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Diving Reviews of Mike Ball Dive Expeditions in Australia

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Average Overall Ratings
(over last 3 years, 1 of 48 reports
Advanced:  4 stars Beginner:  3 stars
UW Photography:  4 stars Accommodations:  3 stars
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Mike Ball Dive Expeditions LiveAboard GBR, Coral Sea   "Fun times"
I have dived with Mike Ball several times. Not much has changed over time. COVID has changed a few things - neg test required pr... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
11/2023   Janice Culbertson
1000+ Dives 		Photos available
2Helpful vote(s) received
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard     "The Great Barrier Reef is Still Great"
I booked my Coral Sea trip through Dive Discovery. Although they were thorough in the past, there were glitches this time arou... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
9/2019   Jacob Rosenstein
250+ Dives 		2Helpful vote(s) received
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard GBR   "Good trip"
It was a good experience. We dove in 5mm suits, the water was around 72 degrees. A major objective of the trip was snorkeling wit... Full report  
3 stars
4 stars  
6/2017   david fox-revett
250+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard GBR   "GBR on Mike Ball's Spoilsport"
Excellent dive operations and great staff. Food was not gourmet, but very good. First live aboard I've been on in the last 5 y... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
9/2015   Craig Howe
500+ Dives 		1Helpful vote(s) received
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard     "Great staff"
The Great Barrier has taken recent hits from storms and run off; reefs not impressive, but good amount of fish. Had Minke whales c... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
5/2015   Deborah Albert
100+ Dives 		 
Featured Links from Our Sponsors
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Reef & Rainforest is an agency for travelers that scuba dive. See the Great Barrier Reef, Cod Hole, kangaroos, outback, leafy seadragons. Let us plan your adventure to Australia.
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Cairns   "Great diving and awesome crew!"
My daughter and I signed up for the 4 night Coral Sea trip starting on September 10, 2015. We met the rest of the guests at happy... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
9/2015   Steve Parker
100+ Dives 		1Helpful vote(s) received
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard GBR - Coral Sea   "Good trip to add to a to a vacation in Australia"
We did the Mike Ball Coral Sea 4 night/ fly expedition and found the operation very well run with a staff that was accommodating an... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
7/2015   Debbie Pasich
500+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Coral Sea   "Good diving in the Coral Sea"
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions does not pick you up at your hotel. You make your way to their office some time during the day to drop... Full report  
4 stars
5 stars  
10/2014   Robert & Gayle
500+ Dives 		2Helpful vote(s) received
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   "Spoilsport"
Took the seven day itinerary. The hard corals were in far better shape than in the Carribean and there were a lot of different ree... Full report  
4 stars
5 stars  
10/2014   Jim Tompkins
1000+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard     The diving was pretty good, but I had been expecting better. The corals were in good shape; however, the sea life wasn't as abunda... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
8/2014   Dale B Anderson
500+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard     This was my third expedition with Mike Ball. My first two expeditions were later in the year, September/ October. I didn't realiz... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
6/2014   Richard A. Walters
1000+ Dives 		1Helpful vote(s) received
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard GBR   As with others who have dived with Mike Ball, we found the experience to be great. We did the 3- day fly- dive trip (this was our f... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
4/2014   John E. Keith
250+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions Full report LiveAboard GBR - Coral Sea   I signed up for two back to back trips on MIke Ball for a total 7 day trip. I booked directly wiht Mike Ball. Even with the time... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
12/2013   Janice Smith
500+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Coral Sea   Having been on Aggressors, I anticipated superb accommodations, service and amenities. Mike Ball's Spoilsport fell short. First- ... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
8/2013   Ellen Johnson
250+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions/ Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Gt Barrier Reef & Coral Sea   Our 6th Mike Ball charter – as good as ever. One day diving near Lizard Island on Great Barrier Reef, overnight passage 84 miles... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
10/2013   Martha & Jeff Hubbard
1000+ Dives 		1Helpful vote(s) received
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Cairns, Queensland   Top- notch liveaboard with superb safety and crew. Divers required to have sausages and whistles; each pair was loaned a Lifeli... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
11/2012   Douglas L Roberts
1000+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   This was a fantastic, client- centered operation. I felt very pampered and comfortable. The best part of the experience was the peo... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
10/2012   Jo Tynon
100+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions Full report LiveAboard [Northern Australia   I went on this trip to see Minke Whales and potato cod. I was not disappointed. Since I was traveling from the US, I opted for the... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
7/2012   jean miller
1000+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard     Really don't have any bad to say. This was a special 10 day trip specifically to dive with the Minke Whales. The trip was planne... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
6/2011   Jan Culbertson
1000+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   Our plan was to snorkel with Dwarf Minke Whales and Mike Ball Spoil Sport made it possible! Mike Ball's staff was extremely help... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
7/2011   Amber and Brett Freliche
<100 Dives 		 
Mike Ball/ Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Queensland   Visited Cod Hole and Osprey Reef on Mike Ball's 4- night dive & fly expedition. Well organized and safety conscious, but not overb... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
7/2009   Jason Dabareiner
500+ Dives 		 
MIke Ball Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   The good: Truly amazing, professional, friendly staff who were all really dedicated to making our experience the best they could (... Full report  
4 stars
5 stars  
5/2009   Lori Pottinger
<100 Dives 		 
Mike Ball Full report LiveAboard     Mike Ball's Spoilsport was a great boat made better by a fine crew. The weather was good. Highlight of the week was the shark fe... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
4/2009   Robert M Jacon
500+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball/ Spoilsport Full report       Almost 1, 000 dives and I finally made it to the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. When I boarded and found out there were 26 dive... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
2/2009   Randall Stephen Preissig
1000+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions/ Spoilsport Full report   Great Barrier Reef   The Spoilsport is a twin- hull boat that can take many divers; our trip had over 25. With this many divers, the dive deck gets a bi... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
10/2008   Michael J Millet
1000+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball/ Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard     This is an excellent experienced operation. The dive crew was extremely professional. They were glad to help any diver who requir... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
9/2008   Andy Kenley
500+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball/ Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   Outstanding liveaboard. Fantastic, enthusiastic, skilled, cheerful crew. Loads of help from any and every crew member at the sli... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
11/2007   Fredda Lerner & Mike Fischbein
500+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Full report LiveAboard Coral Sea   Lots of good things about this operation. Numerous helpful and friendly crew and Kerrin, the "organizer" seemed to be tireless an... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
11/2007   Nicola Nelson
250+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Full report   Coral Sea/Barrier Reef   This trip was a repeat of a trip we took earlier in the year that was cut short due to the approach of two cyclones. We handled e... Full report  
5 stars
4 stars  
11/2007   Tom & Lynn Hayes
250+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball/ SpoilSport Full report   Great Barrier Reef   This was our first live- aboard and it has set a very high standard for others to please us in the future. The crew was second to n... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
9/2007   Jay Gould
500+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball/ Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   This is a special excursion in life - swimming with Minke Whales - only offered for 3 magic weeks a year off Cairns, Ribbon Reefs, ... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
7/2007   PJ Halter
500+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Barrier Reef/Coral Sea   This was our first liveabord after putting in nearly 200 dives around the Carribean. Unfortunately, our trip coincided with the d... Full report  
5 stars
5 stars  
2/2007   Tom & Lynn Hayes
100+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball / Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   The spoilsport is a large, modern boat. They were pickier about dive limits that other boats I have been on, but I didn't feel th... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
6/2006   Mark Rosenstein
100+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef / Coral Sea   The reputation the Mike Ball's boat have did not match our experience. Not that it was bad, but I would say it was only OK. We we... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
4/2006   Tracey
100+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef/Coral Sea   We embarked on the 1- 8 November 2005 liveaboard trip out of Townsville on the Spoilsport. It visited sites in the Bowl, Dip, ANZA... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
11/2005   Mort Rolleston
100+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball's SpoilSport Full report LiveAboard Coral Sea   Good operation with much better food than the previous trip. Due to sronger currents did not see the same diversity of both dive si... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
9/2005   ddemming
500+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball - Supersport Full report LiveAboard Ribbon Reefs/Great Barrier   Planned this trip to be there with the Minke Whales. Absolutely beyond what we expected. A must do trip for anyone desiring clos... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
6/2005   Rene Umberger
1000+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Full report LiveAboard Townsville Great Barrier Reef   Spoilsport is a beautiful, well maintained vessel. We chose this trip with Mike Ball specifically to dive the Yongala after sever... Full report  
3 stars
3 stars  
7/2005   Rene Umberger
1000+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Full report LiveAboard Townsville - Coral Sea   We boarded the Spoilsport in the evening in the Townsville harbor for the 6 night Coral Sea Expedition trip. The overnight trip ou... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
10/2003   Gary Krippendorf
100+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball's Supersport Full report   Great Barrier Reef   Mike Ball’s Supersport Great Barrier Reef, Australia June, 2004 John Crossley What a classy operation Mike Ball has! I wa... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
6/2004   John Crossley
1000+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   The good: The Spoilsport is a large, stable catamaran with comfortable cabins, great dive deck, a large eating/ lounge area, good ... Full report  
4 stars
2 stars  
2/2003   David Reubush
250+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Full report LiveAboard     This journey to Australia was our first "big" trip. And it was big indeed, surpassing our every expectation. We booked the ... Full report  
4 stars
4 stars  
5/2004   Rick Sterne/Chris Button
100+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Supersport Full report LiveAboard gbr   good operation good weather good people / staff good diving. nothing bad whish I had known it would be booked 6 months in adv... Full report  
4 stars
5 stars  
11/2003   mike foust
<100 Dives 		 
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions (Spoilsport) Full report LiveAboard Coral Sea & GBR   Mike Ball Dive Expeditions (Spoilsport) is a first class dive operation. The crew did everything possible to accommodate the diver... Full report  
5 stars
3 stars  
5/2003   Richard J. Troberman
100+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions Full report LiveAboard Great Barrier Reef   This was a 3. 5 day trip - on way from Cairns to Lizard Island. Managed 11 dives during the trip (the max offered. ) The trip w... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
10/2002   Wayne Leonard
100+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball SpoilSport Full report LiveAboard Yongala Wreck & Coral Sea   Warning: As has been reported elsewhere in Undercurrent, Mike Ball charges Americans (North and South), Japanese, and some others... Full report  
5 stars
2 stars  
11/2002   James & Kandace Heimer
250+ Dives 		 
Mike Ball's live aboard Super Sport Full report   Cod Hole & Great Barrier Reef   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 a... Full report  
1 stars
2 stars  
4/2002   Gerald Bertekap
<100 Dives 		 
Mike Ball/ Spoilsport Full report LiveAboard Coral Sea   A word of caution for those who consider diving with Mike Ball company. Request your price quote in Australian dollars and be ve... Full report  
4 stars
3 stars  
5/2002   Peter Snitkovsky
250+ Dives 		 
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