Mike Ball – 5 Night Coral Sea & Cod Hole 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 5 night trip departs Cairns on Thursday evening at 6.30pm with an exciting low level flight back to Cairns on the Tuesday seeing you embarking the vessel around 8.00am.

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.

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
• Ribbon Reefs: The potato cod grouper at the Cod Hole are a highlight, however it is the rich biodiversity of fish species and coral that make this section of the Great Barrier Reef so incredible
• Subject to weather conditions reefs such as Boganville and Holmes Reef may also be visited.

Number of Dives – 18 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.

5 Night Coral Sea Fly/Dive

2020 Departure dates: 3, 17 September | 15, 29 October | 12 November | 3, 31 December
2021 Departure dates: 14 January | 4, 18 February | 4, 18 March

Thursday:  

• Check in at our office (3 Abbott St, Cairns) between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm.
• 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.
• 6:00 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 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

Saturday:  (4 dives + night dive)

• As per above.

Sunday:  (3 dives + night dive)

• As per above.

Monday: (4 dives)

• As per above, however all diving is finished by 5pm.
• 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 Cairns

Tuesday:

• 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.

Changes to cabin bookings:
Due to current social distancing regulations (subject to change) –
Twin share: Only available to guests in travel bubble (travelling together).
Solo travellers: Mandatory sole occupancy surcharge of 20% applies until 31st March 2021 , From April 1st 2021 50% until 31st March 2022. (Sole occupancy normally 70%). If twin shared is preferred please advise at time of booking, sole occupancy will be refunded if restrictions are lifted before departure.

Guaranteed and Non-Guaranteed Departures:
Our 5 & 7 night expeditions will be guaranteed departures. The 4 night departures will be subject to minimum numbers and not confirmed up until 40 days prior to departure.

COVID-19 related:
It is a boarding requirement that all passengers complete a COVID-19 declaration within 72 hours of boarding. This form must be returned before checking in at the office.
Click here to access the form. Travellers for hygiene purposes must bring their own ‘quick-dry towel’ for dive deck use and water bottle.