Our Fleet Story
Over twenty years ago, in June of 1987, the 100-foot, 18-passenger Caribbean Explorer inaugurated the fleet, beginning operation from St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles and offering week-long itineraries visiting the islands of Saba and Statia, and shortly thereafter St. Kitts, in the Northeastern Caribbean. 12 years later, in 1999, Explorer Ventures acquired the 72-foot, 18-passenger power catamaran Nimrod Explorer based in Cairns, Australia and expanded its liveaboard diving operations to include 4- to 8-day itineraries in the Far Northern Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, including remote reef systems just south of Papua New Guinea.
In 2003, Explorer Ventures again added to the fleet, purchasing the 18-passenger, 115 foot Caribbean Explorer II to take over the company's longest-running itinerary in the Northeastern Caribbean. The original Caribbean Explorer was extensively refit and moved to Providenciales, in the Turks and Caicos Islands just southeast of the Bahamas, to again offer week-long itineraries accessing the area's crystal-clear waters and dramatic underwater drop-offs.
In early 2005, the 20-passenger, 130 foot Turks & Caicos Explorer II became the newest addition to the Explorer Ventures Fleet, and took over the Turks & Caicos itinerary. The largest and most luxurious vessel in the Caribbean fleet, it now operates both from Providenciales, offering an exceptional week of high-voltage wall diving in the Turks & Caicos, islands.
The original vessel was again moved, this time to the islands and cays of the Southern Bahamas. Based year-round in Georgetown, Great Exuma, the original Caribbean Explorer I, despite her age, was always considered by our guests to be one of the best and most comfortable liveaboard dive vessels in the Caribbean, and always provided guests with an affordable liveaboard diving experience they will not soon forget.
In February 2007, the newest addition to the Explorer Ventures Fleet entered service - the 16-passenger Galapagos Eco Explorer I, locally owned and operated, offered 8-day liveaboard diving excursions from the central Galapagos archipelago. Due to changes in local regulation, diving trips were only offered aboard the that vessel for that year, with the 2008 and 2009 diving seasons accommodated by the smaller but luxurious Estrella del Mar.
On October 25th, 2008, the vessel that started it all, the Caribbean Explorer I, said goodbye to her last guests and the islands of the Bahamas and was retired. Over 12,000 guests – many of them more than 10 times – have used Caribbean Explorer I as a floating hotel to experience the wonders of the Northeastern Caribbean, the Turks & Caicos Islands, and most recently the Bahamas. Since 1987, she provided her guests with fond memories both above the water and under the water. Her most recent and very popular itinerary in the Southern Bahamas was taken over in the spring and early summer months by the 18-passenger Caribbean Explorer II, which accommodates all guests in 9 air-conditioned staterooms with private bathrooms and showers. In the fall and winter months, Caribbean Explorer II returns to the Northeastern Caribbean to show her guests the history, culture and outstanding and varied diving of St. Maarten, Saba, Statia and St. Kitts.
In early October 2008, we said goodbye to another old friend. Nimrod Explorer, our Cairns, Australia-based liveaboard dive vessel, was unexpectedly sold to be used as a mothership for the World Health Organization, and left the liveaboard diving industry.
In 2009, our Ecuadorian partners began construction on a new vessel for the Galapagos Islands. The 100’, 16 passenger Humboldt Explorer is now nearly complete, andwill service our guests beginning in June 2010 in the Galapagos islands. This vessel has been designed by one of the premier marine architects in Ecuador, and is a truly remarkable and unique vessel! Equipped with both stabilizers and a bow bulb to increase efficiency, range and stability, the two-level Humboldt Explorer provides and exceptional platform to visit the Galapagos’ northern islands of Darwin and Wolf.
In April 2010, we announced a new venture with Amir Mansoor and Carpe Diem Maldives Pvt. Ltd. – and the Carpe Vita Explorer will begin offering 8- and 11-day itineraries to the farthest reaches of the Maldives in February 2011! Explorer Ventures has provided our considerable expertise to assist with vessel design, layout, and itinerary structure, and will offer more dives (4 daily) than the norm in the Maldives. This incomparable luxury vessel will be our grandest offering to date, and we’re excited about her entry into service!
Even with the changes of Explorer Ventures' fleet over the past few years, and the addition of vessels owned and operated by destination partners, the foundation of the company is still the same - providing guests with world-class liveaboard diving vacations at an exceptional value. Under the same management for all of its 23 years, Explorer Ventures continues to hope that each guest we have aboard our vessels becomes more than just a guest - a life-time friend!
Our Staff
In addition to the more than 40 hard-working staff manning the vessels 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Explorer Ventures has an office in the USA to assist with sales, marketing, shore support, administration and oversight.
The office, run by President Clay McCardell, who started the company in 1987, is located in Casper, Wyoming, USA and handles all of the administration, shore support and oversight for the fleet. This office also oversees all reservations, marketing, sales and administration. Joining Clay in serving our guests are Wendy Barclay (sales and administration), Jennifer Cumming (Galapagos General Manager), Mary Franklin (Sales), Diana Heaton (Sales Manager and Operations Coordinator), Lynn Rodell (Marketing Manager) and Pat Wood (accounting).
The entire staff and crew of Explorer Ventures are dedicated to providing each and every guest with an uncompromising diving adventure aboard any vessel in our fleet at a exceptional value. Come dive with us, arrive as a guest and leave as a friend!
