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The MV Spoilsport is widely recognised as Australia’s most awarded liveaboard dive vessel. Purpose-built to deliver exceptional dive and guest experiences, Spoilsport features a twin-hull design that ensures maximum stability and comfort across all sea conditions. Measuring 30 metres in length, the vessel is operated by a professional crew of 12, including a dive team, Master, chef, and host. Everything on board is designed to support a comfortable and enjoyable dive expedition. Guest accommodations include both double and twin-share cabins, all of which are air-conditioned and serviced daily. Inside, guests can unwind in the spacious lounge and bar area, while the sun deck offers panoramic views of the Coral Sea. The vessel is also known for its award-winning food and hospitality. All meals are freshly prepared by the onboard chef, with special attention given to dietary requirements. Vegetarian guests enjoy a dedicated menu crafted just for them. With unmatched service, comfort, and dive experiences, it’s no wonder Spoilsport remains Australia’s premier liveaboard diving vessel.
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Cabin Description
Cabins 9 & 10 (Queen beds) – Cabins 3 & 4 (double beds) All cabins have ensuite and ocean views.
Cabin Facilities
All cabins with single bed configuration on same level, ensuite and ocean views.
All cabins with bunk bed configuration and ensuite (no ocean views).
Cabins with bunk bed configuration, shared separate shower and toilet facilities (no ocean views).
Route Description - GBR & Ribbon Reefs Expedition
For more than 30 years, Mike Ball Dive Expeditions has been revealing the finest dive sites along the stunning Ribbon Reefs. This journey revisits both iconic favorites and rarely explored gems, each delivering a world-class diving experience. The expedition is suitable for divers of all experience levels.
Sample itinerary – subject to change depending on weather and sea conditions. Note: This is a round-trip expedition starting and ending in Cairns. Guests must make their own way to the check-in location. Thursday – Check-In & Departure from Cairns 8:30 am – 4:00 pm – Check-in at our office: 3 Abbott Street, Cairns From 4:30 pm – Make your way to the boarding meeting point (details provided at check-in) 5:30 pm – Group assembly for boarding 5:50 pm – Board Spoilsport with your fellow adventurers Welcome champagne and light snacks served Safety briefing and orientation by your Trip Director Time to set up your dive gear and arrange any rental equipment 6:00 pm – Departure from Cairns Note: Dinner is not provided on the first night – please dine before boarding. Friday – Diving Begins (Up to 4 dives + night dive) 6:30 am – Wake-up call; light breakfast available 7:00 am – Full cooked breakfast 8:00 am – Dive briefing 9:00 am – Diving commences 10:30 am – Open deck diving (1–2 dives, AM or PM) 2:00 pm – Lunch 3:30 pm – Dive briefing & afternoon dive 4:30 pm – Afternoon tea 6:30 pm – Night dive briefing & dive 8:00 pm – Dinner Saturday & Sunday – Dive Days (Up to 4 dives + night dive each day) Follow the same schedule as Friday Enjoy a variety of reef sites tailored to the conditions Monday – Final Dive Day (Up to 4 dives) Same daytime schedule as above All diving ends by 5:00 pm Sunset celebration: Toast the journey with champagne and nibbles Enjoy an Aussie BBQ party night on deck Wear the loudest tropical shirt or dress and sing along with our talented crew Overnight cruise back to Cairns Tuesday – Disembarkation in Cairns 7:00 am – Light breakfast 8:00 am – Disembark with courtesy transfers to: Cairns inner-city hotels Cairns Airport Or our office (luggage storage available until 4:00 pm for late flights) Important Information Flight Safety: We recommend allowing at least 24 hours between your last dive and any onward flight. (Final dive concludes by approximately 4:00 pm Monday.) No courses are offered during this expedition. Commercial flights to and from Cairns are not included and must be arranged by guests.
Route Description - Coral Sea Exploratory
7 Nights / Up to 28 Dives (26 Dives July Departure). This expedition combines adventure diving in the Coral Sea’s Holmes, Bougainville, and Osprey Reefs with the best of the Great Barrier Reef’s Ribbon Reefs.
Itinerary Sample itinerary – subject to change based on weather and sea conditions. Thursday – Departure from Cairns Guests are asked to check in at the Mike Ball Dive Expeditions office (3 Abbott Street, Cairns) anytime between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm. After check-in, they are free to explore or relax before making their own way to the boarding meeting point at 5:30 pm (location details provided at check-in). Please note that dinner is not provided on the first night, so guests are encouraged to dine beforehand. At 5:50 pm, the crew escorts everyone aboard Spoilsport, where guests are welcomed with a glass of champagne and light refreshments. The Trip Director then provides a full safety and trip briefing. At 6:00 pm, Spoilsport sets sail from Cairns. Guests will have time to organize rental gear and assemble dive equipment on deck. Friday – Diving Begins (Up to 4 dives + night dive) A typical dive day aboard Spoilsport includes: 6:30 am – Wake-up call with light breakfast 7:00 am – Dive briefing and first dive 9:00 am – Full cooked breakfast 10:30 am – Dive briefing; open deck format allows for 1–2 dives (morning or afternoon) 2:00 pm – Lunch 3:30 pm – Dive briefing and afternoon dive 4:30 pm – Afternoon tea 6:30 pm – Night dive briefing and night dive 8:00 pm – Dinner Note: The exact timing and number of dives may vary depending on weather and sea conditions. Saturday to Tuesday – Daily Diving Schedule (Up to 4 dives + night dive) Guests continue to explore spectacular dive sites, following the same daily structure as Friday. Wednesday – Final Dive Day (Up to 4 dives) Guests enjoy a final day of diving with the same schedule. The last dive concludes by 5:00 pm. That evening, Spoilsport hosts a celebratory farewell party on board, complete with champagne, canapés, and stunning views as the vessel begins its overnight cruise back to Cairns. Thursday – Return to Cairns 7:00 am – Light breakfast served 8:00 am – Disembarkation begins with courtesy transfers provided to Cairns inner city hotels, the airport, or back to the Mike Ball Dive Expeditions office. Luggage storage is available at the office until 4:00 pm for those with late flights.
Route Description - Fly Dive Minke Whales
3/4/7 Nights. An expedition dedicated to maximising in-water interactions at the world’s only known minke whale aggregation sites, whilst enjoying the diverse marine life of the Ribbon Reefs
Flying Start – Spectacular 250km scenic flight over the reef from Cairns to Lizard Island Minkes – Dedicated time to find and swim with the whales Continental Shelf – Dive 100 miles north of Cairns on the edge of the shelf, exposed to currents Ribbon Reefs – great fish and coral diversity. Ribbon Reef Dive Sites Cod Hole – Swim with diver size potato cod Dynamite Pass, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Wall, Pixie Pinnacle, Coral Kingdom, Flare Point, Blue Lagoon, Gotham City, Vertical Gardens Steve’s Bommie – a highlight with an incredible array of weird and wonderful creatures.
Route Description - Coral Sea & Cod Hole Expedition
5 Nights / Up to 18 Dives. Experience adventure diving in the Coral Sea with superb Great Barrier Reef marine biodiversity
Sample Itinerary Please note: itinerary is subject to change depending on weather and sea conditions. Thursday – Check-in & Departure •Guests check in at the operator’s office located at 3 Abbott Street, Cairns, between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm. After check-in, guests make their own way to the designated meeting point for boarding, which begins at 5:30 pm (details provided during check-in). •At 5:50 pm, the crew escorts passengers aboard MV Spoilsport. A welcome glass of champagne and light snacks are served while the Trip Director delivers a full trip briefing. •The vessel departs Cairns at 6:00 pm. Guests have time to organize rental gear and set up personal dive equipment. •Note: Dinner is not provided on the first night; guests are encouraged to dine prior to boarding. Friday – Diving Begins (Up to 4 dives + 1 night dive) A typical day onboard includes: •6:30 am: Wake-up call and light breakfast •7:00 am: Full cooked breakfast •8:00 am: Dive briefing •9:00 am: Morning dive(s) commence •10:30 am: Midday dive brief & dives (open deck format allows flexibility) •2:00 pm: Lunch •3:30 pm: Afternoon dive brief & dive •4:30 pm: Afternoon tea •6:30 pm: Night dive briefing & dive •8:00 pm: Dinner Saturday & Sunday – Full Diving Days (Up to 4 dives + 1 night dive each day) •Daily schedules follow the same format as Friday, with dive locations adjusted based on weather and conditions. Monday – Final Dive Day (Up to 4 dives) •Diving follows the usual schedule, but concludes by 5:00 pm. •That evening, guests celebrate with a sunset champagne toast, nibbles, and a fun Aussie BBQ party night. Passengers are encouraged to wear their most vibrant tropical attire and enjoy live entertainment from the crew. •Overnight cruise back to Cairns follows. Tuesday – Return to Cairns •7:00 am: Light breakfast •8:00 am: Disembarkation and courtesy transfers to inner-city hotels, the airport, or back to the operator’s office, where luggage storage is available until 4:00 pm for guests with later flights.
Route Description - Fly Dive Cod Hole
3 Nights / Up to 12 Dives. The best selection of Ribbon Reef dive sites north of Cooktown. Suitable for all experience levels.
This itinerary will guarantee exclusively dives at the best Ribbon Reef sites north of Cooktown. This 55 mile reef chain is the most prized dive region of the Great Barrier Reef. Marine life encounters range from pygmy seahorses to manta rays. One of diving’s most amazing phenomena awaits you at the Cod Hole. This trip embarks every Monday at 8am from Cairns Colonial Club and disembarks Thursday at 8am from Trinity Warf in Cairns. Monday: Guests will depart from the Cairns Colonial Club at 8:00am and will be transferred to Cairns airport for the spectacular low level 150 mile reef flight to Lizard Island to board Spoilsport. Diving will commence at approximately 12:30pm. Explore the rarely dived Cod Wall at the outer reef edge that disappears into 60 meters (200ft), glide back towards the Cod Hole while enjoying the clear water and spectacular coral formations. The shallow but fantastic, Challenger Bay is extremely rich in biodiversity from spectacular coral gardens and unusual critters through to large schooling fish. Great night dive location where you can watch out for Baza the Barra! Tuesday: Circumnavigate Pixie Pinnacle and Lighthouse Bommie shrouded in fusilier baitfish. Fluorescent purple and orange anthias attract predatory fish to these photogenic sites. Majestic Minke whales are seen here in June and July. Rising from 80 meters the pinnacle of Andy’s Postcard is encrusted in had corals, lion fish, nudibranchs, octopus, schooling trevally and barracuda. Guests will have the opportunity to see spectacular giant clams at Clam Beds as well as caves, canyons and coral encrusted bommies awaiting exploration. Sheer walls covered in whip corals and sea fans brim the natural amphitheatre of Vertical Gardens. Marine life varies from the many colourful nudibranchs to large schooling bump head parrotfish. The day will end with a magnificent night dive. Wednesday: Guests will experience the spiral majestic coral pinnacles teeming with marine life, see huge schools of baitfish stalked by barracuda, mackerel and trevally, anticipate spectacular coral gardens, spotted rays, reef sharks and green turtle sightings in some of the Ribbon reef dive sites, Flare Point, Joani’s Joy and Steve’s Bommie. Thursday: Early morning docking at Trinity Wharf in Cairns, breakfast on board and a courtesy transfers to Cairns city hotels at around 8:00am. Note: This is a sample Itinerary only and is subject to change.