オーストラリア、ケアンズで最も評価の高いワールドクラスのダイブクルーズボート【スポイルスポート号】でグレートバリアリーフとコーラルシーを潜る

For anyone thinking of volunteering with them: If you haven’t dived the Great Barrier Reef before/if you’ve never worked on a dive boat before, then this experience might be valuable to you. If, like me, you work on a GBR dive boat, don’t waste your time here. I volunteered because I wanted to dive Osprey, but we couldn’t go as it was over 25 knots. Speaking with the crew, some said we were unlucky and the boat does get to go out there, others said they only go to Osprey maybe 6 times a year because of the unlikely weather. Without Osprey the trip is not worth your time, neither is the diving. Compared with the standard outer reef dive sites, there were a couple of good bommie dives, but the rest were average to below average. The crew go through new volunteers every week, so you get treated as a disposable nobody while working 6am - 9:30pm with little breaks. On the last day during a crew meeting, the skipper Peter said blatantly in front of us, “I don’t see why we have to be nice to the volunteers”. Tip for those going through with the volunteering: it says you have to wear boat shoes/navy crocs - I bought brand new crocs and only wore them for 15 mins to board passengers. The other volunteer wore sneakers and nothing was said to her. So don’t bother buying shoes for the trip, just wear your own.

Great Crew We have just gotten off the boat, we went on the Fly and Dive Coral Sea 4 days trip. Although the weather did not allow us to get to Osprey reef, the staff made sure that we still dived at great sites, whichever was accessible due to the weather conditions. Every staff member is well suited to their role, they were friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The food was plenty and restaurant quality, me as a vegan was looked after very well, I have received a special meal at every sitting, I was not expecting that 🙂 The boat is big, the cabins are good and clean. The rented dive equipment is well looked after.
We will be definitely be back one day!

We have just gotten off the boat on the 16/09/24. I don't understand how can anyone say anything bad about the company. We booked the Fly and Dive Coral Sea 4 nights trip. Although we did not make it out to Osprey and Bougainville reefs due to heavy wind, we did have a very good trip. The weather is changeable and it's nobody's fault. The staff is extremely knowledgeable, we were treated like kings and queens, the food was 5 stars, me as a vegan was cooked separate meal at every sitting and was looked after very well. Every person on the boat was very well suited for their role, we simply can not fault the entire experience. The dive sites were chosen according to what was available at the time due to the weather conditions and they were amazing. The cabins are perfect, the boat is big, the staff are very knowledgeable and always friendly. We will be definitely back again.

Super great adventure with " Spoilsport" and Captain Pete pirate. Loved the time with my family due to beatifull dives and great crew. Thanx Marita and team.

Fabulous from start to finish. Everything was thought through and perfectly carried out. Will be back.

Absolutely incredible experience Such an incredible experience! Our family enjoyed an incredible 4 days on Spoilsport exploring the Great Barrier Reef. The crew was absolutely amazing. They were fun, conscientious and super knowledgeable. Regardless of a diver's experience they ensured everyone had a good time and was safe. The crew also took wonderful care of the passengers and the food was exceptionally good. We had the trip of a lifetime and can't recommend it enough!

Not Impressed with the Negative Reviews Interesting to read many of the past reviews and the positive responses. What I was not impressed with was the few Negative Reviews from people who had NOT done their homework or compared their trip with other overseas operators, many of whom operate in a less regulated environment and sheltered calm tropical waters.
To come from overseas and not appreciate or have knowledge of the Australian work conditions, the stringent adherence to Government regulations and certifications plus the diving environment on a reef system that is at times under pressure from El Nino , Global warming, extreme rainfall, coral bleaching events and the various seasonal wind and weather patterns to name a few of the variables; all while diving in open ocean areas hundreds of miles from landfall and shore facilities beggars belief.
As a Professional Mariner with a Lifetime on the high seas sailing on large commercial ships, Warships and Ocean Racing Yachts & Dive Operations Mike Ball Diving runs a tight ship manned by dedicated and AMSA qualified crew aboard a Government Certified vessel that has plied the tropical waters of the GBR for decades. I placed my full trust in the vessel and the crew; they know these GBR waters, the weather and are prepared to use this deep professional knowledge to make the right calls, often hard at times, to ensure that your safety is first and foremost - diving is the icing on the cake.
Bottom Line: Do your homework before you book - You are in the professional hands of Mariners and Divers who have sailed and dived in these waters for decades - Mike Ball is a well oiled operation; they know what they are doing - its not always gliz and glamour - the sea is unforgiving - You may encounter rough weather, poor visibility and diversions from preprogrammed dive sites but if you had done your home work prior to booking and before complaining you will have a great trip. You will be in good hands, appreciate that fact.

Exceptional, memorable A quite simply amazing 4 night Minke Whale trip. I have decades of diving experience and many liveaboards and this one is exceptional. Blessed with perfect weather, 30m visibility and a genuinely humbling, epic Minke whale encounter, the whole experience was exceptional. The absolute stand out for this company, however, is their super slick organisation, dive safety and wonderful staff. The boat is a perfect dive set up, the food awesome. Enough said? Well definitely book again!

Dwarf Minkes galore and Professor Minke as well. Once again we headed North to escape the Melbourne Winter for a short while. How could we resist visiting in the peak of the Dwarf Minke Whale season which occurs during June and July. After our first expedition with Mike Ball in 2012, we were hooked. The staff is professional, experienced and extremely helpful. The accommodation is comfortable and the food is delicious and plentiful. We were lucky enough to have "Professor Minke" Alistair Birtles as our onboard Dwarf Minke research. He is the font of Minke knowledge collected over more than 25 years.
Apart from snorkeling with Dwarf Minke whales while diving we also saw lots of corals, fish and a variety of marine life around the ribbon reefs. The staff are extremely conscious of passenger safety and the dive briefs are comprehensive. Some staff are available to accompany divers.