Since its beginning nearly four decades ago, Explorer Ventures has been redefining the art of boutique liveaboard diving. The passion Explorer Ventures has for giving guests a truly authentic liveaboard experience is summed up in their motto: “You’ll arrive as a guest but leave as our friend—for life!” Their commitment to deliver on this promise is unmatched by any other liveaboard company.

The fleet’s 10 well-appointed liveaboards—Caribbean Explorer II, Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Black Pearl Explorer, Tiburon Explorer, Humboldt Explorer, Emperor Explorer, Grand Sea Explorer, Glory Sea Explorer, Blue Manta Explorer and White Manta Explorer—offer unique itineraries in eight incredible destinations around the world. All the yachts offer comfort, many with high-end amenities and plenty of space to unwind and relax during surface intervals. Each vessel in the fleet maintains exacting safety standards and top-notch dive facilities. After one trip, you’ll understand why so many guests become repeat customers. The only thing you have to do is pack your dive gear and choose where you want to go. Here’s a peek into what awaits you aboard each yacht and in each destination.

The Explorer Ventures Promise in the Caribbean

When you choose a northeastern Caribbean itinerary aboard the Caribbean Explorer II, you’ll be surrounded by scenic islands and exciting dive sites. The itineraries alternate between departure points in St. Maarten and St. Kitts, with the liveaboard visiting dive sites around St. Kitts and Saba. In Saba, experience dramatic underwater landscapes, including the towering Diamond Rock and the famous Third Encounter pinnacles. Explore historic wrecks and dive within the protected waters of Saba Marine Park, all teeming with a profusion of marine life. This award-winning vessel accommodates 18 passengers in 9 double staterooms, all of which have private bathrooms.

Beyond the underwater wonders, the Caribbean’s charm continues ashore with their optional land tours. Explore Saba’s legendary “Road That Couldn’t Be Built” and visit local gems such as the Saba Spice Shop and Jo Bean’s Glass Art Studio. In St. Kitts, discover rich history with a tour of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or stroll the botanical gardens at Caribelle Batik.

The Turks & Caicos Explorer II is a spacious yacht built for divers that carries up to 20 passengers in 10 staterooms with private ensuite bathrooms. The amazing turquoise waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands are home to Caribbean reef sharks, eagle rays, jacks and turtles, and the walls are among the best in the Caribbean. The yacht also partners with Aquatic Adventures to offer the Silver Bank (Dominican Republic) humpback whale snorkeling expeditions from mid-January to mid-April.

The Explorer Ventures Promise in the Pacific

Only a liveaboard can get you to the magical itineraries in Indonesia—choose either the Blue Manta Explorer or the White Manta Explorer. The hardest part of this trip is deciding which itinerary to make—the yachts take divers on trips to the heart of the famed Coral Triangle, including Raja Ampat, Triton Bay, Banda Sea, Sangalaki, Halmahera, Sulawesi, Komodo and Alor. The 22-passenger Blue Manta Explorer offers 14 ensuite cabins situated over three decks and the 24-passenger White Manta Explorer provides 14 ensuite cabins, which are also situated over three decks. There are so many possibilities here, including a Raja Ampat-Misool-Triton Bay itinerary, which will immerse you in a rich underwater experience. Thousands of coral and fish species are found at a diversity of sites include stunning walls, caves, canyons, seamounts, muck diving and distinctive signature sites such as Blue Water Mangroves and The Passage.

Set sail in the gorgeous archipelago of Palau aboard the luxury Black Pearl Explorer, which takes up to 24 divers in 12 staterooms with ensuite bathrooms, including two master seaview staterooms. The “Best of Palau” itinerary will introduce you to the beauty of the entire destination, while the “Spawning Special” itineraries offer the chance to witness the spawning aggregations of bumphead parrotfish and red snapper.

The Explorer Ventures Promise in the Galapagos

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the holy grails of diving—a protected swath of ocean teeming with life, from schooling hammerheads, whale sharks and Galápagos sharks to playful sea lions, tuna and even whales. But the magic of the Galápagos doesn’t stop underwater. Between dives, explore the islands' breathtaking landscapes and encounter iconic wildlife found nowhere else on Earth—giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, and more.

The 16-passenger Tiburon Explorer offers nine air-conditioned staterooms with private bathrooms and ocean views, while the completely renovated Humboldt Explorer provides eight staterooms with private bathrooms for 16 guests. Both vessels feature free Wi-Fi, so you can instantly share your incredible photos and videos with friends and family.

Explorer Ventures Fleet is proud that the Tiburon Explorer and Humboldt Explorer are both Green Fins certified vessels and the only two designated PADI Eco Centers in the Galápagos—a reflection of their commitment to sustainable diving and marine conservation in this iconic destination. This once-in-a-lifetime experience—both above and below the surface—is only possible by liveaboard.

The Explorer Ventures Promise in the Indian Ocean

Emperor Explorer introduces divers to the dreamy beauty of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. This lavish, four-deck yacht offers 13 well-appointed staterooms with ensuite bathrooms. Your itinerary will depend on the season, but there are several thrilling ones to choose from: Best of the Maldives, Deep South & Southern Shark Adventure, Sharkastic and Northern Hi-Lights. The stunning atolls offer electrifying shark encounters, adrenaline-packed channel dives and exotic fish galore on every dive.

The Explorer Ventures Promise in the Red Sea

Dive sites in the Red Sea are the stuff of legend—breathtaking coral reefs, historic wrecks and heart-racing encounters with sharks—and both the Grand Sea Explorer and Glory Sea Explorer get divers to the very best dive sites. Each vessel offers attentive service and luxurious amenities to guests in up to 14 staterooms. The Red Sea has been a bucket-list destination for divers for decades, and both these yachts will ensure you see what first captivated Jacques Cousteau when he began documenting its undersea wonders.

The Explorer Ventures Promise to Put Sustainable Beliefs into Action

Another promise the global liveaboard company makes to their guests is to put sustainable beliefs into action. Explorer Ventures Fleet is a Green Fins partner. Green Fins, a joint initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme and The Reef-World Foundation, works to protect and conserve coral reefs through environmental guidelines that promote a sustainable diving and snorkeling industry. Explorer Ventures was eager to be part of the program but realized there were no guidelines that were specific to the scuba liveaboard industry.

In 2018 Explorer Ventures became the first liveaboard company to partner with Green Fins and was instrumental in creating new guidelines that better match the specific requirements of liveaboard dive vessels. Its Caribbean vessels—Caribbean Explorer II and Turks & Caicos Explorer II—were the first liveaboards to adopt the Green Fins principles on environmentally responsible diving.

“Liveaboards are in many ways the jewel in the crown of diving adventures,” says Chloe Harvey, executive director of the Reef-World Foundation. “But along with the privilege of experiencing these underwater splendors, comes a responsibility to ensure the operations that make this possible have as little impact on that very environment as possible. Achieving low-impact operations while providing a liveaboard experience to your guests is no easy feat, but as the Explorer Ventures team has proven, it is possible.”

Today, in addition to the Caribbean Explorer II and Turks & Caicos Explorer II, two other Explorer Ventures liveaboards—the Humboldt Explorer and Tiburon Explorer, operating in the Galápagos Islands—have implemented the Green Fins code of conduct. The Explorer Ventures team remains dedicated to bringing additional partnered vessels in their fleet on board. While it takes time and effort, they are committed to this worthy pursuit in support of more sustainable diving practices.

Read more about the collaboration between Explorer Ventures and Green Fins. Learn how you can reduce your carbon footprint while onboard an Explorer Ventures liveaboard by following these guidelines, including how you can take a Green Fins online course.

The Explorer Ventures Promise to You

Wherever you have been dreaming of diving in the world, Explorer Ventures has an option for you—along with a passion for ensuring every guest enjoys an experience they will remember for a lifetime. From the moment you step on board, the Explorer Ventures team is committed to making your dive adventure seamless, safe and unforgettable. With expert crews, sustainable practices and thoughtfully curated itineraries, their promise is to prioritize your safety and experience—above and below the surface. Whether you’re exploring remote reefs, encountering marine life or enjoying the camaraderie of life on a liveaboard, Explorer Ventures Fleet is dedicated to making your dive dreams a reality.

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Contact Info

(800) 322-3577

info@explorerventures.com

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2025 READERS CHOICE AWARDS

The Explorer Ventures fleet earned 15 awards in multiple categories in Scuba Diving Magazine’s 2025 Readers Choice Awards. The Turks & Caicos Explorer II and the Caribbean Explorer II both emerged as top performers, earning recognition in key categories. The Turks & Caicos Explorer II received honors for Best Overall Liveaboard, Quality of Staff and Level of Safety, while the Caribbean Explorer II earned awards for Quality of Food, Level of Luxury and Value. Both vessels are Green Fins Certified, a testament to Explorer Ventures’ dedication to ocean conservation.