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

Mike Ball's live aboard Super Sport, Apr, 2002,

by Gerald Bertekap, NJ, USA . Report 126.

No photos available at this time

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
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.

Reporter and Travel

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
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather windy, cloudy Seas choppy
Water Temp 80-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 60-80 Ft/ 18-24 M

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
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
UW Photo 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.

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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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