Which Turks and Caicos Liveaboard?

[fb4817]

Can I get some input from the scuba board about these 3 different liveaboards? Price ranges, but, I'd like to see
if there are any folks here that have done any of these or have heard of them and the quality of food (amount - large or small servings)
quality of service, the boat and her rooms, and diving, etc.

1). Lost Island Voyages - $1200 (roughly)

Bahamas Diving & Charter Boat | Lost Island Voyages

2). TURKS & CAICOS AGGRESSOR II - $2500 (roughly)

Dive TURKS & CAICOS AGGRESSOR -- with U.S. Dive Travel.

3). HONDURAS BAY ISLANDS: GUANAJA - $2200 (roughly)

VILLA at DUNBAR ROCK & NAUTILUS DIVE RESORT

VILLA at DUNBAR ROCK: Guanaja, Bay Islands, Honduras.

 

[diversteve]

You might look at the T/C Explorer also. It's slightly to substantially cheaper, bigger boat, more decks - Explorer has a covered, padded flybridge above their sundeck - Aggressor doesn't, excellent food - Stan the cook is legendary - and all cabins have beds instead of bunks - IIRC all the Aggressor cabins were bunks except 1? The cheapest lower deck cabins on Explorer have bunks but everything main deck or above had beds. Queen beds if you're a couple. There's also a couple of premium upper deck cabins that are still less than Aggressor IIRC. Although our main deck cabin was fine, 2 beds w/storage, end-table, writing desk, large (for a LOB) bath. It's probably not as fancy as an Aggressor but we go to dive. You also get 2-3 real windows on Explorer, since all the cabins on Aggressor are below deck - they all seem to be portholes. Since you always moor within sight of some land - I liked that better.

They also do basically the same itinerary, the week we dove the Explorer we often saw the Aggressor at the next mooring over. The crew worked hard to make sure everybody had what they needed and were a lot of fun also. And safe, they do an on/off check for every diver/dive.

Turks is going to be better diving than the Bahamas also. Bigger stuff, more pristine walls, French Cay is some of the best diving I've ever done - starts shallow and then the wall down past rec depths is just covered with coral on coral. Never been to Guanaja but T/C was better than Roatan or Utila for bigger pelagics - except for the whale sharks - but IDK if they see those off Guanaja. You can't dive with them in Honduras anyway - just snorkel. The only sharks we saw off Roatan were at the Shark Dive - we saw wild sharks every single dive off French Cay. And turtles, grouper, barracuda, stingrays and lots of smaller stuff. West Caicos was good also, NW Point off Provo was a step down. Explorer now does Grand Turk also on some itineraries. This isn't mine but it gives you a good idea of what to expect: http://www.awoosh.com/Saudio/Saudio_Turks&Caicos.html

I just looked at your links, you really need to go to both Aggressor's and Explorer's website directly. Some of the information about the Explorer on the US Dive Travel website is wrong. I'm not sure where they got those ship schematics but there's 2 premium cabins up top, 6-8 cabins on the main deck and either 2 or 4 lower. As I mentioned only the lower have bunks. Also the dining room doesn't look anything like that. - there's 5 separate tables on either side. Actually none of the three are accurate.

Plus the two top pictures (except the very top one) are of another boat. To me the interior shot looks like either the retired Caribbean Explorer 1 or an old Aggressor boat. And you can see that the "scootin" shot is another boat. To their credit, the lower shots are the boat we were on.

Also you can book directly with either so why go through US Dive travel. Call Explorer directly and ask for Mary, she'll set everything up for you.

 

[fb4817]

Thank you moderator, but quick question - do you have a website for the T/C Explorer? And also, where is that Explorer going? Bahama's Turks and Caicos?

 

[diversteve]

A little quick geography lesson - the Bahamas and Turks/Caicos are separately governed (but nearby) countries.

Lost Island leaves from Nassau, New Providence or Freeport, Grand Bahama - the two largest islands in the chain. From there they sail south to the Bimini Chain and Orange Cay area. I've done that on a different liveaboard - it was good diving but Turks/Caicos is better IMO.

Turks and Caicos is a separate country and group of islands located South East of the Bahamas chain. To board either Aggressor or Explorer there you fly into Provo. (Providenciales) They dive off Provo's NW point, move the boat to the uninhabited West Caicos, then later move to tiny, uninhabited French Cay and occasionally over to Grand Turk - the capital of the Turks/Caicos.

Links to all three liveaboards:

Scuba Diving Bahamas Lost Island Voyages | Lost Island Voyages
Aggressor: Providenciales wall diving, French Caye shark dives, West Caicos snorkeling, Silverbanks humpback whale charters
Explorer Ventures: Adventures in Liveaboard Diving

If it's important, you also need to compare room sizes on Lost Island with either of the others as it's a 65' sailing yacht compared to a 125' motor yacht. So there's a lot more room on the bigger boats - both in and out of your room. Also only the Aggressor/Explorer will have en-suite bathrooms, on Lost Island you share two heads with the other pax. Of course the price reflects that as well.

To further complicate things, Explorer also dives the Southern Bahamas at times - they move the T/C Explorer over to do so. They're currently diving there and will move the boat back to Provo in mid-June. http://www.explorerventures.com/pdf/FLEETSCHEDULE.pdf

And there's the Carib Dancer as another Southern Bahamas option. The Dancer fleet tends to be a lower cost alternative to the Aggressor in some markets - even though both are owned by the same people.

 

[electric_diver]

You might look at the T/C Explorer also. It's slightly to substantially cheaper, bigger boat, more decks - Explorer has a covered, padded flybridge above their sundeck - Aggressor doesn't, excellent food - Stan the cook is legendary - .

You should be careful - Explorer is only very slightly cheaper once you pay for the extras ($125 fuel surcharge, $40 transfers to/from airport). Nitrox is $150 for the week on Explorer but only $100 on Aggressor. According each companies' websites anyway. Aggressor fed their passengers on Friday night, but the Explorer made their passengers go to town and buy a meal (est $50).
In the end Aggressor works out to be only $150 or so more expensive for a week.

On my recent trip on the T&C Explorer, 2 food items were very overcooked (the fish and the chicken). Some meals were excellent, most were acceptable. Overcooking was a problem though.

I didn't care for some of the explorer's sillier rules. Chief among them was the requirement for a tank attached glow stick for night dives. I don't recall the Aggressor fleet having such rules.

However the diving in T&C was fantastic. Healthy marine life with all sorts of stuff big and little stuff and not too many lion fish. I don't think you can go wrong with either boat.

 

[LIVdiver]

Hey fb4817

I just wanted to give you a little information about Lost Island Voyages. It is a 65 foot ketch rigged sailboat that does dive/sail trips out of Nassau, Bahamas (mostly). It is a much smaller company, family owned and operated which is very nice because the captain is the owner and he is VERY accomodating when it comes to customizing each trip around whoever he has on board that week. GREAT and fun spirited crew. They take out 12 passengers in 6 private 2 person cabins (sinks and mirrors in each cabin--small but private) and there are 2 heads and 2 showers on board with plenty of hot water and enough water for people to shower every day. Everything including diving (3-4 average daily), PLENTYYY of food (very GENEROUS amounts and also fresh fruit, snacks, sandwiches whenever you want), boose, and stay is included in the liveaboard price which is $1290 for a week and $1790 for some of their (AWESOME) 10 day trips which can take you down to Staniel Cay, Conception Island, and San Salvador if the weather allows.

The diving is amazing and of all different sorts--wall dives, wreck dives, reef dives, drift dives, night dives, etc. And with the small number of people if some people feel like doing a shore excursion or drinks on the beach instead of a dive, they will usually be able to make that happen. Very accommodating and a lot of fun.

Hope this helps and have fun!

---------- Post added May 8th, 2012 at 04:53 PM ----------

Oh yea and Lost Island Voyages is Bahamas Scuba Diving | Liveaboard Diving | aboard Lost Island Voyages and the office number is 305-756-7762

 

[diversteve]

Let's break it down correctly instead...

Since you made the comparison....not counting any specials on either site.

You should be careful - Explorer is only very slightly cheaper once you pay for the extras ($125 fuel surcharge, $40 transfers to/from airport). Nitrox is $150 for the week on Explorer but only $100 on Aggressor. According each companies' websites anyway. Aggressor fed their passengers on Friday night, but the Explorer made their passengers go to town and buy a meal (est $50).
In the end Aggressor works out to be only $150 or so more expensive for a week.

Turks & Caicos Aggressor II:
Jan. 7, 2012 - Jan. 5, 2013 ............. master $2,995; deluxe $2,695; twin $2,495

Explorer

VIP Staterooms - upper deck $2495, main deck $2295, lower deck $2095.

So I see a $4-500 difference offset by a $50 Nitrox saving. There's also two upper deck staterooms on Explorer and let me see - None on Aggressor...

Your estimate of the meal was a little high also, mine was around $25. Plus I had to pay for a ride at $10 - free ride back courtesy of the casino..lol And actually you're wrong about the Aggressor as well since they don't offer dinner on board Friday night either - just a cocktail party.:

The Turks & Caicos Aggressor II hosts a sunset cocktail party Friday evening at 6 p.m. Dinner is not served onboard which is the only meal not provided with the cruise. Turtle Cove has 5 restaurants within walking distance of the boat’s dock. The crew can recommend a restaurant and arrange reservations.

I don't dive Nitrox so that fee is immaterial. Unless the OP does.

I concede the $125 fuel surcharge and $40 cab ride as that's what it cost us. So add $165. I'm not happy about paying a fuel surcharge on any liveaboard. Offsetting that is that Aggressor charges a $45 bed fee. From Know B4 you Go on their website:

Each guest must pay a $45 US per person bed tax, which will be collected onboard at the end of the charter. (not included in the charter rate)

Since the Aggressor charges $400-500 more per charter to dive the same locations aren't they bundling the fuel surcharge in their base price?

Maybe it's just me but I prefer a bed over a bunk when paying that kind of money. Especially if rooming with a stranger. And I prefer that on Explorer most of the cabins are on the main or upper deck so have windows and views. The picture of the Deluxe cabin on the Aggressor shows bunks and a porthole - or is that incorrect? IDK as I've never been on the boat.

On my recent trip on the T&C Explorer, 2 food items were very overcooked (the fish and the chicken). Some meals were excellent, most were acceptable. Overcooking was a problem though.

I didn't eat anything overcooked on the Explorer all week. But it happens. Most were at least acceptable - some very good. It's likely not 4-star gourmet food on either boat but the cooks do a great job with what they have IMO.

I didn't care for some of the explorer's sillier rules. Chief among them was the requirement for a tank attached glow stick for night dives. I don't recall the Aggressor fleet having such rules.

Safety is a sillier rule? Really? Glowsticks are like what $1.00/each? Weren't you offered them free onboard? IIRC we were. I didn't need one since I own one a $20 Glo-Tube instead. Aggressor also recommends safety gear and requires a computer - my guess would be they require some night marker also - just about every night dive I've ever done the operator has - Aggressors website:

We suggest you pack the following: mask, fins, snorkel, regulator with pressure gauge, depth gauge, buoyancy compensator, dive computer, dive light, mirror, safety sausage, Dive Alert and/or other safety devices. Dive computers are mandatory for each guest.

However the diving in T&C was fantastic. Healthy marine life with all sorts of stuff big and little stuff and not too many lion fish. I don't think you can go wrong with either boat.

Something we can agree on...

So I see it's more like a $3-400 difference. Even if it's only a $250 difference don't you consider 10% substantially cheaper. I guess I do... Factor in the special prices certain weeks on the Explorer and it's a lot better deal. We saved $500 off the base rate when we went. So our main deck room was $1795 + fees.

Granted the pay for 7 Days/Dive 10 Days Aggressor deal is very attractive also if you have the time off. Add the three extra days and Aggressor probably is the better deal. But my dive buddy gets a week for dive vacations.

 

[electric_diver]

The Aggressor tied off beside us on Friday night. Even though their website says Friday night dinner was not included, the Aggressor passengers were fed pizza on Friday night.

Actually every other liveaboard that I've ever been on has always found a way to feed the passengers on the last night. It is usually leftovers though. Explorer was the first that made us leave.

T&C Explorer charged us $85 port tax but not the $45 bed tax. Add another $40 to the explorer ledger. My point is that after paying for all the extras that Explorer makes you pay, the price is a lot closer to that of the Aggressor than the advertising material makes out.

I find it hard to believe that a liveabord passenger who is concerned about safety doesn't use nitrox. For repetetive multiday diving the safety advantages of nitrox when properly used are clear. Nitrox is a must have for me on a liveaboard. Therefore the $50 difference is valid. I suspect it is for most liveabord passengers as well.

Aggressor fleet was recently running a $500 off per week sale as well. If either fleet is having a sale go for the one with the sale.

 

[large_diver]

It doesn't sound like you can go wrong with the T&C Aggressor or Explorer. My buddy and I booked the Aggressor for later this summer (after considering both boats)....and were fortunately able to take advantage of a "$500 off" special the Aggressor was running earlier this year.

 

[diversteve]

I find it hard to believe that a liveabord passenger who is concerned about safety doesn't use nitrox. For repetetive multiday diving the safety advantages of nitrox when properly used are clear. Nitrox is a must have for me on a liveaboard. Therefore the $50 difference is valid. I suspect it is for most liveabord passengers as well.

From the Explorer faq:

Decompression diving is not allowed under any conditions. The maximum allowed depth is 130’ (110’ on nitrox).

I likely went deeper than than 110' once or twice down the wall - once for sure as a filmed a small shark over the edge and down - don't have the computer here to check the depth but it was really blue lol... We dive every dive possible on liveaboard - and shore trips and I've never had diving air limit me in any way. We are pretty careful about having at least 24 hrs. no-fly after multi-day diving also.

So is that still safer? I really don't know as I don't dive - or have ever really looked into diving - Nitrox but it seems like the MOD for 32% is 112 feet.

The two most common recreational diving nitrox mixes contain 32% and 36% oxygen, which have maximum operating depths (MODs) of 34 metres (112 ft) and 29 metres (95 ft) respectively when limited to a maximum partial pressure of oxygen of 1.4 bar (140 kPa). Divers may calculate an equivalent air depth to determine their decompression requirements or may use nitrox tables or a nitrox-capable dive computer.

The crew probably benefits slightly also, more money left at the end of the week means I'm more likely to leave it for them.

Apologies for the excessive use of ? in the post above. Re-reading it now it didn't come out the way I intended...