Mike Ball Dive Expeditions - 4 Night Fly Dive Coral Sea
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.
4 nights - 14 divesLocation: Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef.
Embark: Thursday 7pm – Trinity Wharf, Cairns.
Disembark: Monday 11am - Cairns. (courtesy city hotel transfers)
PRICING
Cabins: (Valid 01/04/08 - 31/03/09)
Premium - $2221
Standard - $2019
Club - $1816
Budget - $1570
** These rates are subject to change at any time without notice.
Itinerary Summary - ADDITIONAL INFORMATON
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
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.
Friday night, heading N/E to Coral Sea: Overnight aboard Spoilsport you venture 75 miles beyond the Great Barrier Reef to the remote Coral Sea. Without exception guests and crew are impressed by the superb seagoing ability of Spoilsport.
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.
Lizard Island: Walk in Captain Cook’s footsteps to 'Cook's Look'. The famous English navigator James Cook climbed to its summit in 1770 to find the way out of the labyrinth of reefs. Naturalist Joseph Banks lamented in his journal that he had too little time to study the wealth of strange creatures he saw in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
Spectacular 250km Flight! Half of your 150 mile flight is at a very low 180 meters (600ft). We provide detailed flight maps so you can anticipate the low altitude pass (600ft) over Endeavour Reef where Captain Cook ran aground, the Emily Wreck and the reefs along the continental shelf you dived from Spoilsport. A truly spectacular conclusion to your adventure!
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. 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.
Diving Service: Most guests prefer to plan and dive independently with their buddy. Guests who require supervision are offered a combination of: complimentary orientation dives to enhance skills; a scheduled morning and afternoon guided dive and dives with our staff on an ad hoc basis. Their crew will locate species like the beautiful leaf scorpion fish. The complimentary Reef Ecology Program will assist you identify the marine life.
Spoilsport = 5 Star Service! We aim to spoil you! To ensure your needs are met, on arrival the ‘trip director’ will have a private consultation with you. In between dives you enjoy Spoilsports luxurious motor yacht atmosphere and attentive crew. Spoilsport is the Great Barrier Reef ’s most awarded live aboard.
Spoilsport: Spoilsport was designed to provide divers with a new level of comfort and convenience. You get less rock’n’roll with more space and comfort. She has received 11 prestigious Rodale’s Reader Choice awards including Best Live aboard and Most Environmentally Sensitive.
Sumptuous Meals: Enjoy a sumptuous variety of meals that has earned Spoilsport an enviable reputation for catering excellence. Vegetarian and standard diets are catered for with Australian and International menus using fresh local produce. Please advise if you have special dietary needs.
Spoilsport Vessel Features:- Spoilsport is Australia's most 'Awarded' live aboard
- Length 30m (100ft); Beam 10m (36ft); Speed 15 knots
- Passenger average 20 (max 28) Crew 11
- Twin hull’s reduce seasickness and maximises stability, space and privacy
- Twin or double cabins, most with ocean views. Daily cabin service
- Spacious: dining room; lounge; alfresco deck and sundeck
- Sensational chef prepared meals and in-between meal snacks
- Complimentary soft drinks and Australian wines (with dinner)
- Enjoy your choice of hot beverage with your early morning wake-up call
- Complimentary Reef Ecology Program
- Low key photo comp on every expedition
- Huge dive deck with convenient entry/exit platforms
- Photographer friendly with 3 large camera tables
- 'Open dive deck' allows flexible dive planning
- 3 dive sites per day is normal
- Underwater photography and video services
- Nitrox $10/fill or $20/day for entire expedition
- PADI instruction: Advanced, Nitrox, Naturalist and Photo/Video
- Dry towel after each dive
- Solo diving as per Mike Ball Safe Solo System
- 2 large inflatables for personalised dive service
