Liveaboard · Mike Ball Dive Expeditions
Spoilsport
Routes: Mike Ball's twin-hulled expedition ship pairs the Ribbon Reefs — Cod Hole's potato cod among them — with runs out to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea for shark action on the wall at North Horn. Fly-dive options shorten the transit.
Season: Sails year-round; dwarf minke whale encounters on licensed trips happen in June-July on the Ribbon Reefs.
Character: Ribbon Reefs, Coral Sea sharks and seasonal minke whale swims
For photographers: Camera room with charging benches; the operation has hosted photo professionals for decades.
Prices: Roughly A$2,500-6,000 depending on trip length and cabin. Australian schedules, fuel surcharges and reef access arrangements are updated regularly — verify with the operator.
Departures: Turns around in Cairns, with optional low-level flights to meet the boat at Lizard Island.