Dive Review of Mike Ball Dive Expeditions (Spoilsport) in
Australia/Coral Sea & GBR

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Mike Ball Dive Expeditions (Spoilsport), May, 2003, by Richard J. Troberman, WA, USA ( Contributor 13 reports with 4 Helpful votes). Report 485.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	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.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Hawaii; Bahamas; Turks & Caicos; Cayman Islands; French Polynesia; St. Vincent.
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, rainy	Seas	choppy, surge
Water Temp	77-80°F / 25-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	130 feet
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	1 or 2	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

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Dive Review of Mike Ball Dive Expeditions (Spoilsport) in Australia/Coral Sea & GBR

Mike Ball Dive Expeditions (Spoilsport), May, 2003,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Mike Ball Dive Expeditions (Spoilsport) in
Australia/Coral Sea & GBR