Mike Ball Diving Expeditions

8 Day Exploratory Coral Sea Expedition

Scuba dive the Coral Sea and the Yongala Wreck.  UNLIMITED DIVING! (Approx. 30 Dives) 

Combines the best of the Coral Sea, Yongala Wreck and Great Barrier Reef . Unique opportunity to explore remote rarely visited outer Great Barrier Reef sites. Expect the unexpected on this Exploratory Expedition! Each expedition will be different. Cruise 300 miles, experience 150 ft (45 m) underwater vizibility. Includes Yongala Wreck, Scuba Zoo and Flinders Reef complex.

  • Unlimited diving
  • Live-aboard Spoilsport - winner of 9 Rondales Reader's Choice Awards
  • Superb cuisine, twin or double accommodation, tanks, weight belts
  • Combines Coral Sea, Scuba Zoo shark feed, Yongala Wreck and Great Barrier Reef
  • Complimentary Reef Ecology Certificate Course

Rondales Awards

Nine awards in categories:

  • Favourite Pacific Liveaboards
  • Best Dive Staff
  • Most Environmentally sensitive
  • Liveaboard with the best food.

Departs: Every second Tuesday at 8:00pm from Townsville
Check in 8pm at the Quarter Deck Marina, Townsville Check in 8pm at the Quarter Deck Marina, Townsville. Baggage lefy prior to 5pm at the Centra Hotel. This luggage will be delivered to Spoilsport.
Returns: Townsville, Monday at 4:00pm
Itinerary
Expect the unexpected on this exciting Exploratory Expedition! Dive 200 miles offshore in the Coral Sea with 150 ft (45 m) visibility. Suitable for the globetrotting diver seeking Australia's best liveaboard expedition. Travel aboard Spoilsport, Australia's most prestigious and comfortable liveaboard.

Tuesday: Check in and Departure

  • Check in 8pm at the Quarter Deck resurant, Townsville Marina.
    Baggage lefy prior to 5pm at Centra Hotel will be delivered to Spoilsport.
  • Cruise 60 miles to the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef

Wednesday: Dip, and Myrmidon and Bowl Reefs

  • Appreciate unparalleled diversity in coral gardens atop Turtle bommie
  • Look under overhangs and shelving plate coral for lion fish and sleeping sharks
  • Glide amongst schooling barracuda at M&M Bommie- Mymidon Reef

Thursday: Exploratory

  • Cruise up to 200 miles offshore
  • Seasonal exploratory trips to Herald & Dart
  • Discover inquisitive animals unaccustomed to being in the presence of divers

Fri: Watanabe, Greybeards and Midnight

  • Dive the towering Watanabe Pinnacle that thrusts 140 ft from the sea bed, become engulfed in schools of barracuda, tuna, trevally and sharks
  • Swim through a forest of diver size soft coral trees at "Midnight"
  • Find exotic marine animals like cuttlefish, sea hares, and starry morays

Saturday: Trigger Happy, Anemone City and Flinders Coral Cay

  • Circumnavigate Trigger Happy, a group of bommies rising from 150ft
  • Stroll with seabirds and turtles during nesting season (Oct-March)
  • Celebrate the end of a fantastic day with a sunset drink and Aussie BBQ

Sunday: Cod Wall, Scuba Zoo and Whaler Station

  • Scan this spectacular wall which drops to 1,000ft
  • Descend into gorgonian fans up to 15 feet wide (the Gigantus Gorgonus)
  • Mingle with patrolling sharks, tuna and barracuda
  • Come within arms reach of a 30 plus shark feeding frenzy at Scuba Zoo

Monday: Exploratory - Great Barrier Reef

  • Explore rarely dived outer barrier reefs. See unparalleled diversity in coral species and marine life on new sites

Tuesday: Yongala Wreck and Return

  • Explore one of the world's best wreck dives - The Yongala
  • Inspect the many remaining artefacts
  • Hover with huge stingrays over the wreck
  • Witness more marine life here than on a whole trip elsewhere
  • Arrive in Townsville at 3.30pm

(Itinerary subject to change)

Vessel Information - Spoilsport (4 star)

Guest Accommodation

"Luxury motor yacht atmosphere. Length 100 ft, beam 36 ft, speed 16 knots. Get spoilt on one of the world's best liveaboards. Average passenger number 22 (max 29)."
 
Premium
Double Bed Private Bathroom Ocean view
Standard
Twin Beds Connecting Bathroom Ocean view
Economy
Twin Bunk Beds Connecting Bathroom -
Budget
Twin Bunk beds in hull Shared Bathroom -
  • Winner of 9 prestigious Rodale's Reader's Choice Awards including; "World's Best Crew," "Favourite Pacific Liveaboard," and "Most Environmentally Sensitive Resort or Liveaboard in the Pacific."
  • Twin hull design for more space & comfort with less "rock n' roll"
  • Daily serviced twin or double accommodation with individual air controls. Most cabins have sea views.
  • Superb meals plus fresh between meal snacks
  • Large: dining room; alfresco deck and sundeck (half shaded)
  • Complimentary softdrinks & wine (with dinner)

WHY DIVE THE CORAL SEA ON SPOILSPORT

  • Up to 5 dives per day, 2 last day. Reef, wreck, night & shark dives
  • Non divers welcome, free resort course for non divers
  • Warm towels after every dive
  • Uncrowded dive sites - choose between main vessel or tender dives
  • Complimentary Reef Ecology Certificate course
  • Mike Ball's Safe Scuba System ensures both experienced divers and novices are catered to. See Dive Procedures
  • Solo diving as per Mike Ball's Safe Solo Program
  • Photo and video pro on board.
  • Huge dive deck with multi level camera station
  • Nitrox (EANx32) fills $10/daily $25, nitrox instruction available
  • PADI speciality course available. See Instruction & Rental

(Details subject to change)