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Dive Review of
Mike Ball's live aboard Super Sport in
Australia/Cod Hole & Great Barrier Reef

in 2002/04
an Instant Reader Report
by
Gerald Bertekap, NJ, USA
Report Number 126

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N/A means "Not Applicable" or "No Answer" given

Reporter
Dive Experience
51-100 dives
Where else diving
Puertp Rico, Palau, Yap, Moorea, Bora Bora, Tortola, Florida Keys, Provo,
Ranigora, Disney World Orlando, Cacios, and Bonaire

Dive Conditions

Weather
windy, cloudy  
Seas
choppy  
Water Temp
80   to 82    ° Fahrenheit  
Wetsuit Thickness
0
Water Visibility
60   to 80    Feet  
 
Dive Policy
Dive own profile
no  
 
Enforced diving restrictions  
[Unspecified]Have to return with 500 psi or else your may be kicked off the
next dive.  
Liveaboard?
no 
Nitrox Available?
N/A 
What I saw
Sharks
Lots 
Mantas
None 
Dolphins
None 
Whale Sharks
None 
Turtles
1 or 2 
Whales
None 
Ratings 1 (worst)- 5 (best):
Corals
  2 stars
Tropical Fish
3 stars  
Small Critters
  2 stars
Large Fish
3 stars  
Large Pelagics
  3 stars
 
 
Underwater Photography  1 (worst)- 5 (best):
Subject Matter
4 stars  
Boat Facilities
4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's  
3 stars  
Shore Facilities  
N/A  
Comments
Could have advise passengers to store cameras in non-airconditioned areas
or rooms as taking the cameras out in the morning from the air conditioned
cabin into the hot humid air caused alarms to go off in the video camera
and clouding to occur on the lens.  Otherwise great service with cameras
and developing on-board.

  
Ratings and Overall Comments  1 (worst)- 5 (best):
Accommodations
3 stars
Food
4 stars
Service and Attitude
5 stars
Environmental Sensitivity  
N/A
Dive Operation
4 stars  
Shore Diving  
3 stars  
Snorkeling
N/A  
 
 

Overall Rating

Value for $$
N/A    
Beginners
2 stars   
Advanced
1 stars    
Comments  
Althought it was the trip of a lifetime, once is enough as most of the
coral was dead or had no color, only some sharks, and not an abundance of
fish and living coral. We booked Mike Ball's live aboard Super Sport for
four days and three night and got in plenty of diving none deeper than 80'
as the locations were at the great barrier reef.   We did see different
species of fish but nothing to compare to bonaire or the Florida keys or
the virgin islands.  Cod Hole was exciting and a highlight of our diving
although the cod were not as big as you would expect from what you read and
hear.  The crew, food and boat were great.  The cabin could have been more
secure as the roll of the ship at times caused the drawers in the room to
open and close by themselves.  Difficult sleeping without getting thrown
out of bed.  We took a side trip to Coral Bay on the west coast and had a
few great snorkles with whale sharks and manta rays and tiger sharks.  It
was well worth the trouble to get to Coral Bay from Perth and then Exmouth.
  You were not allowed to dive with the whale sharks but the encounters
with awe inspiring.  Make sure you go in April when the whale sharks are
there and book with an operation that uses a spottter plane.  Don't look
for luxery but it comfortable and friendly and remote. Three restaurents,
two motels, one gas station, and one bar.   No police, no paved roads, no
red lights, no laws and they make their own water and electricity.  A
doctors comes once a month and the police come from 90 miles away twice a
year.  If there is any trouble the boys at the bar take care of it.   
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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.

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