Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Diving Fleet Arvostelua 617

Excellent crew and amazing food!
The dive masters were great. They were knowledgeable, aware of the group, competent, and above all excited for the dives they had planned.
I loved the layout of the boat and the ease we were able to get geared up, into and out of the water.
Great dive locations with something for all diving levels.
The warm towels and hot chocolate after each night dive were a wonderful touch.

The people are what made this a great experience. I already knew the captain Ramon from a previous trip to the Socorro Islands. He is always so cordial and very passionate about his job and his crew and truly does want us to have a great experience. It’s a relatively small boat and therefore it was easy to get to know everybody, including the two DM’s Robyn and Damien. They did an excellent job of guiding and picking the dives and they have two distinct personalities that really makes the experience wonderful.

Both my wife and I have been having troubles with our knees and the crew accommodated us so well. Not only captain Ramon, but also Jonathan and Jerman we’re really helpful in getting us in and out of the boat and really have very pleasant personalities. Meagan was helpful and very accommodating both on the dive deck and upstairs in the lounge. As an early riser, it was great to say good morning to Tevin and good evening as he was the night guy.

As for the food, it was really quite spectacular with Julian constantly working day and night to feed us. For a dive boat, the food was varied and always tasty.

The boat itself wasn’t the most luxurious we’ve been in, but actually was very functional, however, again because of my bad knees, it was difficult to get around with the high threshold of the door into the quarters, and all the narrow steps to go up and down. Not the boat’s fault and I guess technically I got some physiotherapy in. However, the dive deck was excellent, first time that I’ve seen a barrel with soap for rinsing off your gear between each dive. Very generous camera table an amazingly fast nitrox refill. I have to say The entry point was great, I like jumping, and the dive deck was big enough that I could take off my weights and BCD before climbing up the ladder. Again, the crew was amazing in helping me up.

I gotta say that having Percy as our consistent taxi driver to and from the boat, and the short days was really great it gave us a personalized service that often is not seen in other boats.

Overall, we had a great time, and I would love to do another trip with the captain at some point in the future. Thank you very much from Harold and Cathy.

My entire liveaboard experience was great! I was the only non-diver in the group and while the divers were gone, I felt like I was in a luxurious yacht all to my own. I spent a lot of time doing cardio and yoga on the deck. Simon always had a clean towel ready for me. Saul made sure I had water and I had the sole use of the jacuzzi (which was very clean and had the perfect temperature). The crew was very respectful of my workout space. I also enjoyed laying on the shaded areas, reading while resting on the comfortable lounge chairs and couches.

I was able to get on the panga a few times when some divers just wanted to take a ride to the rocks to see all the natural wonders and creatures of the Galapagos Islands. I also got to go on a hike at the Seymour Island and at a tortoise farm in Santa Cruz Island.

The meals, snacks, drinks, coffee, dessert were top-rate 5-Star quality. Dining service was comparable to any fine dining restaurant.
The crew was perpetually cleaning here and there (such as emptying the waste trash a few times a day).

The Captains were very professional and modeled impeccable manners to the rest of the crew.
I've already told my non-diving friends and family to check Explorer Ventures if they want top-rate experience in the other-worldly Galapagos Islands.

Galapagos - Tiburon Explorer "Trip of a Lifetime". The boat was beautiful, spacious, well outfitted and clean. I loved our room with the window in the shower so I could look outside while in the shower. The bed was very comfortable I slept so good on the trip. We had a main deck cabin - I looked at the lower deck rooms and had a little bit of "room envy" they are HUGE. Definitely grab a lower deck room if you are traveling with a non spouse/partner.

The crew was amazing! They were super nice, friendly, helpful and fun. The food onboard was fresh and delicious. Fish, chicken some beef dishes - fresh fruit at every meal and desserts, too. One person in our group was vegan and her food options looked delicious. One night they made a whole turkey WOW.

I was very impressed with the safety briefing and boat walk thru upon boarding initially. These were done one on one, showing us exits and safety equipment. They also did a group emergency drill with life jackets on the top deck. Well done!!
Everyone knows that all real sailors wear life jackets :)

Dive site briefings were informative, our guide Jonathon and the ponga drivers were spot on. We enjoyed great dives, easy in and out of the water and back to the boat. It was great how the entire crew worked together all week to make our dive vacation effortless. I love that the boat issued us all Nautilus Lifelines and showed us how to deploy in emergency. Their safety procedures are top notch. I will tell everyone who asks about the Galapagos to be sure to go on the Tiburon Explorer!

I was feeling queasy a couple days and the chef made me chicken soup... I felt so special. It was a sad day to leave - they all made me feel like family.

Prior to boarding the boat we did some land excursions and stayed in Quito and on Santa cruz island. Jennifer helped arrange our hotels and tours and made excellent suggestions on local restaurants and things to do. This trip far exceeded my expectations. 6 stars for the Tiburon.

We spent a wonderful week of diving and fun on the Sea Serpent, scuba diving in the Red Sea. The boat staff was attentive, fun, and very friendly! The dive staff was exemplary, professional, showed us many things and kept us safe. Our zodiac crews were helpful, supportive, and always there to get us! The food was superior! These were not your usual buffet meals! Food was plentiful, had great variety and taste. We had Egyptian favorites as well as International cuisine. Cabins were clean, nicely appointed, and maintained daily! You will not be disappointed with this trip and company!

This was an awesome week. We saw so much life in the water and on land. The Tiburon Explorer was great and the crew was even better. From the food to the diving to the accomodations I'm not sure it could have got any better. We ate like kings and the service was some of the best out there. The diving and dive masters were great. All on hands on deck when getting ready to dive and when we came back from diving. Very detailed briefings and safety was their priority. The service while not diving was top notch. I would definitely recommend this boat to anyone and will probably be back soon to take more divers.

Seeing the whales is a once in a lifetime event.
Excellent!! To sum it up.
The staff was amazing. Very helpful above and beyond in every way!!!!!!
They, Tom and Gillian, went well out of their way for me. I lost an item at the hotel stay before boarding the boat. They made the very special trip to the hotel to recover my item. I wouldn't trust that another company would be so kind. I can't thank them enough for taking special care of me.
They took care of everyone with the most caring and genuine manner. Everyone was made to feel special.
The guides were amazing. Taking care of everyone on the tenders and in the water with the whales. They made it a truly special vacation.
I would recommend this trip to anyone that ever considered a trip to Silver Banks. I would never even consider any other company. You shouldn't either.
The boat and tenders were very well maintained. They worked diligently to resolve any issue quickly. It was very comfortable.
The food was good and the variety was nice. Preparing special food for those with dietary needs.
The service was excellent. Everyone worked so well together. Everything was so perfectly in order. Not a thing out of place.
A little piece of chocolate on your bed at night time was such a sweet touch.

Tiburon Explorer... We've been on many liveaboards over the past 11 years. This was one of the very best!

My week aboard the Black Pearl was fantastic! The rooms were comfortable, the food was great, the staff was attentive and personable. The diving was fantastic and I felt that the guides were safety focused and wanted to ensure we had great dives. One of the things I was not expecting and absolutely LOVED was the boat coats on both of the boats we would dive from each day. It made a huge difference in comfort and was just an amazing touch that was above and beyond.
My only suggestion is to bring down the price for beer, wine, drinks. We would likely have had 1 or 2 for happy hour each day or a glass of wine with dinner, had it not been so over the top expensive ($14 for basic drink like rum and coke, for example). But that is a minor thing compared to the amazing overall experience.

The boat is in need of a vacation. The time to renew it. It is worn and tattered. The beds are hard as a rock, but the rooms were clean and tidy. I felt that the crew should listen more to the customers when they express their wants on dives. We asked for particular diving and were taken only to the larger sites with 20 other boats, and never to the shallower sites after two deep dives to look for smaller species. All other liveaboards we have experienced, at least 5, have 4 dives per day and one night die on the trip. This one had lots of downtime and the boat move very very little. From Port, to a short distance behind a reef where you couldn't see port. Very little time was saved from the other option of land based dive shops. And last, all other liveaboards we have used, beer and wine were free. Yours were like paying for a drink at the airport. $8.00 for a beer $10.00 for a small glass of wine. $4.00 for a coke and $15.00 for a mixed drink. Lots of down time to lay on the tattered cushions, and after the cost of the liveaboard, sure hated to spend another $300 on sodas and wine. Not many perks while on your boat. Just a little disappointed in the experience with your liveaboard over all.

El mejor vida a bordo que he hecho en la vida... Personal super profesional, siempre atento para ayudar y hacernos sentircomo en casa

Excellent crew, every one of them was very helpful, polite, willing to assist na dvery good seamen!!
The food was also excellent!! and the dive masters exceptionally good, with great sense of humor!! we had a wonderful time hope we will be able to join yu again soon!!

The dive deck was spacious and easy to move around. The box under the seat could be a bit bigger. There was a good selection of food for all meals. The dive guides were attentive and good under water.

Bellissima esperienza!!
Peccato per le isole mancanti al Tour!

The crew were truly impressive! So attentive, knowledgeable and personable.

What an incredible trip aboard the Tiburon Explorer in the Galapagos! This beautiful, modern yacht (built in 2020) is truly the premier liveaboard for scuba diving here—spacious, comfortable, and perfectly set up for divers. The 9 air-conditioned staterooms with private bathrooms and ocean views made every day feel luxurious, and the sun deck with the hot tub was the perfect spot to relax after epic dives.
Daniel and Kebin were amazing—thorough, safe, and incredibly knowledgeable dive masters who made every dive feel secure and exciting. They really know the sites and looked out for everyone. The entire crew of 9 (plus the wonderful Captain) was so attentive, polite, and genuinely caring—always ready with a smile, helping with gear, and making sure everything ran smoothly. The food was outstanding: very tasty, fresh, and varied—every meal felt like a treat.
The diving itself was absolutely epic—schools of hammerheads, whale sharks, playful sea lions, marine iguanas, turtles, and so much more. The Galapagos underwater world is unreal, and this boat gets you to the best spots flawlessly. Everything from the large dive deck with camera tables and charging stations to the pangas for easy entries made the experience seamless.
This was one of the best dive trips of my life. I can't wait to return—highly recommend the Tiburon Explorer to anyone serious about Galapagos diving. You won't be disappointed!

Great staff…. Wonderful food…plenty of diving!

We were welcomed on the boat by the boat director, Cedric, who was really helpful with regard to the boat, kit set up and very entertaining and knowledgeable dive briefings.
The diving was exceptional and made easy by the fact that you only have 4 divers per dive guide, who are all Divemaster's. Our Guide was "Rolly" who could not do enough for us and was superb at finding everything on the dives.
The rooms are spacious and well looked after daily and food variation for all meals was excellent. Breakfast and lunch being buffet style and the evening meal served to you.
This was a bucket list trip and we were not disappointed. Thoroughly recommend.

Mohamad helped us out the most. He saw we were having troubles with our guide, Jake. Jake was not very professional. Mohamad stepped in and helped us out.