Mike Ball – Fly Dive 4 Night Coral Sea Trip

Mike Ball Dive Expeditions has been running first class dive trips in Australia, since 1969. Their liveaboard dive boat Spoilsport, is the most awarded of its class in the country. Based in Cairns, Mike Ball Dive Expeditions offers adventure diving trips to the Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. There’s set weekly departures throughout the year and this trip specifically suited to certified scuba divers.

The 4 night trip departs Cairns on Thursday evening at 6.30pm with a exciting low level flight back to Cairns on the Monday around 11.30am.

Spoilsport’s cabins are a combination of queen, double and twin share. All are air-conditioned and serviced daily. The dive deck has three large camera tables and dedicated camera rinse tanks (the only operator I know offers this service). Holding an Advanced certification is best recommended for this Coral Sea trip as you can dive up to 40 metres. Spoilsport visits several sites on each expedition, picking the best ones to maximise experience, pending conditions at the time of travel. Diving equipment is an additional charge however all meals are included during your stay, tea, coffee and fresh chilled water. You will need to bring your dive certification card as well as towel, sunscreen, change of clothes and money for drinks. Small bags only, please pack light. NB: Spoilsport is a licensed boat and there is no BYO.

SHARK FEED VIDEO – OSPREY REEF CORAL SEA

Highlights

• Amazing visibility, large schools of pelagic fish and coral formations
• Amazing dive crew and dive service
• Exciting scenic flight to Cairns
• Continental Shelf – Dive 100 miles north of Cairns on the edge of the shelf where nutrient rich waters attract rich marine life
• Osprey Reef – Recently proclaimed Shark Sanctuary; 2-3 shark attraction dives; spectacular topography, sheer walls, soft and hard corals; big fish action in 40 metre visibility
• Subject to weather conditions reefs such as Boganville and Holmes Reef may also be visited.

Number of Dives – 14 Dives

Diving Details
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions is all about the diving. This trip offers dive freedom and you can tailor your expedition to suit your certification and experience level. There’s an open dive deck, which means you can dive when and for how long suits you and your dive buddy. There’s even the chance for solo diving, if you have the certification, experience and equipment to do it. The opportunity to complete your Advanced Course and Underwater Photography course. This is truely a trip you can not afford to miss if you love your diving. In the Coral Sea its remote diving with lots of sharks, 1,000m coral wall drop offs and amazing visibility.

4 Night Coral Sea Fly/Dive

Sample itinerary, subject to change based on conditions.

Thursday

Check in at our office (3 Abbott St, Cairns) between 8.30am and 4pm.
From 4:30 pm: Make your own way to Hemingway’s Brewery Cairns Wharf (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: Our crew will lead you from Hemingway’s Brewery Cairns Wharf to board Spoilsport. Enjoy a glass of champagne and light snacks while your Trip Director provides a full briefing.
6:30 pm: Spoilsport departs Cairns – Time to organise any rental equipment and put your dive gear together on the dive deck.

Friday

4 dives + night dive – This is a sample of a ‘typical day’, however exact times may vary to optimise the prevailing weather conditions on the day.

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 briefing & dive. “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

Saturday

4 dives + night dive

As per above

Sunday

4 dives

As per above. Exit last dive by 5 pm.
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.
Overnight cruise to Lizard Island.

Monday

7:00 am: Light breakfast
8:00 am: Disembark Spoilsport. Our crew will walk you to the airport on Lizard Island.
9:30 am: Board a light aircraft for a low level flight over the reef back to Cairns (flight time approx. 1 hour).
11:45 am: Land Cairns and courtesy transfer to inner Cairns city hotels, the airport or our office where we can store your luggage until 5pm if you have a later flight.

Important

We recommend that you allow 24 hours between your last dive and your onward flight (all diving is finished by 5pm Sunday).
A luggage allowance applies to the flight from Cairns to Lizard Island:
25kg / 55lb per person plus 3kg / 6.5lb – carry on.
An additional 10kg/22lb is allowed for professional photo/video housed systems.