About Mike Ball Dive Expeditions
Mike immigrated to Australia from the UK, inspired by the stunning reefs to open Far North Queensland’s first dive school in 1969. Since then his passion and drive has developed one of the world’s most widely respected dive liveaboard operations, pioneering many now widely-practised safety standards and winning dozens of international awards for excellence.
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions focuses on providing excellent diving within a highly professional and safe operation. Our safe diving protocols cater for divers of all abilities, providing guidance underwater for those who need it and allowing greater freedom for those who don’t. We take care to seek out the best dive sites, and then combine them with excellent food, accommodation and service to ensure our guests have a fantastic holiday experience.
The company recognises the importance of preserving the underwater environment and has long supported scientific research in marine biology, hosting researchers on board and collecting data to support studies on minke whales, nautilus and coral. In 2004 the operation achieved an Advanced Ecotourism accreditation and in 2014 was a founding member of Global Shark Diving, an international alliance of dive operators committed to shark conservation and providing unique shark experiences for divers.
In 2004 Mike Ball was the first liveaboard operator inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame in recognition of his contribution to recreational scuba diving.
Itinerary
Sample itinerary, subject to change based on conditions.
Monday: (2 dives + night dive)
• Check in at our office (3 Abbott St, Cairns) between 6:30 and 7am.
• 7:15 am: Transfer to Cairns Airport.
• 8.00 am: Board a light aircraft for a low level flight over the reef to Lizard Island (flight time approx. 1 hour).
• Board Spoilsport mid-morning where you will be served drinks and snacks while our Trip Director gives you a welcome briefing.
• Time to organise any rental equipment and put your dive gear together on the dive deck.
• 2:45 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
Tuesday: (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
Wednesday: (4 dives)
• As per above. Exit last dive 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.
• Spoilsport cruises back to Cairns overnight.
Thursday:
• Early morning docking.
• 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 Wednesday).
• 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 syste
Highlights:
• Flying Start – Spectacular 250km low level scenic flight over the reef from Cairns to Lizard Island.
• Continental Shelf – Dive 100 miles north of Cairns on the edge of the shelf where nutrient rich waters attract rich marine life.
• Ribbon Reefs – a prized region of the Great Barrier Reef, with excellent fish & coral biodiversity.
• Cod Hole – Swim with diver size potato cod.
• Dynamite Pass, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Wall, Pixie Pinnacle, Trolly Shoal, Coral Kingdom, Flare Point, Blue Lagoon.
• Steve’s Bommie – a highlight with incredible marine biodiversity, both large and small.
Dwarf minke whales cruise the Ribbon Reefs during June and July.
Ribbon Reefs
Between Lizard Island and Cooktown the reef sits right on the edge of the Continental Shelf, bringing in an upwelling of nutrient rich water attracting large fish populations and diverse corals. Around 1,500 fish and 400 coral species live here from small critters to large pelagics.
The Cod Hole
The Cod Hole is famous for its diver-sized potato cod. These fish are incredibly inquisitive and don’t mind getting very chummy with divers. A great opportunity to capture photographs of these magnificent characters or simply hang out and enjoy their company.
Lighthouse Bommie
An excellent site with one large pinnacle attracting tonnes of marine life including sharks, rays, turtles and reef fish, olive sea snakes, stonefish and other critters. A good place to spot minke whales in season (June to August)
Gotham City
Named after the batfish that live here, this site also attracts decent numbers of sharks and giant trevally. A particularly exciting night dive with congregations of hunting fish. This site also has one of the biggest beds of Pavona clavas coral stretching for approx thirty metres.
Pixie Pinnacle
An exciting pinnacle dive, draped in soft corals and absolutely heaving with fish life. Spiral your way up the pinnacle and search for interesting critters such as the flame file clam, or ‘disco clam’, named for the flashing light that appears to pulse along its mantle.
Coral Kingdom
A fantastic coral dive with vast beds of staghorn and other varieties, and dotted with colourful giant clams. Bump headed parrotfish and inquisitive barracuda cruise the site along with schools of other reef fish.
Steve’s Bommie
Steve’s Bommie is a photographers dream with an incredible quantity of diverse marine life. Hunt out such creatures as stonefish, scorpionfish, octopus, clown anemone fish and turtles, not to mention the many schools of fish that call this place home.
Dolphin Scuba Reservations Office
Office Hours
1530 El Camino Ave Sacramento, CA 95815
Monday-Friday: 9 am – 7 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 4 pm
Office (USA): 800-436-5744 +1-916.929.8188
randy.haight@dolphinscuba.com
www.dolphinscuba.com
Emergency/Delay in Travel – After Hours 7 Days a Week
+1-916.929.8188
Premium Cabin#3 #4 #9 #10
Standard Cabin #5 #6 #7 #8
Club Cabin #11 #12
Budget Cabin #1 #2
Passenger average 22 (max 28) Crew 12
Twin hull’s reduce seasickness & maximise stability
2 Large inflatables
Daily cabin service
Dive Services
Nitrox
Solo diving
Open dive deck
Camera table
Rebreather service
Help for novices
Freedom for experienced divers
Digital photo shoot-out on every expedition
Guest Facilities
Air-conditioned accommodation, lounge & bar, sundeck, alfresco deck, music / DVD player, large screen TV x 2, daily cabin service
Accommodation
4 x Premium - 2 x queen, 2 x double with private bathroom and ocean view
4 x Standard - twin beds with private bathroom and ocean view
4 x Club - twin bunk beds, private bathroom
2 x Budget - bunks beds, shared bathroom
Spoilsport Bedding Dimensions
Premium Cabin
Cabin 9 - queen bed L 2030 x W 1530
Cabin 10 - queen bed L 2030 x W 1530
Cabin 3 - double bed L 1840 x W 1370
Cabin 4 - double bed L 1860 x W 1370
Standard Cabin
Cabin 5, 6, 7 & 8
Window - single beds L 2000 x W 890
Wall - single beds L 1960 x W 890
Budget Cabin
Cabin 1 & 2 - bunk beds L 1960 x W 890
Vessel Size
Length - 30 m (100ft) Beam - 10.5m (35ft)
Range - 1930km (1200miles) survey - QLD 1B survey (29 pax) commissioned - 1989
Vessel Equipment
Main engines x2, generators x 2, compressors x 2, air-conditioning system x 2
Electrical Systems
Radar global positioning, HF & VHF radios, echo sounders x 2, 240V / 110V recharge facilities, weatherfax, sonar
Crew
Master, Trip Director, Engineer, 1st Mate, Chef, Host, Photo/Video Pro, Dive Master x2, General Hands x2
Spoilsport has been purpose-built for Mike Ball Dive Expeditions to give divers the most stable and spacious vessel operating in the Coral Sea. Her twin hull design minimises seasickness, and custom features such as a large dive deck with dedicated camera tables make diving a breeze.
Vessel Features
Guest Facilities | Accommodation | Crew |
---|---|---|
Lounge & bar | 4 x Premium Cabins | Master |
Large sundeck with optional shade cover | Double with private bathroom and ocean view | Trip Director |
Alfresco deck | 4 x Standard Cabins | Engineer |
Comfortable cabins, most with ensuite | Twin beds with private bathroom and ocean view | 1st Mate |
Full air conditioned throughout | 4 x Club Cabins | Chef |
Large screen TV x 2 | Twin bunk beds with private bathroom | Host |
Music / DVD player | 2 x Budget Cabins | Photo/Video Pro |
Daily cabin service | Twin bunk beds, shared bathroom | Dive Master x 3 |
General Hands x2 |
Dive Features
Dive Features |
---|
Huge dive deck |
Three large camera tables and dedicated camera rinse tanks |
Entry/exit platforms with freshwater shower |
Nitrox available |
2 Large RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) |
Technical Specs
Vessel | Vessel Equipment | Electrical Systems |
---|---|---|
Length – 30 m (100ft) Beam – 10.5m (35ft) | Main Engines x2 | Radar; Global Positioning System x 2 |
Speed – 12 knots | Generators x 2 | HF & VHF Radios; Echo Sounders x 1 |
Range – 1930km (1200miles) Survey – QLD | Compressors x 2 | 240V / 110V Recharge Facilities; Chart Plotter x 2 |
Commissioned – 1989 | Air-conditioning System x 2 | |
1B Survey (for 29 passengers) |