Live Aboards - Mike Ball 3 Day Ribbon Reefs

On this fantastic 3 day itinerary you are able to dive with a family of giant potato cod, maori wrasse and a moray eels at the world famous Cod Hole. It also takes in the Great Barrier Reefs turquoise chain of ribbon reefs with pristine coral gardens, excellent for macro and fish photography. The trip allows for 12 dives over 3 dive days, either from the vessel or from the two inflatables.

SpoilSport is one of the best appointed liveaboard vessel operating to Cod Hole. The 30metre long vessel cruises at 13 knots and accommodates 29 passengers in fully air conditioned comfort. The massive dive deck is superbly set up for diving.

There are 4 accommodation styles:

• Premium cabin - double bed with private bathroom & oceanviews
• Standard cabin - twin beds with private bathroom & oceanviews
• Club cabin - twin bunk-beds with private bathroom
• Budget cabin - twin bunk-beds with shared bathroom

Departures

• Monday morning all year round

Itinerary

• Monday: Check-in 7:00am at Cairns Cairns Colonial Club. Transfer to Cairns airport for flight to Lizard Island - fly over the magnificent Great Barrier Reef to Lizard Island where you will meet up with SpoilSport. Swim, play with, and photograph a family of magnificent Giant Potato cod and observe them feeding, together with Maori Wrasse. Night dive at Challenger Bay with a myriad of colourful molluscs and crustaceans.

• Tuesday: Ribbon Reefs #10 and #9, and Harrier Reef. Glide along Pixie's wall with a procession of golden gorgonian fans lining its base. Watch mackerel hunt juvenile fusiliers gathered in schools at Don's Diner against a magnificent backdrop of plate corals. Night dive at "Clam Beds", a coral garden dominated by colourful molluscs and crustaceans.
• Wednesday: Ribbon Reef #3 and Escape Reef. Join the big eye trevally and barracuda as they school around Steve's Bommie. Take your pick at the "Fish Market" where a variety of species of fish gather, forming multicoloured clouds over a large bommie of hard corals. Dive on the Great Escape with its beautiful coral gardens dotted with giant clams.
• Thursday: Early morning docking at Marlin Jetty. Breakfast on Spoilsport and board coach at 9:15am for transfer back to your Cairns accommodation.

Weather & natural events may cause sites to improve or deteriorate over time and as such Mike Ball reserve the right to vary this itinerary in order to provide the best quality diving

Inclusions

• 3 nights accommodation onboard
• All meals while onboard (prepared by the chef onboard)
• Up to 12 dives
• Complimentary soft drinks or glass of wine with evening meal
• Free Reef Ecology certificate course
• Low level flight to Lizard Island

Additional charges

• Reef taxes - $16 per person
• Dive equipment rental - $40 per person per day
• PADI Advanced course
• DAN dive insurance (valid for 30 days)
• Camera hire is also available onboard
• Fuel levy $10 per person per day

Cancellation

• More than 90 days prior to date of departure: forfeit A$100
• Less than 90 days: forfeit 30% of trip fee
• Less than 60 days: forfeit 50% of trip fee
• Less than 30 days: forfeit 100% of trip fee

Note: Flying After Diving

The surface interval between the night dive completed at 9:00pm and flying at 9:00am is 12 hours, which meets the DAN minimum requirement of 12 hours. An additional safety feature is that Skytrans Airlines endeavours to fly at or below l000ft, weather and flight conditions permitting. Some aircraft are pressurised to sea level.

Costs

Rates Valid 01 Apr 2008 to 31 Mar 2009	Per Person
Premium Cabin	$2011
Standard Cabin	$1831
Club Cabin	$1615
Budget Cabin	$1385
Rates In Australian Dollars And Inclusive Of GST
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