Great Barrier Reef Cod Hole, Northern Reef & Coral Sea Live Aboard Tours, Mike Ball Dive Tours, Mike Ball 7 Night Coral Sea Safari

The seven night Coral Sea Safari excursion departs Cairns on the Thursday of each week visits the Ribbon Reefs, Cod Hole and Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. All diving is conducted 100 miles north of Cooktown at the sites most likely to encounter big fish action, reef sharks, whaler sharks and hammerheads as well as manta rays and minke whale (June, July and August). You begin by swimming with diver size fish at the world famous Cod Hole. Overnight you will make your way out to the crystal clear waters and plummeting walls in the Coral Sea. Here you will witness the exciting shark feed, an excellent opportunity exists for you to photograph these sleek predators at close-range or from a distance if you prefer! The second half of this expedition takes place within the sheltered waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Here, you will see the best concentrations of pristine corals and a myriad of colourful tropical fish.

Spoilsport is a three level catamaran, accommodating a maximum of 29 divers. Food, accommodation and organisation of the dives is excellent, and has earned Spoilsport many repeat customers. There are four categories of air-conditioned cabin types: Premium Cabins (Ocean View, Double Bed & Private Ensuite Bathroom), Standard Cabins (Ocean View, Twin Single Beds & Private Ensuite Bathroom) Club Cabins (Twin Bunk Beds & Private Ensuite Bathroom) and Budget Cabins (Bunk Beds & Share Facilities). The vessel’s massive dive deck is superbly set up for diving.

Experience the best of far north Queensland. Buddy up with diver size fish at the world famous Cod Hole, witness Osprey Reef’s shark population including hammerheads and grey whalers and cruise the Ribbon Reefs. Walk in Captain Cook’s footsteps to ‘Cook’s Look’ on Lizard Island.

This itinerary has been designed to include the ‘prime’ Ribbon Reef sites that have restricted access. If weather forces an itinerary change our surety of access to the prime Ribbon Reef sites is your guarantee of the best diving. Spoilsport’s outstanding stability minimizes disruption to your itinerary and your diving experience.

Spoilsport’s specially designed itineraries provide more diving and more relaxed diving. Quickly you will notice there is no rush or limit placed on your dive time. At sites like, Challenger Bay , some photographers do 2-hour dives to capture special fish behaviour photographs. The ‘open dive deck’ gives you the freedom to dive as little or as much as you want.

Get spoilt on board Spoilsport, a custom designed twin hull liveaboard with a spacious sundeck, al fresco deck, saloon and large well equipped dive deck. Enjoy the luxurious motor yacht atmosphere and the attentive crew. Enjoy a sumptuous variety of meals that has earned Spoilsport a reputation for catering excellence. Vegetarian and standard diets are catered for.

Access to prime dive sites guaranteed! From Cairns the focus is on the superior northern Ribbon Reefs, including the Cod Hole, and pristine Coral Sea locations including Osprey Reef and Bougainville Reef. Here, the marine life is at its best and you will see spectacular concentrations of pristine coral s, colourful tropical fish, schooling pelagics and shark action. Experienced dive crew are often able to show you very rare species like the beautiful dwarf scorpion fish and ghost pipefish.

Walk in Captain Cook’s footsteps to ‘Cook’s Look’. Lizard Island is one of the reef's most exclusive island resorts. The famous English navigator James Cook climbed to its summit in 1770 to find the way out of the labyrinth of reefs. At that time, naturalist Joseph Banks was to lament in his journal that he had too little time to study the wealth of strange creatures he saw in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

Spoilsport is a custom designed twin hull liveaboard to provide the optimum liveaboard experience with excellent spaciousness and stability. She has received 11 prestigious Rodale’s Reader Choice awards including Best Liveaboard and Most Environmentally Sensitive Liveaboard. Spoilsport is very spacious and stable with a very large well-equipped dive deck as well as a very spacious sundeck, al fresco deck and saloon.

• Complimentary Reef Ecology Program
• 2 large inflatables for personalised dive service
• Underwater photography and video services
• PADI instruction: Advanced, Nitrox, Naturalist and Photo/Video
• Aussie BBQ and party night, wave ski’s, videos and library
• Warm towel after each dive
• Solo diving as per Mike Ball Safe Solo System

You benefit from the industries best trained and qualified staff. 7 of the 11-person crew are divemasters or instructors. The ‘Trip Director’ is specifically tasked to ensure you have great diving and a great time. Most guests prefer to plan and dive independently with their buddy. It is not a policy for all dives to be divemaster led. Guests who prefer more supervision are offered a combination of: complimentary orientation dives to enhance skills: a scheduled morning and afternoon guided dive and the opportunity to dive with the crew on an ad hoc basis. Nitrox, solo diving and photo services are available.

Enjoy a sumptuous variety of meals that has earned Spoilsport an enviable reputation for catering excellence. Vegetarian and standard diets are catered for with Australian and International menus using fresh local produce. Please advise if you have special dietary needs

• Prior to 4:00pm. Check-in luggage
• 7:00pm board Spoilsport at Trinity Wharf, Cairns
• Cruise overnight to the magnificent Ribbon Reefs, the first stop on your 700km dive odyssey

• Buddy up with diver size fish that dive with you at the Cod Hole
• Swim with giant potato cod, napoleon wrasse and moray eels
• Enjoy close encounters with huge maori wrasse.
• Anticipate spectacular coral gardens, spotted rays, reef sharks and green turtle sightings
• Night dive where decorator crabs, egg cowry shells, moray eels and crayfish are just a few of the creatures you can find

• Cruise 100 miles overnight to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea
• Enjoy 40 meter (132ft) visibility with spectacular walls disappearing to 1000metres
• At North Horn swim with giant potato cod, napoleon wrasse, moray eels, tuna and barracuda
• Witness the resident shark population including grey whalers, whitetip reef sharks, silvertips and hammerheads
• Search for the commonly seen green and loggerhead turtles
• Find the caves, overhangs and spectacular walls adorned with huge soft coral trees and gorgonian fans

• Climb “Cook’s Look” at Lizard Island where Captain Cook searched for safe passage through the reef
• Explore the rarely dived Cod Wall at the outer reef edge that disappears into 60 meters (200ft)
• Glide back towards the Cod Hole while enjoying the clear water and spectacular coral formations
• Choose to dive the Cod Hole again if you agree with us that one day is not enough to enjoy its diverse marine life
• Shallow but fantastic, Challenger Bay is extremely rich in biodiversity from spectacular coral gardens and unusual critters through to large schooling fish. Great night dive location watch out for Baza the Barra!

• Circumnavigate Pixie Pinnacle and Lighthouse Bommie shrouded in fusilier baitfish. Fluorescent purple and orange anthias attract predatory fish to these photogenic sites. Majestic Minke whales are seen here in June and July
• Rising from 80 meters the pinnacle of Andy’s Postcard is encrusted in had corals, lion fish, nudibranchs, octopus, schooling trevally and barracuda
• See spectacular giant clams at Clam Beds as well as caves, canyons and coral encrusted bommies awaiting exploration
• Sheer walls covered in whip corals and sea fans brim the natural amphitheatre of Vertical Gardens. Marine life varies from the many colourful nudibranchs to large schooling bump head parrotfish

• Spiral majestic coral pinnacles teeming with diverse marine life
• See huge schools of baitfish stalked by barracuda, mackerel and trevally
• Anticipate spectacular coral gardens, spotted rays, reef sharks and green turtle sightings

• Early morning docking, breakfast, 8:00am courtesy transfers to Cairns city hotels

• This itinerary has been designed to include the ‘prime’ Ribbon Reef sites that have restricted access
• If weather forces an itinerary change our surety of access to the prime Ribbon Reef sites is your guarantee of the best diving
• Spoilsport’s outstanding stability minimises disruption to your itinerary and your diving experience

Note: Itinerary subject to change

• Premium AU$4581.00
• Standard AU$4161.00
• Club AU$3590.00
• Budget AU$3050.00

** Enquire About Current Dive Specials ~ Stand-by Rates May Be Available **

• Premium AU$4723.00
• Standard AU$4291.00
• Club AU$3702.00
• Budget AU$3147.00

• Premium Cabins - Ocean View, Double Bed & Private Ensuite Bathroom
• Standard Cabins - Ocean View, Twin Single Beds & Private Ensuite Bathroom
• Club Cabins - Twin Bunk Beds & Private Ensuite Bathroom
• Budget Cabins - Bunk Beds & Share Bathroom Facilities

• Reg, Ocy, Gauges AU$15.00 per day
• BCD AU$10.00 per day
• Computer AU$12.00 per day
• Snorkel Gear AU$5.00 per day
• Light/Torch AU$10.00 per day
• Wetsuit AU$8.00 per day
• All of the above AU$40.00 per day

• BCD Aqualung Wave x5 sizes.
• Fins Technisub Stratos (full foot) x6 sizes.
• Wetsuits 5mm long sleeve short leg x5 male + x5 female sizes. Includes 3mm hood.

Please Note: Fitting extra small and extra large people can be difficult. Please bring your own equipment if concerned about fit.

• Nitrox EAN AU$10.00 per fill or AU$20.00 per day for entire expedition.
• Pony Bottle AU$15.00
• Fuel Levy* AU$15.00 per night
• Reef Tax AU$15.00 to AU$16.00 per trip
• Personal Dive Guides AU$250.00 per day (+ berth cost for guide) or AU$50.00 per dive
• DAN Travel Assist AU$16.00 valid for 30 day period.

• Referral (PADI/SSI) AU$245.00
• PADI Scuba Dive Upgrade AU$245.00
• PADI Open Water Diver AU$395.00
• PADI Advanced Diver AU$215.00
• PADI Nitrox AU$325.00 or AU$200.00 Referral
• PADI Discover Scuba (Resort) FOC
• PADI Underwater Videography AU$350.00
• PADI Underwater Photography AU$250.00
• PADI Underwater Naturalist AU$220.00
• SDI Easy Nitrox AU$275.00
• SDI Solo Diver AU$220.00

• Canon A640 - 10 mega pixel AU$40.00 per day
• Digital Downloads AU$20.00 per day
• Blank CD AU$5.00 per day

• Standard Holiday Trip - DVD AU$85.00
• Purchase of Second DVD AU$65.00
• Personalized Holiday Trip – DVD AU$220 (single / couple) or AU$275 (family)
• Personal Holiday Photographs AU$100.00
• Photo CD AU$50.00
• Purchase of second photo CD AU$30.00

• Non-diver10%
• Non-diving child (8-15 years)20%,