Mike Ball Dive Expeditions Review
Mike Ball runs Spoilsport, a liveaboard that goes far beyond the day boats. The 3 night trip flies you to Lizard Island and dives the Ribbon Reefs and the Cod Hole. It suits snorkellers as well as divers. The 4 night trip dives Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea, and the 7 night safari combines both.
Choose your expedition
Fly Dive Cod Hole, 3 nights
Ribbon Reefs and the Cod Hole, scenic flight Cairns to Lizard Island. Check in Monday 6:30 to 7:00am, back Thursday 8:00am. Departs Mondays on set dates (2026: 14 and 21 December).
Fly Dive Coral Sea, 4 nights
Osprey Reef walls and shark dives, scenic flight Lizard Island to Cairns. Departs Thursday 6:00pm, back Monday 11:30am. Departs Thursday.
Coral Sea Safari, 7 nights
Coral Sea walls plus the Great Barrier Reef, no flight. Departs Thursday 6:00pm, back Thursday 8:00am. Departs Thursday.
Prices are per person, twin share, in the Budget cabin (bunk beds, shared bathroom), April 2026 to March 2027. Club, Standard and Premium cabins cost more: tell us which cabin you would like and we will confirm the price when you book. A temporary fuel surcharge of $20 per person per night and the reef charge of $8.50 per day are paid on board.
What is included on Mike Ball Dive Expeditions
- Air-conditioned cabin, serviced daily
- All meals and snacks, wine or soft drink with dinner
- Tanks, air fills and weight belt
- Reef ecology programme and dive computer workshop
- Scenic flight to or from Lizard Island (3 and 4 night trips)
- Transfer to the office, the airport or a city hotel after the trip
Is Mike Ball right for you?
How the day runs
Sample itinerary for the 3 night Fly Dive Cod Hole. Times and sites change with the weather.
Before you go
The full review
Spoilsport heads north along the Ribbon Reefs and out into the Coral Sea, places no day boat from Cairns can reach. The 3 night Fly Dive Cod Hole is the trip I suggest to most people. You fly low along the coast to Lizard Island and are in the water by early afternoon.
The Cod Hole is the famous stop. Potato cod the size of a diver swim right up to you. Lighthouse Bommie and Steve's Bommie are just as good, and snorkellers are welcome on this trip. That makes it a good choice when only one of you dives, and non-divers get 10% off.
The 4 night trip to Osprey Reef is for experienced divers. The walls drop to around 1000 metres and there are shark attraction dives. You need an Advanced card or 15 logged ocean dives, and it is not a snorkelling trip. Know the costs, too: the fares are for the Budget cabin with a shared bathroom, and a $20 per night fuel surcharge is paid on board.
Why it earns Best Liveaboard for Mixed Groups and a 4.8: divers and snorkellers share the same trip, non-diving partners and children pay less, and Libby says you cannot go wrong with it. The catch is the strict cancellation terms, so book with insurance.
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions FAQs