Dive Review of Mike Ball Dive Expeditions/Spoilsport in
Australia/Gt Barrier Reef & Coral Sea

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Mike Ball Dive Expeditions/Spoilsport, Oct, 2013, by Martha & Jeff Hubbard, NY, US ( Top Contributor 33 reports with 18 Helpful votes). Report 7373 has 1 Helpful vote.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Our 6th Mike Ball charter – as good as ever. One day diving near Lizard Island on Great Barrier Reef, overnight passage 84 miles NE to Osprey Reef, 2 days there, Sunday night passage to Lizard Island, Monday to Wednesday diving back down the GBR towards Cairns. Vessel and dive deck were full, but well organized, and little feeling of crowding, although not everyone can sit at their stations and gear up at once. There is a centerline stern entry gate which relieves crowding on the starboard and port dive steps when everyone is trying to launch at once. Several rookie divers seemed well cared for – always a guide in the water, excellent briefings. Each diver’s BCD is rigged with a loaner Nautilus Lifeline radio in case of separation. Twenty-seven possible dives (no night dives when there’s an overnight passage.) The two passages are rough – bring your seasick medication if you have any susceptibility. Dive your computer, but there is so little reason to go below 80 feet (we did on one dive only, to watch the sharks) that the nitrogen load is modest. But, Yes, you could get in trouble if so inclined. We breathed nitrox. Report max depth and bottom time after the dive and sign the sheet. I didn’t perceive deterioration of reefs or fish compared to our first visit to GBR, some of the same sites, on Mike’s Supersport 21 years ago. Tanks consistently >3000 psi, nitrox 29-31% (nominally 32.) Favorite sites? Sure: Snake Pit (lots of olive sea snakes) and Steve’s Bommie. Crew of 11 works hard. Tour Director Kerren is everywhere at once, limitlessly patient and careful. Attendance is taken at dive briefings, and he checks buddy pairs, assigning unpaired guests (or those wanting a guide) to a crew member. Captain Peter took us safely through 510 miles (my estimate) of reef-studded sea, and doubles as an excellent guitarist, singer-teacher of Australian songs, and as a sterling dive buddy. Website layout diagrams do not (as of November 10, 2013) include the recent refit of cabin 9 & our cabin 10 (at least.) They now have a very nice larger bathroom, no twin bed, space to get out of the queen bed at foot, a little desk, chair and a dresser. All the changes are for the better, but a closet would be welcome. We are looking forward to Mike Ball charter #7.
Websites	Mike Ball Dive Expeditions
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Caribbean, Fiji, Palau, Truk, Yap, Kosrae, Hawai'i, PNG, Fernando de Noronha
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	78-80°F / 26-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	30-50 Ft/ 9-15 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Stay above 130 feet, return with >500 psi.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	1 or 2
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of Mike Ball Dive Expeditions/Spoilsport in Australia/Gt Barrier Reef & Coral Sea

Mike Ball Dive Expeditions/Spoilsport, Oct, 2013,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Mike Ball Dive Expeditions/Spoilsport in
Australia/Gt Barrier Reef & Coral Sea