm a GIRL!
Then you should probably do the Bahamas itinerary. The St Kitts/Saba/st. Marten one is more advanced diving. Deep pinnacles and blue water on several sites.
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