How was the caravel better for explorations than earlier ships?

The caravel was a small type of sailboat developed by the Spanish in the early 15th century. It had Latin sails to increase maneuverability and, like the Northern European cargo ships, had a spacious hull. Larger hulls allowed caravels to spend more time at sea and carry more cargo and food. Caravels grew larger and more spacious as the turn of the 16th century approached.  

As the caravel did not go deep, it was the proper ship for exploration of river discharges in shallow waters. With the help of the Latin seal it was able to quickly cross shallow areas in strong winds, gaining great speed.