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Australia Diving Reviews:
Dive Resorts & Liveaboards

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Average Overall Ratings
(over last 3 years, 25 of 187 reports
Advanced:  4 stars Beginner:  4 stars
UW Photography:  4 stars
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Page # 1  2  
Spirit of Freedom Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   We did the 7- day trip to Cod Hole and Osprey Reef. The 7- day trip really consists of 2 trips - Monday to Thursday to the Cod Hole... Full report  
3 stars
5 stars  
12/2012   Steve Dussault
500+ Dives
 
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   This was a fantastic, client- centered operation. I felt very pampered and comfortable. The best part of the experience was the peo... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
10/2012   Jo Tynon
100+ Dives
 
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions Full report LiveAboard [Northern Australia   I went on this trip to see Minke Whales and potato cod. I was not disappointed. Since I was traveling from the US, I opted for the... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
7/2012   jean miller
1000+ Dives
 
Spirit of Freedom Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   Spirit of Freedom was top notch. This was our first experience with a liveaboard dive vessel. We have a 42' Hunter sailboat that... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
5/2012   Greg & Robin Webster
100+ Dives
 
Spirit of Freedom Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   We went with Spirit of Freedom for a week- long tour. Leaves Monday morning (free pickup at your Cairns hotel), followed by a coup... Full report  
4 stars
5 stars  
3/2012   Joel Snyder
250+ Dives
 
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Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard     Really don't have any bad to say. This was a special 10 day trip specifically to dive with the Minke Whales. The trip was planne... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
6/2011   Jan Culbertson
1000+ Dives
 
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   Our plan was to snorkel with Dwarf Minke Whales and Mike Ball Spoil Sport made it possible! Mike Ball's staff was extremely help... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
7/2011   Amber and Brett Freliche
<100 Dives
 
Cairns Dive Center/ Kangaroo Explorer Full report LiveAboard Cairns   The Kangaroo Explorer demonstrates the adage that you get what you pay for. Our three day, two night trip to the inner Great Barr... Full report  
2 stars
3 stars  
9/2011   Michael Judd
500+ Dives
 
Whaleshark n dive Full report LiveAboard Ningaloo Reef   We undertook a lot of research before committing ourselves to the trip in terms of timing and water conditions. We were travellin... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
6/2011   Angela Gostling
250+ Dives
 
Spirit of Freedom Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   We had an amazing time on the Spirit of Freedom. The crew were all professional and efficient but also fun- loving; the food was p... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
1/2011   Beverly Sobelman
<100 Dives
 
Spirit of Freedom Full report LiveAboard GBR and Coral Sea   My husband and I booked the trip through About Australia Diving as they are very familiar with the boat and were able to get a spo... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
9/2010   Sandra Tullis
250+ Dives
 
Yongala Divers Full report   Townsville   Yongala Divers run a dive operation about 1- 1. 5 hours south of Townsville. The dive is on the S. S. Yongala wreck. The dive shop is... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
6/2010   Mike Cavanaugh
250+ Dives
 
Spirit of Freedom Full report LiveAboard GBR<Coral Sea   None] The boat is a first class operation. The staff is the best I have ever seen with the exception of one other boat in Microne... Full report  
3 stars
4 stars  
2/2010   Hardy Sieck
1000+ Dives
 
Spirit of Freedom Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   Well worth the half- way- around- the- world pilgrimage. A marine biologist passenger said the corals reminded her of the Caribbean 30... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
10/2009   Harvey S. Cohen
100+ Dives
 
Mike Ball/ Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Queensland   Visited Cod Hole and Osprey Reef on Mike Ball's 4- night dive & fly expedition. Well organized and safety conscious, but not overb... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
7/2009   Jason Dabareiner
500+ Dives
 
MIke Ball Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   The good: Truly amazing, professional, friendly staff who were all really dedicated to making our experience the best they could (... Full report  
4 stars
5 stars  
5/2009   Lori Pottinger
<100 Dives
 
Mike Ball Full report LiveAboard     Mike Ball's Spoilsport was a great boat made better by a fine crew. The weather was good. Highlight of the week was the shark fe... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
4/2009   Robert M Jacon
500+ Dives
 
Mike Ball/ Spoilsport Full report       Almost 1, 000 dives and I finally made it to the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. When I boarded and found out there were 26 dive... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
2/2009   Randall Stephen Preissig
1000+ Dives
 
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions/ Spoilsport Full report   Great Barrier Reef   The Spoilsport is a twin- hull boat that can take many divers; our trip had over 25. With this many divers, the dive deck gets a bi... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
10/2008   Michael J Millet
1000+ Dives
 
Mike Ball/ Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard     This is an excellent experienced operation. The dive crew was extremely professional. They were glad to help any diver who requir... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
9/2008   Andy Kenley
500+ Dives
 
TUSA/ Spriit Of Freedom Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   Due to weather conditions we were not able to visit Osprey Reef, the main reason we had signed on to this trip. We learned that a... Full report  
3 stars
2 stars  
9/2008   Michael Igoe
250+ Dives
 
Spirit of Freedom Full report LiveAboard Coral Sea/Great Barrier Reef   The trip was excellent. Everything promised on the website and more. Diving was great. Great visibility, healthy coral, lots of ... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
9/2008   Olga Sakwinska
<100 Dives
 
Explorer Ventures (USA) Ltd./ Nimrod Explorer Full report LiveAboard     The good: Uncrowded dive sites, diving your own profile, lots to see and get excited about. Saw lots of Lionfish, juvenile and adu... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
9/2008   Barbara & Dave Loiselle
100+ Dives
 
Exmouth Dive Center & Ningaloo Reef Dreaming/ Pot Shot Resort (residence only) Full report   West Australia, Perth-Exmouth   We took this trip intending to have an adventurous, magical and fabulous time celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary, and it all... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
4/2008   Julia DeMartini
1000+ Dives
1Helpful vote(s) received
Bike Ball Full report LiveAboard Carins   Overall Comments: We boarded the Spoilsport in the evening in the Cairns harbor for the 6 night Coral Sea Expedition trip. The ove... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
11/2007   Gary Krippendorf
250+ Dives
 
Heron Full report   GBR   The accommodations were spacious and comfortable except that we had trouble sleeping because the nesting Mutton birds surrounding ... Full report  
2 stars
3 stars  
11/2007   Michael deLaChapelle
1000+ Dives
 
Mike Ball/ Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   Outstanding liveaboard. Fantastic, enthusiastic, skilled, cheerful crew. Loads of help from any and every crew member at the sli... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
11/2007   Fredda Lerner & Mike Fischbein
500+ Dives
 
Mike Ball Full report LiveAboard Coral Sea   Lots of good things about this operation. Numerous helpful and friendly crew and Kerrin, the "organizer" seemed to be tireless an... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
11/2007   Nicola Nelson
250+ Dives
 
Mike Ball Full report   Coral Sea/Barrier Reef   This trip was a repeat of a trip we took earlier in the year that was cut short due to the approach of two cyclones. We handled e... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
11/2007   Tom & Lynn Hayes
250+ Dives
 
Taka Dive/ Take Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   A previous correspondent name this dive operations previous boat as the 'Kaka'. Unfortunately, her description is still apt. Thi... Full report  
1 stars
2 stars  
6/2007   DAVID SHEMTOV
500+ Dives
 
Mike Ball/ SpoilSport Full report   Great Barrier Reef   This was our first live- aboard and it has set a very high standard for others to please us in the future. The crew was second to n... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
9/2007   Jay Gould
500+ Dives
 
Nimrod Explorer Full report LiveAboard great barrier reef   I chose Nimrod Explorer due to reports in Undercurrent and also other on- line recommendations. This was my first ever liveaboard, ... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
6/2007   fiona rattray
250+ Dives
 
Lady Elliot Island Full report   Great Barrier Reef   Lady Elliot Island is definitely a mixed bag. Strong, steady wind during our stay precluded diving anywhere but in the lee of this... Full report  
2 stars
4 stars  
12/2006   Lee Thé
250+ Dives
 
Mike Ball/ Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   This is a special excursion in life - swimming with Minke Whales - only offered for 3 magic weeks a year off Cairns, Ribbon Reefs, ... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
7/2007   PJ Halter
500+ Dives
 
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Barrier Reef/Coral Sea   This was our first liveabord after putting in nearly 200 dives around the Carribean. Unfortunately, our trip coincided with the d... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
2/2007   Tom & Lynn Hayes
100+ Dives
 
Lady Elliot Island Divers/ Lady Elliot Island Full report   Southern GBR   Our family of four including boys 8 and 10 spent a week on Lady Elliot Island, the southernmost island on the Great Barrier Reef. ... Full report  
4 stars
5 stars  
5/2006   Beverly Coburn
250+ Dives
 
Mike Ball / Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   The spoilsport is a large, modern boat. They were pickier about dive limits that other boats I have been on, but I didn't feel th... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
6/2006   Mark Rosenstein
100+ Dives
 
ProDive Full report LiveAboard Cairns GBR   This was a 2 night, 3 day, 11 dive trip out from Cairns on the GBR. The boat takes about 20 divers in twin bunk cabins. The trip o... Full report  
2 stars
4 stars  
9/2006   Ian Kennedy
100+ Dives
 
Explorer Ventures Full report   GBR/Coral Sea   After diving Caribbean only, GBR was magnificent. Bommies make easy diving starting at 100 ft or so and then circling the mount to... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
1/2006   Michael Mould
100+ Dives
 
Deep Sea Divers Den and Poseidon Full report   Great Barrier Reef   While in Australia, we did a couple of day trips out to the Great Barrier Reef with family who were a mix of divers and non- divers... Full report  
2 stars
4 stars  
11/2005   Mort Rolleston
100+ Dives
 
Mike Ball Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef / Coral Sea   The reputation the Mike Ball's boat have did not match our experience. Not that it was bad, but I would say it was only OK. We we... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
4/2006   Tracey
100+ Dives
 
Mike Ball Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef/Coral Sea   We embarked on the 1- 8 November 2005 liveaboard trip out of Townsville on the Spoilsport. It visited sites in the Bowl, Dip, ANZA... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
11/2005   Mort Rolleston
100+ Dives
 
Southwest Rocks Dive Center Full report   Southwest Rocks   Southwest Rocks is a small town about 6 hours drive north of Sydney. It is a favorite spot for families to vacation at the beach a... Full report  
4 stars
2 stars  
2/2006   Ian Kennedy
100+ Dives
 
Kimberley Escape Full report LiveAboard West Australia, Rowley Shoals   Three small atoll islands 17o sea miles off Broome, West Australia were my this years dive destination. These are Clerke, Imperieu... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
11/2005   Michael Joest
1000+ Dives
Photos available 
Pro-Dive Full report   Cairns   I was in Cairns for a little over 3 weeks at Pro_dive taking the Instructor Development Course (IDC) - PADI. My instructor, Alex ... Full report  
4 stars
5 stars  
2/2006   Dennis Van Langen
250+ Dives
 
Mike Ball's SpoilSport Full report LiveAboard Coral Sea   Good operation with much better food than the previous trip. Due to sronger currents did not see the same diversity of both dive si... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
9/2005   ddemming
500+ Dives
 
Great Escape/ Kimberley Escape Full report   West Australia, Broome   Three small atoll islands 17o sea miles off Broome, West Australia were my this years dive destination. These are Clerke, Imperieu... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
11/2005   Michael Joest
1000+ Dives
Photos available 
Mike Ball - Supersport Full report LiveAboard Ribbon Reefs/Great Barrier   Planned this trip to be there with the Minke Whales. Absolutely beyond what we expected. A must do trip for anyone desiring clos... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
6/2005   Rene Umberger
1000+ Dives
 
Mike Ball Full report LiveAboard Townsville Great Barrier Reef   Spoilsport is a beautiful, well maintained vessel. We chose this trip with Mike Ball specifically to dive the Yongala after sever... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
7/2005   Rene Umberger
1000+ Dives
 
Nimrod Explorer Full report LiveAboard Coral Sea/Great Barrier[N/A]   This catamaran was built in 1984, and whether refitted or new as a dive boat, the very spacious dive deck created a tiny camera ta... Full report  
3 stars
4 stars  
9/2005   Bill
500+ Dives
 
Nimrod Explorer Full report LiveAboard Cairns   Our family of four(mom, dad, son(21) and daughter(16) spent 5 days aboard the Nimrod with Explorer Ventures. We were provided wit... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
4/2006   Irwin Danto
250+ Dives
 
Heron Island Resort Full report   Great Barrier Reef   Heron Island is a lovely resort, and the reef is lovely and accessible. The rides to dive sites are short, and because it is a mar... Full report  
2 stars
5 stars  
8/2005   Richard Nelson
250+ Dives
 
Lebens Diving Services Full report   Bremer Bay   Lebens Diving Service in Bremer Bay is a six hour drive from Perth. We carried our own tanks and had them filled at his store in ... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
3/2005   Peter Donahue
1000+ Dives
 
Dolphin Dive Full report   Freemantle   Dolphin Dive runs a day boat to Rottnest Island out of Perth. It's a 45 minute ride and was $90 AUS for two tanks, lunch and weig... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
3/2005   Peter Donahue
1000+ Dives
1Helpful vote(s) received
Cocos Dive Full report   Cocos Island   The flight to Cocos Island goes through Exmouth on Monday (home of Ningaloo Reef) and refuels there. It then goes to Christmas Is... Full report  
5 stars
1 stars  
3/2005   Peter Donahue
1000+ Dives
 
Indian Ocean Diving Academy Full report   Christmas Island   Never leave for vacation in a blizzard. One gear bag went missing for four days. . . the other for eight days, but the trip was wort... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
3/2005   Peter Donahue
1000+ Dives
 
Seasports Full report LiveAboard Jervis Bay   Jervis Bay lies about 2 ½ hours by car south of Sydney along the Princes Highway, Australia’s main coastal route that links Sydney... Full report  
4 stars
2 stars  
6/2005   Ian Kennedy
<100 Dives
 
Spirit of Fredom Full report LiveAboard Coral Sea/Cod Hole   January 2005 SOF is still in great "new" boat shape. TV/ VCR is larger rooms, twin rooms small, but clean and well ventilated. Boa... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
12/2004   Scott Kramer
250+ Dives
 
Explorer Ventures/Nimrod Full report   GBR;nothern detached,[N/A]   The operation office is in Cairnes, and as we intended to do much of our diving in the far north in the Coral Sea and near Papua Ne... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
10/2004   Leanne Wells
250+ Dives
 
The Great Escape Full report LiveAboard Western Australia   This was without a doubt the best liveaboard or diving we've done! The service was spectacular but the main feature was the prist... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
10/2004   PJ Halter
500+ Dives
 
Mike Ball Full report LiveAboard Townsville - Coral Sea   We boarded the Spoilsport in the evening in the Townsville harbor for the 6 night Coral Sea Expedition trip. The overnight trip ou... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
10/2003   Gary Krippendorf
100+ Dives
 
Nimrod Explorer Full report LiveAboard Barrier Reef, Cooktown-Cairns   Assemble in Cairns, perhaps fly to Cooktown or beyond at 1000 ft- a bonus- to join boat. Sleeps 18, 12 this trip- kept 4 in a cabin d... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
9/2004   C.F. Ward
500+ Dives
 
Mike Ball's Supersport Full report   Great Barrier Reef   Mike Ball’s Supersport Great Barrier Reef, Australia June, 2004 John Crossley What a classy operation Mike Ball has! I wa... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
6/2004   John Crossley
1000+ Dives
 
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   The good: The Spoilsport is a large, stable catamaran with comfortable cabins, great dive deck, a large eating/ lounge area, good ... Full report  
4 stars
2 stars  
2/2003   David Reubush
250+ Dives
 
Divers Den Full report       I had a layover of two days in Cairns Australia before returning home. On my return trip home on Continental Airlines I was delaye... Full report  
3 stars
5 stars  
6/2004   Edward Leibowitz
250+ Dives
 
Nimrod Explorer Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   Nimrod Explorer may have had something of a checkered past, judging by other readers' past reports, but my trip was first rate all... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
4/2003   Barry Zigas
500+ Dives
 
Mike Ball Full report LiveAboard     This journey to Australia was our first "big" trip. And it was big indeed, surpassing our every expectation. We booked the ... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
5/2004   Rick Sterne/Chris Button
100+ Dives
 
Undersea Explorer Full report   GBR   I spent 6 days with the Undersea Explorer out of Port Douglas, diving the North GBR (Osprey Reef, Cod Hole, Admiralty Anchor, Pixi... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
6/2003   Warren Verbanec
100+ Dives
 
Down Under Dive Full report LiveAboard Saxon, Hastings,Norman Reefs   First I must say that I am very new to the sport having been certified only months before this trip. I also don't write for a liv... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
3/2004   Jeffrey Anderson
<100 Dives
 
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