Mike Ball's Dive Expeditions

3 night - Fly Dive Cod Hole

 Within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Appeals to the broadest section of divers from beginners to mad keen photographers and snorkellers.

4 night - Fly Dive Coral Sea

 Adventure diving, 75 miles beyond the Great Barrier Reef to the remote Coral Sea. Requires competent divers comfortable in exposed sea conditions on deep walls with some current.

7 night - Coral Sea Safari

 Combines 'Fly Dive Coral Sea' and 'Fly Dive Cod Hole' itineraries. If not fully confident best to do 'Fly Dive Cod Hole' followed by 'Fly Dive Coral Sea'. Coral Sea is unsuitable for snorkellers.

7 night - Exploratory 

 7 night 'Exploratory Itineraries’ are exclusively for 7 night guests. Almost all divers have 'advanced skills' however we can accommodate 1 or 2 less experienced certified divers. This itinerary takes advantage of prevailing dive site and weather conditions and may not visit Lizard Island.

Minke Whale Expeditions

 Within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Appeals to the broadest section of divers from beginners to mad keen photographers and snorkellers.

Great White Shark Expeditions

 Those looking for the ultimate shark cage experience. Taking divers from advanced to beginners and non-divers.

3 night - Fly Dive Cod Hole

The Fly Dive Cod Hole showcases the best of the Great Barrier Reef featuring:

• a spectacular low-flying start to Lizard Island,
• the prime Ribbon Reef sites,
• exciting marine life encounters,
• the world famous Cod Hole,
• outstanding marine life biodiversity,
• all dives sites north of Cooktown,
• guaranteed access to restricted dive sites,
• 50% reduced cruise time and within sheltered waters,
• superior vessel stability in adverse weather conditions,
• Minke whales (Jun/Jul).

What awaits you?
Imagine yourself on a spectacular ‘flying start’ to Lizard Island. On the way you will have a birds-eye view of the Great Barrier Reef. Half of your 150 mile flight is at a very low 180 metres (600ft) above the sites you will dive along the Great Barrier Reefs continental shelf. A truly spectacular beginning to your expedition.

Lizard Island.
See where the famous English navigator James Cook climbed in 1770 to find a way out of the labyrinth of reefs. Naturalist Joseph Banks lamented in his log that he had too little time to study the wealth of strange creatures he saw in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Will you have space in your log to record the wealth of creatures you find?

The turquoise chain of Ribbon Reefs.
This 55 mile chain of reefs from Lizard Island to Cooktown is the most prized dive region of Australia ’s Great Barrier Reef . This is where you can see more of the Great Barrier Reefs 1500 fish and 400 coral species than elsewhere. The currents that channel between the ribbon reefs attract large fish populations.

Exciting Marine Life Encounters.
Marine life encounters range from pygmy seahorses to manta rays and whales. The Great Barrier Reef has 9 species of anemone fish, 43 species of butterfly fish, 1001 species of nudibranch, and 6 of the worlds 7 turtle species…

Diver size fish at the Cod Hole and Cod Wall!
One of the Great Barrier Reefs most amazing phenomenon's await you at the Cod Hole. Swim with, ‘small diver size’ or ‘giant fish size’ potato cod. Spend the dive amongst shallow sunlit coral gardens of acropora coral or venture deeper into the parallel gullies forming the front of the reef where huge Queensland groupers face into the current.

Dive Site Guarantee!
All your dives will be north of Cooktown including ‘prime’ Ribbon Reef sites that have restricted access. If weather forces an itinerary change our surety of access to the prime Ribbon Reef sites is your guarantee of the best diving available. Spoilsport’s outstanding stability minimizes disruption to your itinerary and your diving experience.

Dive Freedom!
You will notice there is no rush or limit placed on your dive time. Spoilsport’s itineraries normally provide 3 dive sites per day with opportunity for relaxed or unlimited diving. At sites like Challenger Bay some photographers do 2 hour dives to capture special fish behavior photographs

4 night - Fly Dive Coral Sea

The Fly Dive Coral Sea includes the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef featuring:

• pristine coral gardens at Challenger Bay,
• diver size fish at the Cod Hole,
• 40 meter (132ft) visibility and 1000 meter plummeting walls,
• exciting shark action in the Coral Sea ,
• schooling trevally and barracuda in the Coral Sea,
• all dives sites located north of Cooktown,
• guaranteed access to restricted dive sites,
• superior vessel stability in adverse weather conditions,
• a spectacular 250km scenic flight over the dive sites from Lizard Island.

What awaits you?
Imagine yourself as a feeling of excitement arises as you cruise north in the shelter of the Great Barrier Reef. Your choice of hot beverage delivered to your cabin begins the next day in a civilized way. On deck you are greeted by the fabulous turquoise waters of the Ribbon Reefs. To port is historic Cooktown to starboard is the vastness of the Coral Sea.

Shallow but fantastic – Challenger Bay!
Challenger Bay is a spectacular introduction to the Great Barrier Reef. Gliding along, surrounded by schools of silver trevally, surgeon fish and yellow striped bream you explore pristine coral gardens in excellent visibility. You will understand why the ‘Great’ is in Great Barrier Reef.

Diver size fish at the Cod Hole!
One of the Great Barrier Reefs most amazing phenomenons await you at the Cod Hole. Swim with, ‘small diver size’ or ‘giant fish size’ potato cod. Spend the dive amongst shallow sunlit coral gardens of acropora coral or venture deeper into the parallel gullies forming the front of the reef where huge Queensland groupers face into the current.

Plummeting walls in gin clear water.
Imagine, early morning dives on sheer walls that plummet to 1000 metres. Glide pass huge black coral trees, diver size soft coral trees and golden gorgonian fans. Observe or be observed by curious sharks cruising in the clear water.

Exciting shark action in the Coral Sea!
Your Osprey Reef adventure builds to a climax with a spectacular shark dive at North Horn. You will see 10-30 grey reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks as well as other species. You can photograph these sleek high order predators at close- range, or not so close, you choose! Hammerheads are seen off the deep wall.

Schooling trevally & barracuda in the Coral Sea!
Also observe the perimeter of the shark dive. You will see a queue for the scraps! Potato cod, Napoleon wrasse and moray eels forage the reef while trevally, barracuda and red bass control the mid-water.

Dive Site Guarantee!
All your dives will be north of Cooktown including ‘prime’ Ribbon Reef sites that have restricted access. If weather forces an itinerary change our surety of access to the prime Ribbon Reef sites is your guarantee of the best diving available. Spoilsport’s outstanding stability minimizes disruption to your itinerary and your diving experience.

Dive Freedom!
You will notice there is no rush or limit placed on your dive time. Spoilsport’s itineraries normally provide 3 dive sites per day with opportunity for relaxed or unlimited diving. At sites like Challenger Bay some photographers do 2 hour dives to capture special fish behavior photographs.

7 night - Coral Sea Safari

Here’s the deal. The new 7night, 450 mile Coral Sea Safari includes some of the best dive sites on Australia’s Great Barrier and Coral Sea featuring:

• spectacular first dive at Challenger Bay,
• diver size fish at the Cod Hole,
• plummeting Coral Sea wall dives in gin clear water,
• exciting shark action in the Coral Sea,
• schooling trevally and barracuda in the Coral Sea,
• exploration of Lizard Island,
• the Cod Wall, outer edge big fish dive,
• the prime Ribbon Reef sites,
• all dives north of Cooktown, dive site guarantee!
• superior vessel stability in adverse weather conditions.

Combines 'Fly Dive Coral Sea' and 'Fly Dive Cod Hole' itineraries. If not fully confident best to do 'Fly Dive Cod Hole' followed by 'Fly Dive Coral Sea'.

Some departures are earmarked as "exploratory" and may not visit Lizard Island.

Minke Whale Expeditions

Expedition Summary
Minke whales are commonly seen along the Ribbon Reefs north of Cairns between May and August. In June and July we conduct special Minke Whale Expeditions with the second day devoted almost entirely to finding and snorkeling and/or diving with minke whales. Since commencing minke whale expeditions in 1996 we have discovered the locations where minkes' are most commonly found. In this time we have evolved a diving and snorkeling protocol that has minimal impact on the whales and allows them to approach divers within their own comfort zone. This protocol combined with the minkes' natural curiosity provides you with very close encounters and spectacular opportunities for close up videos and photography.

Minke Whales
Dwarf minke whales are the smallest of the baleen whales. They have a characteristic white band on each fin that contrasts with a very dark grey fin tip; these markings are as individual as fingerprints. They like all baleen whales, have two blowholes. A fully developed adult is approximately 7-9 meters (25-30ft) in length and 5-7 tonnes in weight. Minke whales have a layer of blubber several inches thick and are quite sleek in appearance.

Great White Shark Expeditions

Since pioneering shark cage diving over 40-years ago, Rodney Fox and his son Andrew have been at the very forefront of human interaction with Great White Sharks. As primary advocates for these creatures, their expeditions and research have educated the public and attracted adventurers from around the world.

Join the Fox's aboard the "Princess II" for the worlds ultimate shark adventure. Tours depart Port Lincoln in South Australia out to the famous Neptune Islands, which continues to be the very best place in the world to see and photograph Great White Sharks.

Diving

• #W1 7-8 nights Port Lincoln – Port Lincoln.

• #W2 2-4 nights Port Lincoln – Port Lincoln.

• #W3 5 nights Port Lincoln – Port Lincoln.

Dive Sites & Activities

• Neptune islands offshore Port Lincoln and Dangerous Reef.

• Focus of expedition is to have as much time as possible observing and photographing the great white sharks.

• A unique opportunity to visit a rookery of New Zealand fur seals and the rare Australian sea lion.

• Witness 1,000's of seals and sea lions eating and sleeping, mating and fighting territorial disputes.

• Excursion to Hopkins Island to dive with the friendly Australian sea lion.Expeditions led by Andrew Fox.

• The only operator offering 3 cages ensuring ALL divers can be in the water at one time for viewing the great white sharks. Regular surface cage diving for non-certified divers and submersible shark cages, allowing certified divers to view from the ocean bottom, a famous and unbeatable world exclusive feature.

• Complimentary beer, wines and soft drinks onboard.

• Need warm, full length 5/16 wetsuit or dry suit with farmer John pants, hood and hard soled boots in cages.Water temperature 14C-19C (57F-66F)