Set sail on an extraordinary kosher scuba diving and sailing adventure with SV Sea Explorer, the world’s first solar-powered live-aboard dive boat, a 78’ (24m) maxi sailing catamaran owned & operated by an observant Jew and designed for explorers, above and below the water.
Exploring the breathtaking waters of Cyprus & Greece, this unique journey combines the joy and exploration of scuba diving with the serenity and thrill of sailing, in a Kosher, Shabbat friendly environment.
1. SV Sea Explorer
SV Sea Explorer is a 23.99m x 11.76m Aluminium Explorer Class Sailing Catamaran that is almost entirely powered by solar energy and wind.
Fully Off-Grid Solar
With over 20kW of solar PV panels and over 100kWh of safe LiFePO4 batteries, there is enough power for everything, including dive compressor, water maker, air conditioning, cooking, fridges & freezer and hot/cold filtered water & Starlink, to be powered entirely by the sun.
There is even enough power for 40km of electric propulsion @ 6 knots if the wind is not suitable for sailing. There is a powerful diesel engine as backup or for long journeys against the wind.
Specialist Diving Features
Sea Explorer is well set up for SCUBA diving with:
- a compressor (solar electrically powered);
- 10 dive tanks in dedicated tank rack on rear platform;
- dive equipment including weights, many wetsuits & fins and limited number of BCDs & regulators;
- Emergency Oxygen Kit onboard;
- special dive ladder at starboard swim step;
- swim step freshwater shower with hot & cold water;
- filtered cold water on tap near dive prep area;
- lots of space for lots of people getting in and out of dive gear at the same time;
- electric propulsion means no diesel fumes on the water choking divers.
More details can be found here.
2. Exclusive Kosher Liveaboard SCUBA Diving
Small Groups
6-8 divers with a Captain and Dive Master / Instructor
Families with kids also welcome.
There are 5 cabins:
- Family cabin with queen bed and up to 3 single beds. Also has full bathroom with shower & electric marine toilet.
- VIP cabin with queen bed and 1 single. Also has manual marine toilet & sink.
- 3rd Cabin with 2 singles. Also has manual marine toilet & sink.
- Port Forepeak with 2 singles.
- Starboard Forepeak with 2 single
There is also a comfortable sofabed in lounge.
In warm weather the four huge (60sqm total) trampolines allow you to sleep out under the stars - an experience not to be missed.
Maximum 14 people including Captain and Dive Master.
Catered Kosher Food
Kitchen is Dairy (Chalavi)
Breakfast: Self/Group prepared with kosher bread, cereal, eggs etc.
Lunch: Kosher Dairy meal prepared on board by Captain.
Dinner: Pre-prepared catered Kosher Meat (Basari) meal on disposable plates / cutlery.
Spacious & Stable - 600sqm on the Water
With a footprint of almost 24 x 12m and multiple levels there is around 600sqm of usable space onboard.
Plenty of space to get in and out of your dive gear or to get away.
The length and wide beam of Sea Explorer means the ride is very stable and sea-sickness is very unlikely.
In addition to the 5 cabins listed above Sea Explorer has the following main spaces (from front to rear):
A) 80sqm front deck comprising with four double layer trampolines (60sqm total);
B) 100sqm central main deck (nacelle) securely set 50cm below the top of the hulls comprising:
- 30sqm main living area, kitchen & internal helm;
- 40sqm indoor / outdoor area (roofed & enclosed on 3 sides) with 12 person dining table, full size fridge, chest freezer & hot/cold filtered water;
- 30sqm uncovered area for diving preparation & sailing operations;
C) 15sqm protected rear platform with scuba diving compressor & tanks, outdoor fresh water shower connected to swim steps & dive ladder;
D) a 20sqm elevated "Sundowners" platform with beanbags.
3. Example 4 Day Kosher Dive Program
Day One
- Onboard at Ayia Napa Marina
- Intro / Check Dive (9m) at MUSAN Underwater Museum off Ayia Napa
- Lunch - Dairy
- Dive Kyrenia Wreck (20m)
- Sail to Larnaca Bay
- Dinner - Meat
- Moor / Anchor in Larnaca Bay near Lambousa II wreck
Day Two
- Tea/Coffee
- Dive Lambousa II wreck
- Breakfast - Dairy
- Dive Elpida Wreck (27m)
- Lunch - Dairy
- Sail to Alexandra Wreck
- Dinner - Meat
- Moor / Anchor in Larnaca Bay near Alexandra wreck
Day Three
- Tea/Coffee
- Dive Alexandra wreck
- Breakfast - Dairy
- Sail to Zenoboa Wreck
- Lunch - Dairy
- 1st Dive on Zenobia Wreck (40m)
- Dinner - Meat
- Moor / Anchor in Larnaca Bay near Zenobia Wreck
Day Four
- Tea/Coffee
- 2nd Dive on Zenoia wreck (40m)
- Breakfast - Dairy
- 3rd Dive Zenobia Wreck (40m)
- Lunch - Dairy
- Sail back towards Ayia Napa Marina
- Anchor in Liopetri River mouth
- Final Dinner - Meat
- Sail back to Ayia Napa Marina
- Disembark at Ayia Napa Marina
Longer and shorter trips (3 day min) available on request.
Longer trips will go to:
- Limassol, including diving at Jubilee Shoals;
- onward to Pathos, including St George Island;
- onward to Greece (for 2 week trips).
Trips extending over 1 week will include Shabbat on-shore at Kosher Hotel (ie in Pathos).
4. Diving Details
Advanced Diving Qualifications Preferred
As many of the best dives in Cyprus are wrecks and the best are as deep as 40m (ie Zenobia), divers for those sites need Advanced Open Water or higher.
On family trips less experienced divers can be accommodated with some easier, shallower dives.
A Dive Master or Instructor is available to guide dives and included in the indicative pricing.
More experienced groups can bring their own Dive Master(s) with price reduced.
Getting Advanced SCUBA Qualifications while aboard
Divers can obtain advanced scuba diving course qualifications (ie Advanced Open Water, Dive Master & Specialities) with a Dive Instructor (max 2 students at a time) at additional cost.
Another Dive Master will be needed to lead other divers in this case.
Equipment
It is expected that most divers will bring their own regulator octopus, BCD & dive computer. A limited number of these are available to rent onboard from Galactiva Ltd. Please let us know in advance if you don't have this equipment.
There are a large number of "shorty" wetsuits and a small number of full wetsuits on board. For winter diving divers should bring their own full wetsuit. Cyprus water in winter is around 17-18 C.
5. Indicative Pricing
Indicative Pricing for 4 day program (based on 7 divers):
Eu1200 per person for 4 days comprising:
- Eu400 pp (no VAT) to boat owner - shared boat expenses as crew (incl. kosher food, fuel, bedding & airport pickup).
- Eu800 pp (+VAT) to Galactiva Ltd (Cyprus) for tanks, guided dives & equipment.
6. How to Book
Contact us to plan and book your trip.
Timing is flexible depending on your needs.
Email: dive@seaexplorer.me
Phone: +972 54 536 3529 (Phone, SMS, iMessage, Telegram & Signal but not WhatsApp)
Telegram: @akivah
Signal: akivah.18
