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Spoilsport

Fly & Dive Cod Hole: 3 Night Liveaboard

Start with a low-level flight over the Great Barrier Reef to Lizard Island, then spend three nights on Mike Ball’s MV Spoilsport, diving the Cod Hole and the Ribbon Reefs, the most prized dive region on the reef.

  • Up to 12 divesIncluding night dives
  • From $2504*Per person, AUD
  • 3 nightsOn MV Spoilsport
  • Fly inLow-level flight to Lizard Island
Book your trip
Divers over hard coral on the Great Barrier Reef

Book your trip

Choose your cabin when you book: budget, club, standard or premium.
  • MV Spoilsport

    3 Night Fly & Dive Cod Hole

    Departs every Monday from Cairns

    $2504*

    *Changes to $2250 for dates from 14 December

    • Scenic flight to Lizard Island, diving by about 12:30 pm
    • Up to 12 dives: the Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs No. 3 to 10
    • Free orientation dives if you’re new to it
    • Suits all levels, from Open Water divers to keen photographers and snorkellers
    Book now

    Terms and conditions

* Prices are per person in Australian dollars (AUD) and can change by date. Your booking shows the price for the date you choose.

See the cabins

Dates

Choose a date to see prices and spots left, then book.
  1. Mon, 5 OctFrom $2504Check availability
  2. Mon, 2 NovFrom $2504Check availability
  3. Mon, 14 DecFrom $2250Check availability

Prices are per person and can vary by date and option.

Divers over hard coral on the Great Barrier Reef

The boat

MV Spoilsport

Mike Ball’s Spoilsport is Australia’s most awarded liveaboard dive boat. It’s custom built, 30 metres long, with a twin hull for stability in all conditions and a crew of 11, including the dive team, host, skipper and chef. Cabins are air-conditioned and serviced daily, there’s a lounge and bar inside and a sun deck above.

The chef cooks everything fresh and caters for all dietary needs, with a dedicated vegetarian menu. For photographers there are three camera stations with air guns, a charging shelf with 110 V and 240 V sockets, fresh-water rinse tubs, a photo competition on every trip, and big screens in the saloon for watching your shots.

  • 30 mTwin-hull liveaboard
  • 28Divers on board
  • 11Crew

More Spoilsport expeditions

Where you dive

  • The flightHalf of the 150-mile flight to Lizard Island is just 180 metres above the reef, over the sites you’ll dive.
  • The Ribbon ReefsA 55-mile chain of reefs from Lizard Island to Cooktown, where you can see more of the reef’s 1,500 fish and 400 coral species than anywhere else. Currents between the reefs attract big fish.
  • The Cod HoleSwim with inquisitive, diver-sized potato cod. Its Shark Alley is a great place to see whitetips sleeping on the sand, and the odd grey reef shark.
  • Guaranteed sitesSpoilsport has guaranteed access to restricted Ribbon Reef sites, so if the weather changes the plan, you still get prime diving.

Your cabin

  • PremiumDouble bed, for couples. Private bathroom.
  • Standard and clubTwin cabins with a private bathroom.
  • BudgetTwin cabin with a shared bathroom.
  • On boardBed linen and bath and deck towels. 110 V and 240 V sockets in the cabins.

Cabin prices are shown when you book.

What’s included

  • Scenic flightLow-level flight from Cairns to Lizard Island
  • 3 nights on boardIn the cabin you choose
  • Up to 12 divesWeather dependent
  • Orientation divesFree, to brush up your skills
  • Tanks, weights and air fillsTank, weight belt and weights
  • All meals on boardChef prepared, with wine and soft drinks at dinner
  • Linen and towelsBed linen, and bath and deck towels
  • TransfersPickup from Cairns city accommodation before the flight, and drop-off after the trip
  • Luggage storageExcess luggage stored in Cairns while you’re away

Not included

  • Flights and accommodationFlights to and from Cairns, and accommodation in Cairns.
  • Reef chargesThe Environmental Management Charge, port and administration fee and fuel levy, paid on board.
  • Fuel surcharge$20 per person, per night, on every Spoilsport trip. Paid on board at check-in.
  • Gear hireTank, weights and air are included; everything else is extra.
  • Camera hireNot included.
  • Nitrox fillsExtra, for every dive.
  • Dive medicalIf you need one.
  • Travel insuranceRequired: see below.
  • ToiletriesBring your own.

Your trip

  1. Day 1Monday · fly and dive

    7:00 am Check in at the Mike Ball Dive Expeditions office in Cairns city, then transfer to the light-aircraft airport for the low-level flight to Lizard Island, where you board Spoilsport
    About 12:30 pm Start diving on Ribbon Reefs No. 10 and 9: the Cod Hole, Cod Wall (a rarely dived wall on the outer edge that drops to 60 metres) and Challenger Bay, shallow and rich in life, and a great night dive

  2. Day 2Tuesday · Ribbon Reefs No. 9, 5 & 4

    Up to 5 dives, including a night dive. Pixie Pinnacle and Lighthouse Bommie, wrapped in fusiliers and anthias (minke whales are seen here in June and July), Andy’s Postcard, a pinnacle rising from 80 metres, the giant clams, caves and canyons of Clam Beds, and the walls of Vertical Gardens.

  3. Day 3Wednesday · Ribbon Reef No. 3

    Up to 5 dives, including a night dive, at Flare Point, Joani’s Joy and Steve’s Bommie: coral pinnacles, huge schools of baitfish hunted by barracuda, mackerel and trevally, spotted rays, reef sharks and green turtles.

  4. Day 4Thursday · back in Cairns

    Dock early at Trinity Wharf in Cairns and have breakfast
    8:00 am Transfers to Cairns city hotels

The itinerary changes with conditions.

Requirements

Confirm you’re fit to dive.You must be able to confirm four statements: you’re medically and physically fit to dive and snorkel; you have no illness or injury that could affect you; you don’t have, and have never had, a heart or lung disorder, high blood pressure, asthma, epilepsy, narcolepsy, diabetes or another condition that rules out diving; and you’re not taking prescription medication (other than contraceptives). If you can’t, you need a dive medical clearance from a doctor, dated within the last 12 months, covering every relevant condition and medication. Clearances with conditions or limits aren’t accepted. Tell us when you book. Read Mike Ball’s medical declaration.

Certification

  • Open Water certification (or equivalent from a recognised agency).
  • Bring your certification card and log book (digital or paper). Both are checked at check-in.
  • Haven’t dived in the last 12 months? Book a refresher before you go. Everyone must have dived in the last 10 years.

Insurance

  • Travel insurance is required. Cancellations for any reason are claimed against it.
  • Dive and medical evacuation cover is required. Without it, you pay the costs of any dive or medical emergency.

Your gear

  • You need an alternate air source and a full wetsuit or dive skin (dive skins can’t be hired). A GPS locator and surface marker buoy are supplied.

Language

  • The crew speaks English. You must be able to understand the safety and dive briefings, or travel with an interpreter.

Each trip operator’s own medical and waiver requirements are emailed with your booking confirmation. About dive medicals.

Frequently asked questions

Are the dives guided?

Not all of them. There are free orientation dives, and a guided group dive every morning and afternoon. Experienced divers are free to do their own thing. Private guides may be available at extra cost.

Can I dive on nitrox?

Yes, and it’s encouraged. Fills cost extra.

Is it good for photographers?

Yes. There are camera stations with air guns, charging shelves, rinse tubs, a photo competition every trip and big screens for viewing your shots.

What should I bring?

Toiletries, swimwear, a light long-sleeved top, a sunhat and sunglasses, a quick-dry towel, a refillable water bottle, reef-safe sunscreen, and a loud shirt for the barbecue night. Bare feet are the rule on board, so thongs are all the footwear you need. If you’re not sure of your sea legs, bring motion-sickness tablets; Kwells and Travel Calm are fine when diving.

Is there a luggage limit?

Yes. The flight allows 28 kg per person including hand luggage (7 kg more for professional photographers), in soft-sided bags of no more than 20 kg each. Extra luggage can be stored in Cairns.

How old do I need to be?

The minimum age for diving is 12, and 10 to 12-year-olds with Junior Open Water certification can dive on application. Families with children aged 8 and over are welcome.

Do I need a stinger suit?

Cover up in the water: wrist-to-ankle cover is recommended, and wrist-to-knee is the minimum.

Can you cater for my diet?

Yes. Tell us about any dietary needs when you book.

Is there wi-fi on board?

Yes, paid wi-fi at up to 3 Mbps.

Can I smoke on board?

Only in the smoking area on the top deck.

Where can I leave my car?

Many car rental companies will hold your rental while you’re at sea, and hotels often keep a car for guests staying before or after the trip. Cairns also has paid car-storage facilities; check their opening hours.

How do I pay for extras on board?

By credit card at the end of the trip: bar drinks, gear and nitrox, and any other extras.

Should I tip the crew?

It’s welcome but at your discretion. There’s a tip box at the end of the trip, or add a tip when you settle your card. Tips are shared evenly among the crew.

Can I bring my own drinks or snacks?

Non-perishable snacks, yes, though there’s no guest access to a kitchen or fridge. Alcohol can’t be brought on board: anything you bring is held at the bar and charged at bar prices.

Can people reach me at sea?

In an emergency, contact us with your name and travel date and the message is relayed to the boat. Paid wi-fi is available for essentials.

Is Spoilsport suitable for a diver with a disability?

Only if you’re fully independent or travelling with an able-bodied buddy. The boat wasn’t designed for guests who can’t move around it unaided: cabins, bathrooms and the dive deck are on the main deck with steps between levels, and the Lizard Island transfers use an inflatable tender and a 400 m walk from the airstrip. Tell us before you book so we can check the details with the operator.

Are there jellyfish?

Box jellyfish stay in inshore waters, not the outer reefs you dive. The small Irukandji can be found offshore; stings are rare and very painful but rarely serious, and the boat has radio contact with emergency services. Cover up in the water: wrist to ankle is recommended, and no bare tops or short sleeves.

Which sunscreen should I use?

A reef-safe one, without oxybenzone, octinoxate, butylparaben or 4-methylbenzylidene camphor. Marine-friendly sunscreen is sold on board.

Do I need a visa?

Most visitors can get an Australian visa online or through a travel agent. Your passport needs at least six months’ validity from your return date. Ask us if you need a letter to support a visa application.

What if I don’t speak much English?

Briefings are in English only and translation apps aren’t accepted, so divers with limited English may have to miss some dives. Travel with an interpreter if you need one.

Terms and conditions