Route Description - Northern Exposure – Southbound
7 Nights – Up to 27 Dives. Explore the untouched beauty of the remote, pristine reefs in the far northern Great Barrier Reef. Dive at Raine Island, renowned for its breathtaking coral formations and the chance to witness one of nature’s most extraordinary gatherings of green turtles.
Itinerary
Southbound Expedition – Horn Island to Cairns (Up to 27 dives)
Sample itinerary – subject to change based on weather and sea conditions.
Note: This itinerary begins at Horn Island, with guests boarding Spoilsport at the pier.
A commercial flight to Horn Island is not included and must be arranged independently. The expedition concludes in Cairns with a courtesy transfer service.
Thursday – Boarding at Horn Island
4:00 pm – Guests board Spoilsport at the Horn Island Pier.
4:30 pm – Departure from Horn Island, cruising toward the Raine Island vicinity.
Guests are encouraged to organise any rental dive gear and set up their equipment on the dive deck.
7:00 pm – Dinner is served.
Friday – Dive Operations Begin (Up to 4 dives + night dive)
A typical dive day includes:
6:30 am – Wake-up call, light breakfast available
7:00 am – Dive briefing and morning dive
9:00 am – Full cooked breakfast
10:30 am – Dive briefing; “open deck” format allows for 1–2 dives
2:00 pm – Lunch
3:30 pm – Dive briefing and afternoon dive
4:30 pm – Afternoon tea
6:30 pm – Night dive briefing and dive
8:00 pm – Dinner
Dive sites and timing may vary depending on prevailing conditions.
Saturday to Monday – Full Dive Days (Up to 4 dives + night dive daily)
These days follow the standard dive schedule above, exploring remote and pristine sites throughout the Coral Sea and northern Great Barrier Reef.
Tuesday – Diving & Cultural Excursion (Up to 3 dives + Island Tour)
Morning: Dive schedule continues with up to 3 dives.
4:00 pm – Afternoon excursion to Stanley Island, featuring Aboriginal rock art and scenic coastal views.
7:30 pm – Dinner onboard.
Wednesday – Final Dive Day (Up to 4 dives)
Diving concludes with the last dive by 5:00 pm.
In the evening, guests enjoy a lively Aussie BBQ party night with champagne, music, and a festive tropical dress theme.
That night, Spoilsport cruises back to Cairns.
Thursday – Arrival in Cairns
7:00 am – Light breakfast
8:00 am – Disembarkation
Courtesy transfers are provided to Cairns city hotels, the airport, or the Mike Ball Dive Expeditions office, where luggage can be stored until 4:00 pm for those with later flights.
Important Notes
Flight Timing: Allow a minimum of 24 hours between your last dive and any onward flight (last dive ends by 5:00 pm Wednesday).
Flights to Horn Island: Must be booked separately and are not included in this expedition.
Dive Courses: No training courses are available on this itinerary.