Spoilsport Liveaboard, Australia

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Highlights

  • Australia’s most awarded liveaboard dive boat
  • Twin hull design to increase stability and reduce motion onboard
  • Swim with dwarf minke whales in June & July

The MV Spoilsport liveaboard is an award winning vessel which was custom built to explore the uncrowded dive sites of the Coral Sea. The twin hull design of the boat increases stability making for smooth sailing year-round. On board there are 4 cabin standards to cater to differing budgets, from the budget cabins with twin bunk beds to the premium cabins with double beds and ocean views.

The on board dining experience includes chef prepared meals with freshly sourced produce from sustainable resources from both land and sea. A wide variety of dietary requirements can be catered to, including vegetarian and vegan, which are served at the indoor salon and dining room. There is a large sun deck on the upper deck with a partially shaded area and comfortable loungers.

Guests can enjoy world-class diving on the Great Barrier Reef and in the Coral Sea with the Spoilsport Australia. Itineraries include the 5-night Coral Sea & Cod Hole trip, the 6-night Yongala & Coral Sea trip for adventure diving the SS Yongala Wreck; Wheeler, Holmes & Flinders Reef, 3, 4 & 7 night fly dive expeditions as well as the limited minke whale trips.

Call us or book online today to start planning your Coral Sea dive liveaboard aboard the Spoilsport yacht.

Please note that the 3 and 4 night itineraries can be extended to 7 night trips.

The Spoilsport yacht has implemented their Covid-19 Safe Travel Practices which have been endorsed by the Queensland Health Government to ensure additional safety measures have been put in place for the safety of all guests on board.

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Included: VAT, Port Fees, Local Flights, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Wine with Dinner, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Land Excursions, Naturalist Guide, Cabin Towels.

Required Extras: National Park Fees (6.50 AUD per day).

Optional Extras: Dive Insurance, Travel Insurance, Alcoholic Beverages, Soft drinks, Nitrox, Nitrox Course (300 AUD per item), Private Dive Guide (1,050-2,100 AUD per trip), Rental Gear (44 AUD per day), Scuba Diving Courses (250-275 AUD per item), Snorkel Gear.

Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.

* Extra fees are shown per person.

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Boat features

  • Camera Station
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Air Conditioned saloon
  • Aircon Cabins
  • Sun Deck
  • Indoor Saloon
  • Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
  • Warm Water Showers
  • Outdoor Dining
  • Custom built for diving
  • Charging stations
  • En-Suite bathrooms
  • Non-Smoking Rooms
  • Seaview Cabins
  • Separate Rinse for u/w Camera
  • Dedicated Local & International Crew
  • Naturalist Guide
  • Leisure Deck
  • Observation Deck
  • BBQ Area
  • Available for Charter
  • Naturalist Guide

Food & Drinks

  • Western Food
  • Local Food
  • Vegetarian Options
  • Buffet style
  • Beer available
  • Free Wine w/Dinner
  • Vegan Options
  • Fine Wines Selection
  • Wine Available
  • Set Menu Dinner
  • Full-board Option

If you have any specific dietary requirements whilst on-board your cruise, you can add this to your special requests on step 2 of the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.


Diving

  • DIN Adaptors
  • Nitrox available
  • Tech diving
  • Rebreather Support
  • Rinse Hoses
  • Dive deck
  • Tenders for diving
  • Sidemount Diving
  • Shaded Diving Area

The crew speaks English.


Gear Rental

There is diving gear available on this boat. Please provide your rental needs on the booking form. See below for further details on inclusions and pricing. Show prices.


Drawings & Vessel Layouts

#deckplan floorplan

Boat Specifications

  • Year built 1990
  • Year renovated 2014
  • Length 30 meters
  • Beam 10.5 meters
  • Top speed 15 knots
  • Cruising speed 10 knots
  • Engines 2 x 354 KW Detroit 60 series
  • Max guests 28
  • Number of cabins 14
  • Number of bathrooms 14
  • Tenders 2 inflatables
  • Water capacity 8000 liters
  • Fuel capacity 12'000 liters
  • Freshwater maker 10'00 liters per day

Boat Navigation and Safety

  • Radar
  • GPS
  • Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
  • E.P.I.R.B. Distress System
  • Emergency Rafts
  • Life Vests
  • Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
  • Oxygen
  • First Aid Kits
  • Satellite & mobile phones
  • Bilge pump alarm
  • Search light
  • Crew trained in first aid
  • Emergency flares

Spoilsport Reviews

  • 9.3 Superb
  • 138 Verified Reviews
  1. Vessel
    9.0
  2. Crew
    9.3
  3. Food
    9.9
  4. Diving
    9.4
  5. Value
    8.9
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Mark K
  • United States United States
Fantastic time exploring the Great Barrier reef.

Seeing the underwater world, the octopus, scuttlefish, nudibranchs, coral, sponges and turtles.

Recommended for
All the staff were super friendly and knowledgeable. If you were an experienced diver you could explore the sites at your own pace with a buddy. The chef and hence the food was fantastic.
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Russell H
  • United States United States
Amazing trip

Barracuda, shark feed, the visibility of 150 feet

Recommended for
Diving western front at bouganville. The shark feed, the service was amazing
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Mitchell G
  • United States United States
Mitch & Mimi's GBR Dive Experience

We loved the Dive director and Crew: Jelle, Kerrin, Kiana, Olly, Justin, Jemma, Derren, Trevor, Julia, and two vounteers Brian and Phil! Jelle was very organized and knowledgeable. The crew were so helpful and always busy. The food was amazing! The other divers on board were wonderful to get to know and have made some very good friends even though we had only been together for 3 days. And the dives were AMAZING! We saw so many beautiful fish, turtle, octopus, manta ray, cuttle fish, stone fish, giant clams, tiny nudibranchs, and beautiful corals! Words can't describe! Luckily we have some awesome pictures that Julia took! I highly recommend the SpoilSport Liveaboard! Thank you!

Recommended for
The dives, the crew, the organization, the food! (sorry that's 4)!
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Zachary R
  • United States United States
Exceeded expectations and the absolute best way to experience the Great Barrier Reef.

The night dive in Gotham was unreal, so much activity and so many sharks made this the best night dive I have ever been on. Everything about the trip was perfect, from the low altitude plane ride over the reef to the food served constantly throughout the day. One of the best parts was the fact that they catered to my party's different levels of dive experience and did everything imaginable to make the trip a one of a kind experience. Furthermore, the personalty of the crew was top notch as they knew when to be serious, but more importantly, they were extremely laid back and helped remind us that we're in one of the best spots in the world to go diving and diving should be fun.

Recommended for
The a sheer number of dives, the biodiversity, the one-on-one expertise given by the crew
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Dinin L
  • United States United States
Retired

Crew's genuine caring and enthusiasm throughout every aspect of trip. Food was excellent and varied. Everything geared towards enhancing your diving experience. Diving was amazing!

Recommended for
Crew friendliness and professionalism, excellent food, superior dive sites
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Dana C
  • United States United States
Fabulous Experience

We had so gorgeous dives and were so happy with our experience. The crew took every step to go above and beyond and really made the trip a spectacular one. We will absolutely book with Mike Ball in the future.

Recommended for
Crew, Quality of Diving, Food
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Martin B
  • United States United States
awesome

For one , the flight to lizard Island and the experience of a liveaboard Trip ! The dive sites where great and the sea live was awesome ! The crew is super friendly and fun ,I had a great time ,thanks

Recommended for
Location ,People and Staff , Flight
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Colin Z
  • United States United States
Excellent Trip in Maldives with Scubaspa

the small crew and passengers on the boat which made it great to make new friendships. the diving team was great and thorough with their itineraries. saw amazing aquatic life and sceneries there. highly recommended!

Recommended for
friendly crew, best dive team, and great food!
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Colin Z
  • United States United States
Excellent Trip in GBR with Spoilsport

the small crew and passengers on the boat which made it great to make new friendships. the diving team was great and thorough with their itineraries. saw amazing aquatic life and sceneries there. highly recommended!

Recommended for
friendly crew, best dive team, and great food and entertainment!
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Robert B
  • United States United States
Hands down, the best dive experience I've had around the world since I got certified in 1984!

My wife and I enjoyed the unique dive sites that the divemaster picked so that we could observe different formations and wildlife. Moving the boat at noon and over night allowed us to experience many different sites with no wasted travel time. Allowing those that choose to explore on their own was fantastic, but also offering up crew to lead a guided tour with those that felt more comfortable with guides was nice. I always judge an outfit by their attention to detail and their safety procedures. The Spoilsport was the best I've experienced. The pre-dive briefings by the divemaster including the use of a white board was very professional. The four tiered safety system in place for every dive - a lookout on the top deck, each diver carrying an inflatable neon safety sausage, and each diver carrying the duel use transmitter (one channel diver to ship, and another channel diver to Coast Guard) was very comforting. To me, everything after the above is just icing on the cake. The Spoilsport certainly added several layers of icing. The cabins were clean and adequate. The food was varied and amazing every day. Snacks were available throughout. The sitting area was great and really allowed all the divers and staff to mingle and socialize. It was nice to have the stand-alone computers available so everyone could share their photos. And, of course, the last night's massive BBQ was incredible and a great way to wrap of an amazing experience. I have and would highly recommend the Spoilsport to anyone who loves diving. Rob Born, Sacramento, Ca.

Recommended for
The unique dive sites, the professional crew and the social experience.
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Preston F
  • United States United States
Great

Location of dives

Recommended for
Location of dives
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Roy H
  • United States United States
Best of the Best!

The small plane flight to Lizard Island was awesome! The top notch sites were thrilling. Spoil-Sport was designed for divers and was so easy to use. Night dives were amazing. All the Sharks, and other incredible fish. Bring your camera. Going back again.

Recommended for
STAFF! STAFF! STAFF! I received more scuba training from our guides than in certification classes. The hostesses and helpers would not let us lift a finger. Dive master always on helpful lookout.
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Ray S
  • United States United States
Amazing trip!

The crew of the Spoilsport ran a very professional, well-organized and diverse diving experience. The trip went above and beyond our expectations. The sites and dive masters catered to divers of all levels and put safety first. Guides were available to point out unusual sights/species during each dive. Professional photographer present to capture highlights of each dive. Friendly staff that fostered an environment of cooperation and commraderie among the guests. Experience of a lifetime and highly recommended to anyone interested in diving the Great Barrier Reef!

Recommended for
Great crew, super diving, delicious dining!
  • 8.4 Very good
  • Kaitlyn B
  • United States United States
Amazing staff and boat!

Potato cod, steve's bomme, staff, our cabin

Recommended for
Staff, boat comfort, food
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Emily S
  • United States United States
So happy I booked with Mike Ball SpoilSport

Got to see Minke whales.

Recommended for
Diving sites, crew and boat cleanliness.
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Shawn A
  • United States United States
Amazing experience

Definitely spending time on the whale lines watching the minke whales. The shark feed dive was awesome and the wall dive that was next to the shark feed was equally good. Potato cod, sea turtles, sea snakes, and eagle rays were other highlights of the trip. The crew was also really great, they were fun and friendly and were just as excited as the guests were when spotting whales or talking about the dives. I would recommend this trip to any serious diver.

Recommended for
Whales, Shark Feed, the Crew
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Clarissa Y
  • United States United States
Amazing service and amazing diving

Swimming with sharks, observing a cuttlefish, seeing turtles and other fish. Learning to identify more corals and fish. Improving my buoyancy with the help of the crew so I can stay underwater longer.

Recommended for
The night shark dive, the beautiful corals and marine life, and the service and amenities on the dive boat.
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Corey O
  • United States United States
Stellar Crew and Diving

The crew was really the best I've ever dived with, the boat is nice and the dive sites are glorious

Recommended for
Crew, diving
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Brian V
  • United States United States
These memories will last a lifetime and will always be at the top of the list!

My trip was full of amazing people and experiences! The scuba diving was safe and exciting. The boat (Spoilsport) was clean, well staffed with amazing food every meal. The crew were warm and friendly, extremely helpful and kept everyone very involved in the process.

Recommended for
The friends I made on the trip, the scuba diving and crew, the amazing food!
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Kathryn M
  • United States United States
Absolutely incredible experience

We saw a whole pod of dolphins swimming near one of the reefs. Went to areas that didn't have much bleaching and was filled with wildlife.

Recommended for
The reefs/dive locations we went to were great. The staff was friendly and helpful with anything needed. Absolutely worth the price you pay. The fly over to Lizard Island was awesome.
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • logan B
  • United States United States
Just an all around great experience, from crew, accomodations, and diving.

Diving particularly the night dives

Recommended for
Diving, crew, food
  • 10 Exceptional
  • David H
  • United States United States
Great accommodations and a very competent and caring crew. What more could one ask for?

The coral on my last dive was spectacular (go right once down the line and hug the reefs on your left shoulder in the shallows (3-5 M). The friendliness of the crew. Can't compliment them enough. The efficiency of the dive prep.

Recommended for
The food (Joe is an awesome chef). The crew - competent and caring. The accommodations. Very nice!
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Dave B
  • United States United States
Outstanding all around

I can’t say enough great things about this trip. The plan had to change due to weather, which was fine because the alternative was arguably better. Diving was great. Focus on Safety was noticeable. The food from Katie beats most restaurants. The staff/crew is cheerful and helpful at all times. The boat was immaculate. I will definitely travel with Mike Ball Expeditions when I return to Australia.

Recommended for
Staff, diving, food
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Chelsea
  • United States United States
Experience of a lifetime.

We loved the entire trip. The low flying plane was really fun and gave us a beautiful view of the reef. The boat was nice and the crew was fantastic! The food was really delicious. The diving was as good as it could have been given the bad weather but the crew did their best to give us the best!

Recommended for
Diving, Food, Service
  • 7.2 Good
  • Lisa K
  • United States United States
Great trip to the far north

Beautiful corals and school of bumphead parrotfish

Recommended for
Photography course, independence in diving with buddies, great schools of fish
  • 9.2 Superb
  • James O
  • United States United States
Amazing dive experience on first-class boat.

The crew was amazing at conveying the location of interesting things to see underwater

Recommended for
professional crew; excellent food; great dive sites
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Bob C
  • United States United States
Diving the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef

Diving the Bouganville Reef was a special bonus, and Osprey Reef was great too. We saw several sharks of various types, lots of marine life, and great reefs. Both the day and night dives were super. No bad dives. We actually got lucky with some bad weather that caused us to leave Osprey one day early so we got to add the Great Barrier Reef to our list as well.

Recommended for
The crew is top notch and goes over the top to ensure we had a great trip. Super dive sites.
  • 8.0 Very good
  • Tuan N
  • United States United States
We have a great time onboard with spoilsport

Have a good time meet new people

Recommended for
Great diving location,crews and service were excellent
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Vicky H
  • United States United States
Lovely crew, great food and good fun!

So many beautiful Nudis! Loved hunting for those. Enjoyed some picturesque diving at Steve's Bommie, Pixie Pinnacle and Coral Gardens. Additionally, we were able to snorkel with curious Minke Whales (4x!) all while having access to a knowledgable Minke Whale Project researcher named Suzanne. The crew went out of their way to accommodate the guests wants and needs and the food and beverages on board were fantastic and plentiful. The chef, Joe, made some delicious breads and the best brownies I've ever eaten. Meals were creative and presented beautifully. The program director, Kerrin, did a fabulous job keeping everything running smoothly and was a friendly, accomadating host. Nicole went out of her way to help out the guests in any way possible. She definitely appeared to be the hardest working crew member on board. Captain was a great entertainer and overall hoot! Was neat to have Julia, the photographer, on board and she provided lots of guidance for the camera I rented as well as some interesting facts about marine life. Joe and Newie were helpful on the dive deck and Shakira was an absolute cheery delight to be around. The only criticism I have is that the informational talks at night were a bit dry and there were a few times I needed help gearing up for dives and no one was available. Otherwise, I had a great time, some great dives and would highly recommend this livaboard to anyone wanting to have an unforgettable time on the Great Barrier Reef.

Recommended for
Beautiful coral gardens, plentiful marine life and delicious brownies.
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Kevin B
  • United States United States
A life changing experience

Minke Whales, so many!

Recommended for
Crew, Food and Dive sites
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Eric L
  • United States United States
This was the best dive trip I have ever been on, and I cannot wait for the next experience with SpoilSport!

Getting up close and personal with the Dwarf Minke Whales was incredible along with the evening commentary from Dr Allister Burris about what we saw and what it meant to science. The dive briefings from Kristy were spot on and quite informative of what we would see, and where we would see it. The crew was like a well oiled machine in the way that they worked together so well and anticipated our every need. Every day of diving just got better and better. And after diving - we were fed quite well!!

Recommended for
The best things about this experience were diving with the whales, the time spent with an experienced and highly professional crew, and of course the awesome food 3 times a day!
  • 8.4 Very good
  • Gwendalyn P
  • United States United States
Trip of a lifetime!

Actually looked forward to hearing Kirran’s wake up calls and Dive Brief Calls. The Crew made the trip outstanding. Always helpful and enthusiastic, ready to make every dive exceptional! Hugged everyone of them upon return.

Recommended for
The Reef, the Crew and Efficiency.
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Harry S
  • United States United States
Five stars all the way.

- The flight up to Lizard Island is beautiful (sit on the left for the best views). - Talking with Captain Peter about pirates off the coast of New Guinea. - My partner's a bit new to diving, and an instructor was available to accompany her on every dive. - All the great diving! We saw cuttlefish, turtles eating jellyfish, eels, sharks, nudis, you name it. Lots of different locations, all terrific. - Oh, man, the food!

Recommended for
The diving (of course), the terrific crew, and the food!
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Maggie F
  • United States United States
Great staff, great food, very informative, loved my trip overall.

Our tour operator was very kind. The captain hosted a party on the boat the last night and sang for us. The crew was very helpful. We just loved this trip.

Recommended for
Diving, Staff, Food.
  • 8.4 Very good
  • FREDERICK T
  • United States United States
Great time at GBR

My first dive trip so the service from the staff was great! Very helpful and I learned so much. Everything was provided for us. We just relaxed and dove. Excellent discussion of coral reefs prior to one dive.

Recommended for
Sharks, Turtles, and Mike Ball staff's service
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Alex H
  • United States United States
THE BEST CREW I HAVE EVER SEEN

northern reefs

Recommended for
The Diving, the crew, the boat
  • 8.4 Very good
  • Cecil B
  • United States United States
Great food, diving and strict adherence to diving safety protocols.

I was at the great barrier reef in the late 1980s and it was amazing. A direct comparison between now and then difficult because we went to different sites but The Great Barrier Reef appears to be alive and healthy. The food was amazing and wonderful and the staff went to great lengths to provide whatever assistance you needed in diving or onboard.

Recommended for
Diving, professional photographer and food
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Ana W
  • United States United States
I can't wait to do this trip again!!

I thought diving Australia would be a once in a lifetime trip. Now I can't wait to go back & do it again. The service by the staff was superb! Accommodations were very nice and my dive buddy & I didn't feel cramped sharing a space. The shark feed dive was my absolute highlight having never done a dive like that before. I was very pleased with the crews commitment to safety. You guys were amazing! Thank you for this wonderful experience. I can't wait to come back with more dive buddies.

Recommended for
Amazing service by staff, dive safety was a priority, & relaxed experience
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Anne D
  • United States United States
Amazing first time liveaboard experience!

We loved the advanced course with Joe. Our diving greatly improved! Will was a great trip director - made it all fun, safe and easy. Bobbie is an amazing chef - the food variety was hard to believe. Julie’s photography and fish lectures were fantastic bonuses! We hope to return!

Recommended for
Dive sites, crew and food
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Craig W
  • United States United States
Exceeded expectations!

Diving with the sharks!!

Recommended for
Diving in the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef. Friendly staff. Good!
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Michele W
  • United States United States
Wonderful trip above and below the water!

The Shark encounter, friendly co-passengers, entertaining attentive crew!

Recommended for
Bobby’s cooking was outstanding!!, Destinations were wonderful!, Crew made me feel safe underwater and relaxed and happy above water.
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Tim K
  • United States United States
It was great. The shark feeding dive was the best part for me personally.

The previously mentioned Shark Feeding, sea snake and schools of fish under water were the best parts of the diving experience.

Recommended for
The Shark Feeding, Seeing the sea snake and schools of fish.
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Bryce O
  • United States United States
Fantastic!

As above

Recommended for
1. Amazing crew, loved their enthusiasm and helpfulness 2. Delicious food 3. Convenient and beautiful diving
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Mark M
  • United States United States
Excellent!

The dives and the friendly, efficient crew. The captain was excellent!

Recommended for
Dive sites, food, service
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Jeremiah C
  • United States United States
Absolutely amazing experience with an incredible crew!

This was my first Liveaboard and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Everything was so well done and professional. I could see how everything was so well organized. And all the staff worked super hard. I could tell that they all got along with each other and were just very cool people to be around. I would highly recommend.

Recommended for
The food was amazing. The diving. And the crew was very cool and worked super hard.
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Rodney L
  • United States United States
Awesome experience

All dives

Recommended for
People, dive sites, avalibility
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Kenneth F
  • United States United States
Great Trip

Relaxing attitude, great dive sites, very attentive staff.

Recommended for
The crew, the Captain and my fellow divers.
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Michael M
  • United States United States
We had a great time with a great staff that was very competent and fun.

We were able to get a lot of dives in a short time. My wife is a novice diver and still had some anxiety about diving. The staff made her very comfortable with scuba diving. At the end of the trip my wife was ready to plan our next scuba diving trip. She loved it!

Recommended for
Safety conscious crew. Great dive sites. New friends made with other guests.
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Ben L
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
Brilliant trip, great staff, awesome dives, superb boat

- Shark feed and dives on Osprey reef - Fantastic weather and diving conditions - Excellent boat, all cabins clean and tidy, beds comfortable, fresh towels whenever requested. - Great food, like eating in a restaurant for all meals - Brilliant staff, all exceedingly friendly and happy to help no matter the time of day or night. Very professional and made the diving feel really easy and extremely safe.

Recommended for
great staff, awesome dives, superb boat
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Terence K
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
Doesn't get much better......

The diving was organised to a very professional standard. Nitrox was available (though an extra charge) and 15 litre tanks also available (again extra). Every dive was preceeded by a detailed briefing and a guide was available, though you could dive with a buddy if preferred. 4 or 5 dives a day were offered. Luckily we were blessed with great weather and easy dives. Probably the best dive was a shark feed - 40/50 reef sharks + giant cod all in a feeding frenzy. The food on board was excellent - all tastes and diets catered for. The cabins were very comfy - good bunks, adequate storage and functional bathroom. On the last night we had a party - some guests were professional musicians so we had a good show....& all the crew got everyone up dancing. I was a liveaboard virgin but now a total convert.

Recommended for
Organisation of diving, the crew, comfort of boat
  • 8.0 Very good
  • Dirk V
  • Belgium Belgium
Excellent Diving on The Great Barrier Reef

*The nightdive with lots of sharks * The variety of divesites (pinnacles, walls, sandy slopes, soft and hard coral * a lot of life on the dive sites with great variety

Recommended for
The diving, the friendliness of the crew they go out of their way to make you feel at home, the peace and quiet at see (haven't seen another ship during the entire trip)
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Agnieszka S
  • Poland Poland
Superb

Diving

Recommended for
Diving, crew, food
  • 8.0 Very good
  • Natasha S
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
Great trip with the Minkies!!

The highlight of my trip was definitely getting to snorkel and dive with the whales. I found the boat to be well set out and relatively comfortable despite challenging conditions and the dive sites were varied and well briefed. The crew, especially Yella, were attentive and friendly and the rest of the divers all got on well together. Will def be booking another trip through liveaboard.com. Thank you

Recommended for
The whales, the diving, the crew
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Christy R
  • New Zealand New Zealand
Amazing

Would definitely recommend this to anyone to do. The Ribbon Reefs are a must see and Mike Ball expeditions and Spoilsport are the best way to experience it!

Recommended for
The diving, the crew, the reef
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Terence K
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
Beautiful Barrier Reef

Seeing the dratic pinaccles and corals of the Gt Barrier Reef.

Recommended for
Organisation of diving, reef, food on board
  • 7.2 Good
  • Andreas K
  • Austria Austria
It was a nice trip

The fly to Lizard Island

Recommended for
The fly to Lizard Island, the Nightdives, the last evening on board
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Clive S
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
Fantastic because of the Minke whales!

Minke whales. Humpback whales. Dive staff were outstanding. Word of caution though that in July the sea conditions can be very rough, so beware if you suffer from sea sickness. Still highly recommended!

Recommended for
Proximity to the Minke whales, professionalism of the staff, food.
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Myriam G
  • Switzerland Switzerland
Best LiveAbord experience in Australia

Shark diving

Recommended for
Great boat, top crew and dive material and sites
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Martin C
  • Hong Kong Hong Kong
First time on a liveaboard

It was my first liveaboard experience, and I think I have been spoiled by the amazing trip: the crew were exceptionally friendly, the food was delicious, not to mention the amazing diving at the great barrier reef. My highlight was the shark attraction dive at Osprey reef!

Recommended for
Food, cabin crew, dive buddies
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Chris P
  • Germany Germany
Absolutely amazing trip on a nice and well organised boat

No other or to much other companies on the route. So it is not crowded and you can fully enjoy the reef

Recommended for
Service, food and friendly crew
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Mary S
  • Greece Greece
Exceeded our expectations

We had a wonderful adventure on the Spoilsport thanks to the attentive staff and all the comforts of home. The diving was spectacular, great sites and timing, including two fantastic night dives. We were relaxed and enjoyed ourselves immensely!!

Recommended for
Staff, diving, other passengers
  • 8.4 Very good
  • Trevor D
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
Amazing diving

The opportunity to have 4 dives a day and either go alone or dive with a guide. Friendly relaxing atmosphere on board a well maintained boat.

Recommended for
Good spacious boat, friendly and knowledgable crew, excellent diving
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Weng Koon V
  • Malaysia Malaysia
Efficient and well run

The Minke Whales of course

Recommended for
The seamless way everything ran - hassle free
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Catherine A
  • Canada Canada
Great trip, would totally recommend!

Everything is really well organised, hassle free and the staff (always happy to help)q does a great job. They set the standard pretty high in terms of customer service. Unfortunately, the diving didn't fully reach my expectations because the strong winds didn't allow us to go to the Coral Sea. It obviously isn't Mike Ball's fault and the captain told us his door was open for anyone who wanted more information about the weather conditions and the impact on our itinerary. The staff also made sure to provide us with detailed briefings of the dive sites to make sure we would still get the best out of it. There was also a dive guide jumping in at almost every dive, which was great for those who were not confident with their navigation skills.

Recommended for
Very friendly and helpful crew, the food was fresh with a good variety and all the diving activities were very well organised.
  • 8.4 Very good
  • Willem F
  • South Africa South Africa
Could not fault anything.

Diving Steve's bommie, great crew especially Kiana, Joe the cook and the serenading captain. Lastly the comfort of the ship which was really shipshape, clean and well equipped.

Recommended for
Organized, crew, a lot of dive for your buck.
  • 8.4 Very good
  • David N
  • Australia Australia
Great boat and crew- bad weather itinerary

Winds gusting from 30-40 knots prevented us from going to Osprey, Bougainville and Holmes reefs. This was the Captains decision for both the safety and comfort of the passengers. A decision which reflects the operations attention to passenger safety. Unfortunately for me this section of the trip was the primary reason for taking the trip. I knocked a star off for the replacement dive sites and diving as they were overall, just OK. Steve's Bommie, Pixies Bommie and the Light House Bommie gave us some good dives. A night dive with Giant Trevally and dozens of sharks at Gotham City was a highlight. Overall, a great boat and crew. I will have no hesitation in traveling on Spoilsport again. Hopefully I will get the Osprey reef then.

Recommended for
The staff, crew and guides. The food and drinks. The operation of Spoilsport from its focus on safety to cleaning.
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Andreas M
  • Belgium Belgium
Awsome

Awsome crew, awsome meals, awsome service!

Recommended for
Crew, service, meals
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Hei Man C
  • Hong Kong Hong Kong
You will never regret it! :)

Mike Ball Spoilsport really lives up to its name. Our minke whale expedition is superb! We have numerous whale encounters every day. We even swam with sea turtles! No matter you’re a diver or a snorkeler, you will surely be having tons of fun.

Recommended for
Whale encounters, friendly and professional staff, food
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Roberto G
  • Spain Spain
Awesome

Minke Whales, Dive spots, food&drink, Boat, How to crew manage the expedition, safety on board, sustainability Tourism, summarizing it has been an outstanding experience!

Recommended for
Minke Whale Project, Dive Spots and the way the crew manage the expedition
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Kathryn C
  • New Zealand New Zealand
Swimming with 20+ minke whales, sharks, sea turtles & more!

Swimming with large groups of minke whales was incredible - they come so close to divers and snorkelers. The coral reefs are vibrant and full of sharks, fish, macro life and turtles. Incredible GBR outer-reef diving and the crew were so helpful and fun.

Recommended for
Minke whales, bull sharks, pygmy seahorses
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Ngung Chia S
  • Singapore Singapore
Minke Minke every where

Saw Minke Whale 3 days in the 8D7N expedition. Some excellent diving sites e.g. lighthouse bommie. Rough sea due to strong wind but trip is comfortable because of excellent crew and food. Cabin is above average with adequate storage space for luggage and good air conditioner. Very detail dive briefing, making unguided dive not a problem. They also provide two complimentary guided dive per day for those that need them. Professional organisation on dive deck. Bonus information on marine life and minke whales from researcher on boat. Provide drop off service in Cairns area.

Recommended for
Minke Whale, Crew, Diving
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Constanza V
  • Chile Chile
Great experience with a great team onboard

diving

Recommended for
crew
  • 8.4 Very good
  • Graham P
  • Australia Australia
Great crew and experience

Osprey reef

Recommended for
The diving the location the crew
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Andrew G
  • Australia Australia
Absolutely brilliant

The shark feeding The barbecue on the last night The friendly crew The diving in general The organisation of everything was -spot on

Recommended for
The crew, the diving, our group in general. Everyone got along really well and we were from all corners of the globe.
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • James S
  • Canada Canada
he boat has plenty of space and nice accommodations and the crew was excellent and met all of our requests.

The diving was great and the crew went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a great time and was comfortable in the water.

Recommended for
Excellent dive sites, great crew, awesome food.
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Simon H
  • Australia Australia
Amazing. World class diving and first class service.

Osprey Reef!!! 40m+ viz and 2.5km drop off.

Recommended for
Crew, boat and dive destination. Osprey Reef was incredible.
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • catriona L
  • Australia Australia
A truly Spectacular Expedition

We were lucky enough to have three dives near Raine Island and saw so many turtles that I lost count. Recommendation for future passengers, you will need to change out of your swimmers after each dive since the dining/lounge area is a dry area. Bring as many sets of swimmers as you can so that you don't have to struggle back into wet swimmers for each dive. Also, bring big clothes pegs to attach your wet swimmers to the railings to dry.

Recommended for
The dive sites, the crew and the company
  • 8.4 Very good
  • Phil J
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
Awesome diving on the Great Barrier Reef

Night diving with reef sharks.

Recommended for
Easy of diving, amount of dives, tranquility
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Christopher F
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
Dive a portion of reef where you are the only visitors

The service was brilliant from start to end, and this includes the people in the office. A great experience to see a range of species normally scared away at other sites due to the volume of divers. Recommendation leave only bubbles and take only pictures.

Recommended for
Sharks, cuttlefish and the staff
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Eva W
  • Germany Germany
A great experience both over and under water

We had a great time aboard the Spoilsport. The crew was amazing, always friendly, always good for a joke but still doing a very professional job and taking security very serious. The dive briefs were great, and the guides did their job very well. We had some bad luck with bad weather, but the schedule was quickly adjusted and we still got to have a ton of fun that day. The food was - simply put - amazing! If you‘re hoping to loose a few pounds - forget it! The flight back was another highlight. Seeing the reef from above after knowing what is going on under water puts it on a whole different level.

Recommended for
Crew, Food, Soft Corals
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Wai Yee W
  • Hong Kong Hong Kong
Great Vacation with best service

Amazing diving in Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy it very much!

Recommended for
service, dive sites, photography
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Francis R
  • Belgium Belgium
Awesome diving experience

From the first moment, everything was perfect! Awesome flight over the reef, super friendly staff, amazing diving spots, really the whole package. Will go diving with Mike Ball again for sure!

Recommended for
Diving spots - friendly crew - food
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Gina M
  • Australia Australia
Very enjoyable

Always the diving in clear, warm water

Recommended for
Comfortable bad, friendly staff, tasty food
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Paul E
  • Australia Australia
so well organised

the sites, the crew's attitude and there was leadership at the top.

Recommended for
1 you knew exactly what was expected of you and when things were going to happen 2 the crew were obliging and friendly 3 the dive sites were very varied and challenging
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Jasen A
  • Australia Australia
Really well run dive operation. Seamless!

The diving, the staff, the food, the experience. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions are the best.

Recommended for
The organisation, the quality of dive sites, the quality of service.
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Kirk L
  • Australia Australia
Trip was awesome

Too many to mention but dive locations, the dives themselves , the whole crew were awesome we had so much fun and they were so professional, I was super impressed The food was to die for . And all this under trying conditions My dives were so good due to good locations great crew Loved every bit of it Thanks

Recommended for
Diving locations all staff food
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • FRANCESCO G
  • Australia Australia
Awesome diving and great crew

Night Dives were awesome. Most day dives were excellent. Food was unbelievable and the crew were friendly, knowledgeable and extremely helpful and considerate.

Recommended for
Food Night Dives Crew
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Henricus R
  • Australia Australia
Exceptional live aboard trip

The relatively small number of divers meant that everyone got to know everyone else. Dive guides we available when needed, but not all dives were lead by a dive guide. I loved this: you and your buddy get to do your own thing at your own pace. Visibility was exceptional 30-50m on all dives, the water temp 29° and the sea life prolific.

Recommended for
1) The enthusiasm and professionalism of the staff. 2) The diving - they don't call it the GREAT barrier Reef for nothing. 3) The food; great variety and delicious throughout
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Robert S
  • Canada Canada
First live aboard trip, sets a very high bar!

Visiting remote dive sights on the Osprey Reef and the shark dive, truly amazing! Also the final night of the trip we had a bbq and music courtesy of the captain and the crew. Made it a very memorable experience with new friendships. Can't wait to go back for another trip with them.

Recommended for
Great community feel, helpful staff who went above and beyond, very tasty food and beverages
  • 8.4 Very good
  • FRANCESCO G
  • Australia Australia
Mike Ball Diving always delivers the Ultimate experience.

The Yongala was definitely the major draw card. The crew were awesome as always and though the weather wasnt ideal the skipper made the most of it.

Recommended for
Yongala, Crew, boat
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Joanne W
  • Australia Australia
Best diversity on GBR - Coral Sea, Ribbon Reefs and Minkes

The shark dive at Osprey Reef was awesome. Bouganville Reef was pristine with a great diversity of fish and coral. The Cod Hole was fabulous, with very cheeky cod and lots of sharks and fish. We were a bit early in the seaon for swimming with the minkes but we saw them from the boat (and false killer whales).

Recommended for
Dive locations, staff and food
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Igor L
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
Fantastic variety of dive sites marine life and corals

Osprey North Horn shark dive, Cod Hole, Silvertip sharks, night dives, boat comfort, smooth dive operation, open deck, unlimited diving, food

Recommended for
Sharks, outer reefs, dive operation
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Allison S
  • Australia Australia
Superb Liveaboard and Diving

Had a fab time on the 7 Day Coral Sea Explorer. Highlights was definitely the diving on the outer reef systems, including Holmes, Bouganville and Osprey Reef systems. The staff were great and the marine biologist talks were amazing.

Recommended for
Service on Board, Quality of Diving and Marine Biologist Talks
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Daniel T
  • Australia Australia
Amazing trip

Every moment was a highlight, I'll 100% be coming on another trip with this liveaboard

Recommended for
the diving, the crew and the food
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Rupert S
  • New Zealand New Zealand
Fantastic variety

variety of life

Recommended for
Dive conditions, trust of staff in divers, trustworthy staff
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Keith T
  • Australia Australia
Don't dive with Spoilsport if you don't want the best.

If you don't want to exerience the Barrier Reef in the best way possible don't dive with Spoilsport. If you have no interest in Reef ecology and learning how to protect it don't dive with Spoilsport.

Recommended for
If you don't want a totally professional crew don't dive with Spoilsport. If you don't want a crew that cares about your welfare and safety don't dive with Spoilsport. If you don't want a team that knows the Barrier Reef don't dive with Spoilsport
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Nicholas S
  • Australia Australia
Excellent organisation

Spending time with my son enjoying a passion in common with likeminded diverse divers from all over the world. Learnt from them about new places to explore whilst sharing this adventure.

Recommended for
The staff,diving organisation and comfortable boat.
  • 8.4 Very good
  • lorin M
  • Australia Australia
Well managed

Good dive sites

Recommended for
Staff experienced and patient, excellent food, good dive sites
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Thomas K
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
Fantastic Liveaboard!

The access to quality dive sites and expert knowledge of the area. Being given freedom to dive to my standard.

Recommended for
Marine life, staff and food
  • 9.2 Superb
  • William S
  • Canada Canada
Great time on the Great Barrier Reef!

Nothing like a night dive!

Recommended for
Overall great experience
Origin: US