Most Recent Comments
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Boaz Cahlon on Google
(August 17, 2020)We did the Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs 4 nights expedition. We had a great time! Very professional staff. The equipment and the food on the boat are good. They are one of two companies that go to the remote places of the Great Barrier Reef
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Tom Gardner on Google
(April 4, 2020)Loved this 7 day live a board trip, food wad delicious, dive masters and guides were very helpful. GREAT Barrier Reef Corals are beautiful.
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Mel Jovanen on Google
(September 14, 2019)I have been several times on Spoilsport with Mike Ball Dive Expeditions and can give them my highest recommendations. 5 stars truly isn’t enough. The whole experience from booking to transportation to everyone and everything on the boat itself was top notch.
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Carly W on Google
(December 18, 2017)An absolutely incredible experience (3 night cod hole).
Check-in at 7 at the office was simple; we dropped off our scuba gear and clothing bags, waited for everyone else to arrive and then headed to the airport.
At the airport, we were weighed with our carry on luggage (don't need any, it goes in the plane wing) and given a map of the route and dive sites. We were given a general dive/safety briefing and headed to the 2 planes. Trip to lizard island was ~1hour. It was loud, but bearable. It is a low level reef flight so you see many reefs (great pictures!).
When we arrived, we were transported on 2 small dinghy boats to the Spoilsport. Once on board, we met the the crew and the 7-night members. We were given a briefing about the boat and what the trip would be like.
Diving:
Spectacular. Favourite spot was Steve's Bommie. At various the dive sites, you will likely see all sorts of creatures and coral, including clown fish, reef sharks, octopi, turtles, sea snakes, lion fish, etc. Although the coral was damaged and dead in some areas, this is not the fault of MBDE (and to be expected... go watch Chasing Coral).
The dive briefs were great, no doubt due to our wonderful trip director Kerrin. He explained (and drew out) the site and all crucial information, common locations animals, and currents. Kerrin also made sure everyone had a buddy, and if they didn't he helped find them one. He also stated when he and the other instructors would be diving and ask if anyone wanted to join a guided dive. Jelle, Olly, and Callum were all wonderful dive instructors and very entertaining. They were fun in and out of the water. They made the trip awesome and memorable!
We brought our own gear, so cannot comment on the rented gear. I did buy dive socks for $20 onboard which made a HUGE difference in foot warmth, and ease of putting on my wetsuit and boots. Isobel, the host, was great in this regard, as she helped me try multiple pairs on, gave her recommendations and advice. She also did the same when my boyfriend and another passenger wanted to buy a pair for themselves.
Food:
The food was absolutely outstanding. You can see the menu on the website, but it does not do the food justice. There are delicious baked goods for afternoon snacks and the desserts (especially rose ice cream) were to die for. The chefs Thomas and Celia did an absolutely outstanding job, and I am a picky eater! If you don't like certain things, there will always be many options so you won't go hungry. Also, the coffee/cappuccino machine has over 10 hot drink options available at any time - it was great! Although the dinners were sometimes late (around 8pm), this is to accommodate the night divers which I understand.
The Boat:
The boat was lovely and huge. We went with the club room to have our own bathroom, which was a good idea. If I were to do the trip again, I would upgrade to the room without bunkbeds but that's a personal preference. Although we did not see Russel (Captain), Brendon (Trainee) or Richard (Engineer) too much, they were all friendly and approachable and helped when an outlet wasn't working.
Extras:
Trent (1st mate) and Tom & Alek (volunteers) were all great. Tom was especially helpful when I felt sea sick the first day (he brought me water, crackers, and was friendly/supportive). They also all added humour to the trip.
Gary, the cameraman, was also great. I think he should explain at the start of the trip how the picture/video pricing works ($80 for all the pictures on a USB) because we would have dove near him more to be in more than 1 picture. We still bought the pics/video because they were outstanding and a great souvenir. He was also very friendly and his reef talk was very informative/interesting!
Kerrin's wake up call and dive brief songs were AWESOME. He was seriously one of the best/my favourite parts of the whole trip. So so so fun and friendly and wonderful!!
ALL IN ALL AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING EXPERIENCE. I'd do it again if I wasn't 15,000 km away!!! -
Alex Phi on Google
(June 27, 2017)A Live Aboard
Pay a group of scuba diving experts and a massive yacht crew to take you on week long tour of the most amazing coral reefs in the world and see if that'll change you perspective on life. I never knew this existed until talking to scuba junkies on a trip before this. Live on a yacht for a week and dive all day as they cruise around the Coral Sea in the the Great Barrier Reef. Everything from night dives, drift dives, deep dives, wreck dives, shark feeding dives, and wall diving, all in one day sometimes. You can dive up to 5 times a day or not dive at all if you want to just live aboard and enjoy wine and food cooked for you as you float thru the most amazing waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
The yacht is fully equipped to accommodate about 20 guests (not including crew) to dive, sleep, drink, and eat for a week. Meet the most amazing and interesting people from all over the world on this boat. Make sure to bring your wallet, it'll cost you about a cool $2k for a 4 night trip on this baby.
Shark Week For Reals.
The best dive was the shark feed. Enter an underwater natural amphitheater where divers can sit along rock side formations just like tiered seating in a stadium. Set in the middle is even a rock formation of a stage. A large trash can filled with frozen fish heads opens up for hundreds of sharks in the area to come feed. Watch your heads, it's about to go down.
Make sure you take that Dramamine if you get motion sickness.
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Cairns Liveaboard Scuba Diving - Great Barrier Reef, Osprey Reef...
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions operates exciting liveaboard scuba diving expeditions departing from Cairns to some of the best dive sites on the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea.
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Mike Ball Dive Expeditions - 3 Abbott Street, Cairns, QLD, Australia 4870 - Rated 4.8 based on 104 Reviews "Absolutely the best About mike ball dive expeditions. World class scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef ... +61 7 4053 0500. Contact Mike Ball Dive Expeditions on Messenger.
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על. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions נמצא בקיירנס. תוכל ליצור קשר עם החברה במס' (07) 4053 0500. תוכל למצוא מידע נוסף Mike Ball Dive Expeditions ב- www.mikeball.com.
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Mike Ball Dive Expeditions offers you Australia's best diving holiday experience. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions' 30 years of operation ensures that you will dive only the best dive Information: 2/3 Abbott St, Cairns, Queensland, 4870, Australia Phone: 1888 617 4053 0500+61 7 4053 0500 Email...
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2004, Mike Ball became the first and only liveaboard operator inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame. 2014, Foundation member of Global Shark…
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Take a wildlife tour at Mike Ball Dive Expeditions, Australia. Get details of location & timings for better planning. Find reviews, ratings & map of nearby places. 3 Abbott St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia. +61 7 4053 0500.
https://www.inspirock.com/australia/cairns/mike-ball-dive-expeditions-a3334971217Mike Ball Dive Expeditions - Cairns, Australia
Since 1969, Mike Ball Dive Expeditions has been running Australia's leading dive liveaboard operation. Cairns based Spoilsport runs 3, 4 and 7 night departures to the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea for both novice and experienced divers. Our dive sites offer the best in diving, from the coral...
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Mike Ball Dive Expeditions. Compare all prices, read real reviews & browse photos. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions Vessel. The Mike Ball Spoilsport Liveaboard is specially designed to help guests avoid seasickness, with its twin hulls contributing immensely to the stability of the ride.
https://www.liveaboard.com/diving/fleet/mike-ballMike Ball Dive Expeditions Dive Shop | Scuba Diving Cairns, Australia
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions. 0 reviews 0. PADI 5 Star Dive Centers and Dive Resorts. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions. At least one dive site or dive shop is required for review.
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Mike Ball Dive Expeditions - World Class Liveaboard adventures www.mikeball.com. Passionate diver Jemma Craig share a snapshot of her life on the Great Barrier Reef, diving with Mike Ball Dive Expeditions on a recent dive on the reef surr...
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