About your 5 Night Coral Sea and Cod Hole Expedition

This 5 Night Expedition operator 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. You can expect some of the best adventure diving experiences to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. There are set weekly departures throughout the year and this trip is specifically suited to certified scuba divers.

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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 the 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 a 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

• 5 Nights / 18 Dives
• Amazing visibility, large schools of pelagic fish and coral formations
• Amazing dive crew and dive service
• 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.
• Nitrox Available

Experience

Recommended – Advanced, or 15 logged ocean dives

Embark
Thursday 6pm – Trinity Wharf, Cairns. (Check-in before 4pm)
Disembark
Tuesday 8am – Trinity Wharf, Cairns

Room Types

Premium – Queen or double bed and a private bathroom with ocean views

Spoilsport – Premium Cabin

Standard – Twin beds, private bathroom, ocean views

Spoilsport – Standard Twin Cabin with Ocean View

Club – Twin bunk beds, private bathroom, no ocean view

Spoilsport – Club Twin Cabin

Budget – Twin bunk beds, shared bathroom, no ocean view

Spoilsport – Budget Twin Cabin

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Diving Details
Spoilsport Dive Expeditions is all about 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 truly a trip you can not afford to miss if you love your diving. In the Coral Sea, it’s remote diving with lots of sharks, 1,000m coral wall drop-offs and amazing visibility.

Coral Sea & Cod Hole Expedition – 5 Nights

Itinerary
Sample itinerary, subject to change based on conditions.

Thursday: Check in at the 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: Full cooked Breakfast
8:00 am: Dive brief
9:00 am: Diving commences
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 enjoy a glass of champagne, 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.
Important:

We recommend that you allow 24 hours between your last dive and your onward flight (all diving is finished by 5pm Monday).