Mike Ball Dive - 7 Night Cod Hole & Coral Sea Safari
Prices from $4,355 AUD
This 7 day scuba dive expedition will show you the best diving that Australia has to offer. As well as the world famous 'Cod Hole', this trip vists the northern 'ribbon reefs', 'Lizard island' and 'Osprey Reef' in the Coral Sea. Exploratory and Minke Whale Expeditions sometimes deviate from the itinerary.
Features
- Prime Ribbon Reef sites
- The world famous Cod Hole
- All dives sites north of Cooktown
- Unspoilt Osprey Reef
- Guaranteed access to restricted dive sites
- Minke whales (Jun/Jul)
- 7 nights / 6 dive days
- Unlimited Diving
More information...
Prices
Simply click the price below to add an item to your booking
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Coral Sea Safari (incl Cod Hole) - 7 nights - budget
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includes all meals and diving - Twin Bunks - share bathroon
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$4,355.00 |
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Coral Sea Safari (incl Cod Hole) - 7 nights - club
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includes all meals and diving - Twin Bunks - ensuite bathroom
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$5,111.00 |
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Coral Sea Safari (incl Cod Hole) - 7 nights - standard
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includes all meals and diving - Twin Beds - ensuite bathroom - ocean views
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$5,851.00 |
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Coral Sea Safari (incl Cod Hole) - 7 nights - premium
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includes all meals and diving - Double Bed - ensuite bathroom - ocean views
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$6,369.00 |
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Additional Costs: EMC (reef tax) of $6.50 per person, per day is payable directly
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Coral Sea Safari (incl Cod Hole) - 7 nights - budget
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includes all meals and diving - Twin Bunks - share bathroon
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$4,573.00 |
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Coral Sea Safari (incl Cod Hole) - 7 nights - club
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includes all meals and diving - Twin Bunks - ensuite bathroom
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$5,367.00 |
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Coral Sea Safari (incl Cod Hole) - 7 nights - standard
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includes all meals and diving - Twin Beds - ensuite bathroom - ocean views
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$6,143.00 |
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Coral Sea Safari (incl Cod Hole) - 7 nights - premium
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includes all meals and diving - Double Bed - ensuite bathroom - ocean views
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$6,688.00 |
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Additional Costs: EMC (reef tax) of $6.50 per person, per day is payable directly
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2024 Departure dates: 2, 9, 16, 23 May | 1 August | 12, 26 September | 3, 31 October | 12 December
2025 Departure dates: 2, 9, 16, 23 January | 1, 8, 15, 22 May | 4, 18 September | 2, 16, 30 October
2026 Departure dates: 8, 15, 22 January
All diving is conducted 100 miles north of Cooktown at the sites most likely to encounter big fish action, grey reef sharks, silvertip sharks and hammerheads as well as manta rays and minke whales (June/July). You begin by swimming with diver size fish at the world famous Cod Hole. Overnight you venture out to the crystal clear waters and plummeting walls in the Coral Sea. Witness the exciting shark feed, you can photograph these sleek high order predators at close-range or not so close! The second half of this expedition is within the sheltered waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Includes the amazing Acropolis. Here, you see the best concentrations of pristine corals, colourful tropical fish and rare critters.
Some of the well known dive sites you will visit include.
Ribbon Reefs
This chain of Reefs stretches for 55 miles from Lizard Island to Cooktown. You will see more of the Great Barrier Reef's 1500 fish and 400 coral species than anywhere else. The channels between the Ribbon Reefs also attract very large populations of fish.
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Cod Hole
Diver sized Potato Cod await you at the World Famous Cod Hole. These gentle giants are in no way afraid of divers. This dive is the highlight of many scuba divers whole trip. Also see large Queensland Groupers in the reef gullies.
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Challenger Bay
Experience the Barracuda, Morey Eels and Lionfish using the lights from your torch to hunt their dinner on this exciting Night Dive.
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Lighthouse Bommie
A pinnacle rising 30 metres from the sand. In June/July/August this is one of the best places in the world to sight Minke Whales.
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Acropolis Plateau
Acropolis Plateau, our hot new site, is covered in spectacular corals and surrounded by both bait and predatory fish.
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Pixies Pinnacle
Pixies is the home of the rare Harlequin Ghost Pipefish, Leafy Scorpion Fish and Lace Scorpion Fish. All are frequently encountered.
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Coral Sea Shark Action
Spectacular shark dive at North Horn. You will see 20-30 grey reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks as well as other species. You can photograph these predators at close- range, or not so close, you choose! Hammerheads are seen off the deep wall. |
Coral Sea Trevally & Barracuda.
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. |
Vertical Gardens
This site is a natural amplitheatre and home to a school of very large Bump Head Parrotfish. Sometimes their crunching can be almost deafening.
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Clam Beds
Clam Beds, a shallow coral garden, is home to dozens of spectacular Giant Clams, as well beautiful coral gardens.
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Andy's Postcard
An isolated bommie rising from 80 metres, it's well known for the flourescent Orange and Purple Anthias - which attract huge Giant Trevally and Barracudas.
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Steve's Bommie
You will regularly see Lion Fish, Frog Fish and Leaf Scorpion Fish, as well as large schools of snapper, Trevally and Barracuda.
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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. |
Thursday: Departure
- Check-in your luggage by 4.00pm
- 6.00pm board Spoilsport.
- Cruise Overnight to our first dive site.
Friday: 4 day dives, 1 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 briefing & dive. “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 & Sunday: 8 dives, 1 night dive
- As per above, however all diving is finished by 5pm on Sunday.
- Spoilsport moors off Lizard Island for the evening.
- 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.
Monday: 2 dives, 1 night dive
- 7:00 am: Light breakfast
- 8:00 am: Bid farewell to passengers doing the 4 night Fly Dive Coral Sea Expedition who will disembark here.
- 8:00 am: Stay onboard or take a tender over to Lizard Island to stretch your legs and explore a little of this beautiful island.
- 11:00 am: New passengers join us here. Drinks and light snacks provided.
- 12:45 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, 1 night dive
- 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 briefing & dive. “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
- 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
- As the sun sets we pour the champagne, lay out the nibbles and get ready for a final farewell party!
- Overnight cruise to Cairns
Thursday: Return to Cairns
- Early morning docking at Trinity Wharf - Cairns,
- Breakfast, 8:00am courtesy transfers to Cairns city hotels.
Equipment Rental
Expedition prices include cylinders and weight belts however if you need additional dive gear this can be rented onboard the vessel – price list below.
Wetsuits: We recommend wrist to ankle coverage with a 3mm full wetsuit in the warmer months (Nov – Feb) and a 5mm full wetsuit in the cooler months (Mar – Oct). Minimum requirement when diving – elbow to knee coverage.
- Reg, Ocy, Gauges $15/day
- BCD $10/day
- Computer $12/day
- Snorkel Gear $5/day
- Light/Torch/Cyalume $10/day
- Wetsuit $10/day
- Safety Sausage (SMB) $10/trip
- All of the above $44/day
- 6cf Pony Bottle + Reg $15/day
- 12L Steel Bottle $25/day
- 15L Steel Bottle $30/day
- Cyalume Light Stick $2/each