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Choose your cabin when you book: budget, club, standard or premium.-
MV Spoilsport
7 Night Coral Sea Exploratory
An annual expedition from Cairns
$4573*
- Plummeting Coral Sea walls in gin-clear water, and exciting shark action
- The continental shelf, the Ribbon Reefs and the Cod Hole
- In June and July, dedicated time to find and swim with minke whales
- For Advanced divers with at least 15 ocean dives
* Prices are per person in Australian dollars (AUD) and can change by date. Your booking shows the price for the date you choose.
The boat
MV Spoilsport
Mike Ball’s Spoilsport has four cabin categories, daily cabin service and meals and snacks throughout, with wine and soft drinks at dinner. On board there’s a reef ecology programme, a dive computer workshop and a Vivid Pix photo-editing workshop.
- 4Cabin categories
- 7 nightsOn board
Where you dive
- The Coral SeaPlummeting wall dives in gin-clear water, and exciting shark action.
- The continental shelfDive 100 miles north of Cairns on the edge of the shelf, exposed to the currents.
- The Ribbon Reefs and the Cod HoleGreat fish and coral diversity, and diver-sized potato cod at the Cod Hole. Sites like Dynamite Pass, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Wall, Pixie Pinnacle, Coral Kingdom, Flare Point, Blue Lagoon, Gotham City and Vertical Gardens.
- Steve’s BommieA highlight, with an incredible array of weird and wonderful creatures.
- Minke whalesIn season (June and July), dedicated time to find and swim with the whales.
Your cabin
- PremiumQueen or double bed, private bathroom, ocean views.
- StandardTwin beds, private bathroom, ocean views.
- ClubTwin bunk beds, private bathroom, no ocean view.
- BudgetTwin bunk beds, shared bathroom, no ocean view.
Cabin prices are shown when you book.
What’s included
- 7 nights on boardIn a twin or double cabin, serviced daily
- All meals and snacksWith wine and soft drinks at dinner
- Tanks, weights and air fillsTank and weight belt
- WorkshopsReef ecology programme, dive computer workshop and Vivid Pix photo-editing workshop
- Transfer after the tripTo the airport or your Cairns hotel
Not included
- Flights and accommodationFlights to and from Cairns, and accommodation in Cairns.
- Dinner on the first nightEat before you board.
- Environmental Management ChargeCharged per day on the Great Barrier Reef, and added to your bar bill.
- Fuel surcharge$20 per person, per night, on every Spoilsport trip. Paid on board at check-in.
- Gear hire and photo servicesAvailable at extra cost.
- Dive medicalIf you need one.
- Travel insuranceRecommended, with medical evacuation cover for diving: see below.
Your week
- Day 1Thursday · board in Cairns
8:30 am – 4:00 pm Check in at the Mike Ball Dive Expeditions office in Cairns city
From 4:30 pm Meet your fellow passengers at Hemingway’s Brewery on the Cairns wharf. Dinner isn’t served the first night, so eat before you board
5:50 pm The crew walks you to Spoilsport. Champagne, light snacks and a full briefing
6:00 pm Depart Cairns, and set up your gear on the dive deck - Days 2–6Friday to Tuesday
4 dives and a night dive each day. A typical day: 6:30 am wake-up and light breakfast, 7:00 am first dive, 9:00 am cooked breakfast, 10:30 am dive (“open decks” allow 1–2 dives morning or afternoon), 2:00 pm lunch, 3:30 pm dive, 4:30 pm afternoon tea, 6:30 pm night dive, 8:00 pm dinner.
- Day 7Wednesday · last dives
4 dives, with the last one out of the water by 5:00 pm. Then a farewell party at sunset and an overnight cruise to Cairns.
- Day 8Thursday · back in Cairns
7:00 am Light breakfast
8:00 am Leave the boat. Transfer to your inner-city hotel, the airport, or the office, where bags can be stored until 5 pm
A sample itinerary: times, sites and the number of dives change with the conditions.
Requirements
Certification
- Advanced Open Water, with at least 15 ocean dives including 5 in the last 12 months.
- Bring proof of certification. Everyone must have dived in the last 10 years.
Medical
- You must be medically and physically fit to dive. If you’ve had an illness or injury that could affect your diving, have or have ever had a heart or lung disorder, high blood pressure, asthma, epilepsy, narcolepsy, diabetes or another condition that rules out diving, or take prescription medication (other than contraceptives), you need a dive medical clearance from a doctor, dated within the last 12 months, covering every condition and medication. Tell us when you book, as dive restrictions may apply. Read Mike Ball’s medical declaration.
- Without a suitable medical you’re limited to 2 supervised dives a day, with more only if staff are available. With a condition that rules out diving and no medical, you can’t dive at all.
- Don’t dive if you feel unwell or have a chest cold or congestion.
Insurance
- Mike Ball recommends travel insurance that covers medical evacuation and support for scuba diving (for example through Dive Assure or DAN). Australian residents should check whether their state ambulance cover includes it.
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
Can I snorkel on this trip?
No. It isn’t suitable for snorkellers, children or novice divers.
Will we see minke whales?
In June and July, the expedition sets aside time to find and swim with them.
Are the dives guided?
Not all of them. There are free orientation dives, and a guided group dive every morning and afternoon. Private guides may be available at extra cost.
Is dinner served the first night?
No, so eat before you board. Champagne and light snacks are served at the briefing.
Is there a luggage limit?
No overall limit, but no single bag may weigh more than 20 kg. If you have more, pack a second soft bag to split the weight. Extra luggage can be stored at the Mike Ball office in Cairns.
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.
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.
How do I get to and from the boat?
You make your own way to the Mike Ball office in Cairns for check-in. After the trip, you’re transferred to the office, the airport or any inner-city Cairns hotel (between the airport in the north and Earlville in the south).
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
- 7 Night Coral Sea ExploratoryRead the terms and conditions
