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

• Osprey Reef, Coral Sea – Big fish action in 40 metre visibility, 2-3 shark attraction dives. Spectacular topography, sheer walls, soft and hard corals. 
• Ribbon Reefs, Great Barrier Reef – a prized region with excellent fish & coral biodiversity.
• Lizard Island – enjoy an hour or two exploring beautiful Lizard Island – white sand beaches and a short hike to Chinaman’s Ridge.
• Cod Hole – Swim with diver size potato cod.
• Dive the GBR – Joanie’s Joy, Clam Beds, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Pinnacle, Goggle Gardens, Flare Point, Trolly Shoals, Steve’s Bommie.

• Holmes Reef, Coral Sea – dozens of sharks, spectacular Nonki Bommie covered in soft corals.
• Bougainville Reef, Coral Sea – Dungeons & Dragons labyrinth of caves & caverns, giant potato cod, big fish at Crystal Plateau.
• Osprey Reef, Coral Sea – 2-3 shark attraction dives. spectacular topography, sheer walls, soft and hard corals.  Big fish action in 40 metre visibility.
• Lizard Island – enjoy an hour or two exploring beautiful Lizard Island – white sand beaches and a short hike to Chinaman’s Ridge.
• Ribbon Reefs, Great Barrier Reef – a prized region with excellent fish & coral biodiversity.
• Cod Hole – Swim with diver size potato cod.
• Dive the GBR – Joani’s Joy, Clam Beds, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Pinnacle, Goggle Gardens, Flare Point, Trolly Shoals, Steve’s Bommie.
• September to January, most reliable Coral Sea access.

• Check in at our office (3 Abbott St, Cairns) between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm.
• From 4:00 pm:  Make your own way to Mondos Café, Bar & Grill (200m from MBDE office) to meet your fellow passengers.  Please note that dinner is not provided on the first evening so you may wish to eat before boarding.
• 5:50 pm: Crew will lead you from Mondos to board Spoilsport.  Enjoy a glass of champagne and light snacks while your Trip Director provides a full briefing.
• 6:00 pm:  Spoilsport departs Cairns.
• Time to organise any rental equipment and put your dive gear together on the dive deck.

• 6:30 am: Wake up call, light breakfast available in dining room
• 7:00 am: Dive brief & diving commences
• 9:00 am: Full cooked Breakfast
• 10:30 am: Dive brief & diving. “Open decks” accommodate 1-2 dives either am or pm
• 2:00 pm: Lunch
• 3:30 pm: Dive brief & diving
• 4:30 pm: Afternoon Tea
• 6:30 pm: Night dive brief & dive
• 8:00 pm: Dinner

• As per above.

• As per above, however all diving is finished by 5pm. Spoilsport moors off Lizard Island for the evening.
• As the sun sets we pour the champagne, lay out the nibbles and get ready for an Aussie BBQ party night. Don’t forget to wear your loudest tropical shirt or dress and sing along to music played by our talented crew.

• 7:00 am:  Light breakfast
• 8:00 am:  Bid farewell to passengers doing the 4 night Fly Dive Coral Sea Expedition who will disembark here.
• 8:00 am:  Stay onboard or take a tender over to Lizard Island to stretch your legs and explore a little of this beautiful island.
• 11:00 am:  New passengers join us here.  Drinks and light snacks provided.
• 12:45 pm:  Dive brief and dive
• 2:00 pm:  Lunch
• 3:45 pm:  Dive brief and dive
• 4:45 pm:  Afternoon tea
• 6:00 pm:  Dive brief and night dive
• 8:00 pm:  Dinner

• As per Friday, above.

• As per above. Exit last dive 5pm.
• As the sun sets we pour the champagne, lay out the nibbles and get ready for a final farewell party!
• Overnight cruise to Cairns

• 7:00 am:  Light breakfast
• 8:00 am:  Disembark and courtesy transfer to Cairns inner city hotels, the airport or our office where we can store your luggage until 5pm if you have a later flight.

• 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

Please Note: Itinerary subject to change

Valid from April 2018 to March 2019

• Premium Cabin  AU$5578.00 + AU$19.50 per person Government Reef Tax amount
• Standard Cabin AU$5124.00 + AU$19.50 per person Government Reef Tax amount
• Club Cabin AU$4476.00 + AU$19.50 per person Government Reef Tax amount
• Budget Cabin AU$3815.00 + AU$19.50 per person Government Reef Tax amount

* Current Special - 5% off listed price of all Mike Ball Dive Trips *

** Stand-by Rates May Be Available **

• Premium Cabins - Ocean Views with Double Bed & Private Ensuite Bathroom
• Standard Cabins - Ocean Views with Twin (Single) Beds & Private Ensuite Bathroom
• Club Cabins - Twin (Single) Beds & Private Ensuite Bathroom
• Budget Cabins - Bunk Beds & Share Bathroom Facilities

Minke Whale Expeditions - 7 Nights - Unlimited Dives + Snorkelling with Minke Whales

These specialized Minke Whale expeditions are incorporated into the standard itinerary shown above. The focus is snorkelling and diving amongst these majestic creatures during this period of high aggregation. Your second day is entirely devoted to locating Minke Whales and Snorkelling with them in the water.These specialized Minke Whale expeditions are incorporated into the standard itinerary shown above. The focus is snorkelling and diving amongst these majestic creatures during this period of high aggregation. Your second day is entirely devoted to locating Minke Whales and Snorkelling with them in the water.

• 06th of June 2019
• 13th of June 2019 
• 20th of June 2019
• 27th of June 2019
• 04th of July 2019

• Premium AU$5717.00 + AU$19.50 per person Government Reef Tax amount
• Standard AU$5252.00 + AU$19.50 per person Government Reef Tax amount
• Club AU$4588.00 + AU$19.50 per person Government Reef Tax amount
• Budget AU$3910.00 + AU$19.50 per person Government Reef Tax amount

* Current Special - 5% off listed price of all Mike Ball Dive Trips *
Extras - Rental Equipment