Instant Reader Report
on Mike Ball Dive Expeditions (Spoilsport) / [same] in
Australia / Coral Sea & GBR on
2003/05
by
Richard J. Troberman , WA, USA
Report Number 030526195302712

Questions?
Send an email to the author of this report

 Hawaii; Bahamas; Turks & Caicos; Cayman Islands; French Polynesia; St.
Vincent. 

Dive Conditions

130 feet  

[None]  

Overall Rating

Mike Ball Dive Expeditions (Spoilsport) is a first class dive operation.
The crew did everything possible to accommodate the divers, and to meet
every need. The level of service was superb. Surprisingly, however, the
dives were not led by a divemaster.  Once the boat arrived at a dive site,
a crewman usually went into the water to check currents and other
conditions.  This was followed by a thorough dive briefing. The dive deck
was then open for diving for a specified length of time, and you could do
as many dives in that time as your computer would allow, depending on
depth and bottom time. This was a very efficient and enjoyable way of
diving, and even though there were 26 divers on board, there was plenty of
space to accommadate everyone, and everyone managed to keep out of
everybody else's way. A guide was available if requested. Divers were
asked not to go below 130 feet; to do two safety stops (30 feet for 2
minutes and 15 feet for 3-5 minutes); and to return with 500 PSI. There is
a hanging bar at 15 feet and 2 lines at 30 feet. The week before my trip,
the weather was bad, and the boat was unable to dive the wreck of the S.S.
Yongala.  Consequently, we went there first in order to make sure we could
dive the wreck.  The Yongala (300 feet plus) sank in a cyclone in 1911 and
is a world-class wreck dive. It rests on its side at about 90 feet. No
pentration is allowed (per Australian government). It is thoroughly
covered with corals, and resembles a reef dive.  Because there is nothing
else around for miles, it is thick with marine life of all shapes and
sizes, including sea snakes and some groupers weighing over 500 pounds. At
night, squadrons of marbled rays patrol the site, often covered by 3 or 4
smaller rays, stacked like pancakes. I saw up to 15 rays at a time.  Other
sites in the Coral Sea included bommies and walls, some with caves and swim
throughs. Many were frequented by spectacular lionfish and cuttlefish, as
well as the usual array of reef fish. Unfortunatley, there was evidence of
coral bleaching at several of the sites, but even at those sites the diving
was enjoyable. The only disappointment was the lack of very many sharks. 
Saw only a few white tips, grays, and a few silvertips.  On the other
hand, Scuba Zoo (shark feed) was a bit hokey and way too long.  Steve, the
chef, did a fantastic job preparing meals.  The food was excellent and
plentiful. Spoilsport is a very well run boat in every respect. 

Questions?
Send an email to the author of this report

Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. It is presented here to provide Undercurrent readers with timely information on dive operations worldwide. The material may contain errors, typos, ... Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above. An edited version of this report will likely appear in the next Travelin' Divers' Chapbook, which will be sent to newsletter subscribers and published online for Online Members.