Turks & Caicos Explorer II

Together with the Aquatic Adventures team, the Turks & Caicos Explorer II liveaboard offers you memorable Silver Bank humpback whale snorkeling tours during the months of January through April each year.

The liveaboard's heavy keel and Naiad stabilizers aid in providing stability during your 7 night cruise. Guests are accommodated in 10 tastefully decorated staterooms across 3 decks aboard the 124 ft / 38 m aluminum mono-hull liveaboard. Each stateroom has their own private bathroom. The 2 VIP staterooms and the 2 forward Main deck staterooms also feature TV/DVD players.

A variety of cuisine is offered showcasing the best fresh local ingredients, including meats and fish. Dining is either in the air-conditioned saloon or on the open air deck where you can enjoy the cooling sea breezes. The Turks & Caicos Explorer II provides guests with a number of social areas including a TV/DVD entertainment center in the saloon. There is also a large sun deck complete with open air shaded seating, BBQ, sun loungers and wet bar for your complimentary cocktails.

The Aquatic Adventures team collectively have over 25 years of humpback whale tours experience and you can benefit from their wealth of knowledge during your Silver Bank liveaboard cruise. Their specifically designed whale watching tenders, 'Escort' and 'Challenger' have environmentally conscious engines that limit noise to maximize successful whale encounters and minimize underwater disturbance. After your in-water whale encounters (floating at the surface and waiting for the whales to approach you), you can enjoy a warm water shower on the dive deck. Photographers can rinse camera equipment in the fresh water tanks and prepare gear on the dedicated camera tables in anticipation of the next awe-inspiring humpback encounter.

The Turks & Caicos Explorer II ticks all the boxes for a week long cruise in comfort and style with an experienced team. It is also a Green Fins (marine conservation) member. They will bring their vast knowledge to bear and provide you with the amazing opportunities for sightings and interactions during your humpback whale snorkeling safari in the Dominican Republic.

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Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks, alcoholic drinks, experienced English-speaking guides, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Restaurant meal on final evening, whale sanctuary fee (US$ 450 per person per trip), port and fuel surcharge (US$ 450 per person per trip). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (USD cash only).

Optional extras: Wetsuit rental (US$ 40 per person per trip), snorkelling equipment. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: Many US airports have direct flights to Puerto Plata International Airport in the Dominican Republic. The major airlines include US, American, Continental, Delta, Spirit and Jet Blue. Map of the Caribbean Sea.
The boat docks at the Ocean World Marina, Puerto Plata. Boarding is at 17:00 hrs on Saturday for 22:00 hrs departure to Silver Bank. Return to dock is at 16:00 - 18:00 hrs on Friday. Dinner is taken in a restaurant onshore. Check out is by 08:30 hrs on Saturday morning. The crew will help you arrange your onward travel to the airport or nearby hotels.

Diving Environment: There is no scuba diving on these Silver Bank snorkeling trips, where all snorkeling activity is conducted from the liveaboard tenders. Normally there are 2 whale runs each day, lasting 1.5 to 3 hours each. Other creatures that may put in an appearance here include dwarf sperm whales and Atlantic sailfish plus dolphins: bottlenose, spinner, Risso's and Fraser's. Water temperatures during the January to April period are 78-80°F / 25-27°C for which a 3 mm wetsuit and full foot fins are recommended.

Non-diver rate: All guests are non-divers on this snorkeling trip.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): Single travelers may choose to share a stateroom or pay a supplement of 100% of the published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: None.

Whole boat charter rate (per night): None.

Silver Bank (8 Days / 7 Nights - 0 Dives)

Trip highlights: whales, non diving activities

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Snorkeling and swimming with humpback whales in the Dominican Republic.

Day 1
The Turks & Caicos Explorer II offers snorkeling whale safaris at Silver Bank, in the Dominican Republic. This fantastic liveaboard awaits your arrival at the Ocean World Marina dock, located 30 minutes from Puerto Plata International Airport. Taxis can be hired at the airport for the journey to the marina. You will receive a warm welcome and info from the crew. Dinner is served while the yacht gets ready to depart. Evening meals usually consist of lots of fresh vegetables, rice, pasta, chicken, beef, turkey, pork and fish.

Days 2-7
Arrival at the northeast corner of the bank is in the late morning, depending on the weather. You will start spotting whales as the yacht approaches the mooring line. You will need to bring your own mask, fins and snorkel with you. You will have ample opportunity for photographing humpback whales on Silver Bank, but an expensive camera setup is not really necessary for good pictures. You will be out in the tenders the very first afternoon, after an informational briefing. Then on each day you will have 2 sessions on the tenders, morning and afternoon: at 08:30 hrs and return for lunch at 12:30 PM; then out again at 14:00 hrs and return to the Explorer around 17:30 hrs. On most evenings there will be brief informational videos or slide shows to help you understand the various behaviors witnessed during the day. Afterwards, retreat to the sundeck to view an array of stars rarely visible through the city lights at home.
Please be advised that whale activity is not entirely predictable, and there will be slack periods on every expedition. Cruising the Silver Bank looking for cooperative humpback whales can sometimes be frustrating, time consuming and tiring. But once a whale is found, the time spent 'whale waiting' is soon forgotten and replaced by joy and amusement.
The chef serves an excellent variety of wholesome meal options, made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Breakfast is the usual fare of eggs, bacon, pancakes, French toast, muffins, Danish and fresh fruit. Lunches vary from soup and sandwiches, burgers, pasta, assorted salads, and quiche. Homemade baked bread, cookies and brownies are offered during the day.
The yacht then returns to the Ocean World Marina in Puerto Plata late Friday afternoon: dinner is not served onboard; however, the crew will recommend a restaurant in the marina.

Day 8
After a continental breakfast, you will depart for the airport. If you are extending your stay, arrangements can be made for transportation to your local hotel.

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Silver Bank (7 Days / 6 Nights - 0 Dives)

Trip highlights: whales, non diving activities

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Snorkeling and swimming with humpback whales in the Dominican Republic

Day 1
The Turks & Caicos Explorer II offers snorkeling whale safaris at Silver Bank, in the Dominican Republic. This fantastic liveaboard awaits your arrival at the Ocean World Marina dock, located 30 minutes from Puerto Plata International Airport. Taxis can be hired at the airport for the journey to the marina. You will receive a warm welcome and info from the crew. Dinner is served while the yacht gets ready to depart. Evening meals usually consist of lots of fresh vegetables, rice, pasta, chicken, beef, turkey, pork and fish.

Days 2-6
Arrival at the northeast corner of the bank is in the late morning, depending on the weather. You will start spotting whales as the yacht approaches the mooring line. You will need to bring your own mask, fins and snorkel with you. You will have ample opportunity for photographing humpback whales on Silver Bank, but an expensive camera setup is not really necessary for good pictures. You will be out in the tenders the very first afternoon, after an informational briefing. Then on each day you will have 2 sessions on the tenders, morning and afternoon: at 08:30 hrs and return for lunch at 12:30 PM; then out again at 14:00 hrs and return to the Explorer around 17:30 hrs. On most evenings there will be brief informational videos or slide shows to help you understand the various behaviors witnessed during the day. Afterwards, retreat to the sundeck to view an array of stars rarely visible through the city lights at home.
Please be advised that whale activity is not entirely predictable, and there will be slack periods on every expedition. Cruising the Silver Bank looking for cooperative humpback whales can sometimes be frustrating, time consuming and tiring. But once a whale is found, the time spent 'whale waiting' is soon forgotten and replaced by joy and amusement.
The chef serves an excellent variety of wholesome meal options, made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Breakfast is the usual fare of eggs, bacon, pancakes, French toast, muffins, Danish and fresh fruit. Lunches vary from soup and sandwiches, burgers, pasta, assorted salads, and quiche. Homemade baked bread, cookies and brownies are offered during the day.
The yacht then returns to the Ocean World Marina in Puerto Plata late Friday afternoon: dinner is not served onboard; however, the crew will recommend a restaurant in the marina.

Day 7
After a continental breakfast, you will depart for the airport. If you are extending your stay, arrangements can be made for transportation to your local hotel.

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[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].

The Turks & Caicos Explorer offers guests 10 staterooms each with a private bathroom and individually controlled air-conditioning. The VIP and Main deck staterooms feature picture windows and the Lower deck staterooms have portholes for natural lighting. The 2 VIP staterooms have queen beds and are on the upper deck. There are 5 Main deck staterooms. 2 feature twin beds and 3 have convertible twin / queen beds. Twin upper and lower beds are in the 3 Lower deck staterooms. Adapters are not provided, guests are advised to bring their own.

All the liveaboard staterooms have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 11 / 12 - hot water