turks Explorer

[supra9059]

I'm going on my first Liveaboard trip Nov. 10, the Turks and Caicos Explorer II. What advice can you give that will prepare me for the experience of my life. I only have 25 dives or so but, my instructor has full confidence in all my skills. I'm very comfortable in the water, although I'm not to sure about me and the boat getting along.

I'm ready, I'm ready.

Clayton

[gibson1525]

i haven't been on the explorer, but i went on the T&C peter hughes boat a few years ago. T&C diving is very nice and easy diving, you'll love it.

i'm not sure how the explorer runs things but we changed sights every night and after the first 2 morning dives. did 5 dives a day for 5 days plus a couple of early morning dives the last day. it was a great experience, literally eat-sleep-dive-repeat.

there were so many dolphins around that week that eventually we stopped moving the boat at night and started moving in the morning so we could watch them play in the bow wake. we heard them under the water on almost every dive and on the last dive we finally saw them. a pod of about 20 came swimming by, stopped to do a few aerial tricks for us and then moved on. an experience i won't forget. have fun!

[WestTnDiver]

If you don't have a buddy going with you, one of the crew will go on the dive with you. The thing I found different was safety stops and getting back to the boat. Most of the moorings are in 40-50 ft of water and the boat is large. There is a lot more line for the boat to swing on and it will swing hundreds of feet. In the middle of the swing it will be flying so don't chase the boat! Also, if you're doing your safety stop on the hang line, you'll have to move up and down the line to keep from dropping too low and coming up to high. In the middle of the swing, you'll be pulled up 10-15 feet higher than at the end of the swing. After a few dives you'll get the hang of it.
Coming back to the boat after the dive, you'll have to watch for the boat swinging and listen to the ladders clanging and figure out where to catch the hang line.
If you're not nitrox certified, get certified to maximize you bottom time and have a great trip!

[supra9059]

Thanks for the replies. I did get my nitrox cert for this trip, so I hope I'll be able to take advantage of the extended bottom time. Only two weeks till I'm gone.