3 Nights - Fly Dive Cod Hole

Showcasing the best of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.  Dive Ribbon Reef sites with the best marine life biodiversity and the Cod Hole.  All dives are 100-150 miles north of Cairns.

3 nights –12 dives
Diving Experience: Novices to Advanced scuba divers
Location: Ribbon Reefs and Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
Embarks: Monday 7am - Mike Ball Office, 143 Lake St, Cairns. Transfer to Airport.
Disembarks: Thursday 8am – Trinity Wharf, Cairns. (courtesy inner city hotel transfers)

Spoilsport

Fly Dive Cod Hole Map

(click on map to enlarge)

Itinerary Summary.
The Fly Dive Cod Hole showcases the best of the Great Barrier Reef featuring:

• a spectacular low-flying start to Lizard Island,
• the prime Ribbon Reef sites,
• exciting marine life encounters,
• the world famous Cod Hole,
• outstanding marine life biodiversity,
• all dives sites north of Cooktown,
• guaranteed access to restricted dive sites,
• 50% reduced cruise time and within sheltered waters,
• superior vessel stability in adverse weather conditions,
• Minke whales (Jun/Jul).

Low-level scenic flight over the Ribbon Reef dive sites
What awaits you?
Imagine yourself on a spectacular ‘flying start’ to Lizard Island. On the way you will have a birds-eye view of the Great Barrier Reef. Half of your 150 mile flight is at a very low 180 metres (600ft) above the sites you will dive along the Great Barrier Reefs continental shelf. A truly spectacular beginning to your expedition.

Lizard Island aerial photograph from low-level flight.
Lizard Island.
See where the famous English navigator James Cook climbed in 1770 to find a way out of the labyrinth of reefs. Naturalist Joseph Banks lamented in his log that he had too little time to study the wealth of strange creatures he saw in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Will you have space in your log to record the wealth of creatures you find?

Diver and Fish
The turquoise chain of Ribbon Reefs.
This 55 mile chain of reefs from Lizard Island to Cooktown is the most prized dive region of Australia ’s Great Barrier Reef . This is where you can see more of the Great Barrier Reefs 1500 fish and 400 coral species than elsewhere. The currents that channel between the ribbon reefs attract large fish populations.

Manta Ray Overhead
Exciting Marine Life Encounters.
Marine life encounters range from pygmy seahorses to manta rays and whales. The Great Barrier Reef has 9 species of anemone fish, 43 species of butterfly fish, 1001 species of nudibranch, and 6 of the worlds 7 turtle species…

Diving the Cod Hole
Diver size fish at the Cod Hole and Cod Wall!
One of the Great Barrier Reefs most amazing phenomenon's await you at the Cod Hole. Swim with, ‘small diver size’ or ‘giant fish size’ potato cod. Spend the dive amongst shallow sunlit coral gardens of acropora coral or venture deeper into the parallel gullies forming the front of the reef where huge Queensland groupers face into the current.

Crew on the sundeck
 

Barracuda
Ribbon Reef Highlights

Challenger Bay ’s Baza!
Another highlight is a night dive at Challenger Bay, home of Baza the barracuda and of many moray eels and clever lionfish, who, are very active at night and have learnt how to use the light of your torch to find their supper.

Minke Whale coming to surface for air
Lighthouse Bommie & Acropolis
And your next stop? Scuba diving Lighthouse Bommie,  pinnacle rising from the sand at 30 metres. In the months, of June to August you can enjoy more Minke whale sightings and longer encounters than elsewhere in the world.  Acropolis Plateau is the new hot site, shrouded in spectacular corals and festooned with baitfish, predatory fish and critters.


Leafy Scorpionfish
Pixie Pinnacle, Vertical Gardens.
You will spend the next morning at Pixie Pinnacle where you may find harlequin ghost pipefish, leafy scorpion fish and lace scorpion fish. Vertical Gardens is a natural amphitheatre, and home to a herd of large green bump head parrotfish. They make an awesome procession crunching their way through the reef!

Diver and Giant Clam
Clam Beds, Andy’s Postcard.
Clam Beds is a beautiful shallow coral garden where dozens of giant clams show off their majestic mantles. Andy’s Postcard is an isolated bommie rising from 80 metres. Fluorescent purple and orange anthias attract trevally and barracuda to these photogenic sites.

Fairy Basslet and Soft Coral
Steve’s Bommie, Flare Point, Joani’s Joy.
At Steve’s Bommie, hiding amongst the coral you can find lion fish, frog fish and leaf scorpion fish. Fluorescent anthias amass on the reef edge.  Scuba dive amongst large schools of blue-lined snapper, big-eye trevally and barracuda circumnavigate the pinnacle. Flare Point has beautiful pristine coral gardens where cuttlefish are regularly seen.

Spoilsport and reef
Dive Site Guarantee!
All your dives will be north of Cooktown including ‘prime’ Ribbon Reef sites that have restricted access. If weather forces an itinerary change our surety of access to the prime Ribbon Reef sites is your guarantee of the best scuba diving available. Spoilsport’s outstanding stability minimizes disruption to your itinerary and your scuba diving experience.

Mike at Camera Table
Dive Freedom!
You will notice there is no rush or limit placed on your dive time. Spoilsport’s itineraries normally provide 3 dive sites per day with opportunity for relaxed or unlimited diving. At sites like Challenger Bay some photographers do 2 hour dives to capture special fish behavior photographs.

Chromodoris nudibranch at Steve's Bommie
Scuba Diving Service. (see dive procedures)
Most guests prefer to plan and dive independently with their buddy. Guests who require supervision are offered a combination of: complimentary orientation dives to enhance skills; a scheduled morning and afternoon guided dive and dives with our staff on an ad hoc basis. Our crew will locate species like one of the 1001 nudibranchs. The complimentary Reef Ecology Program will assist you identify the marine life.

Spoilsport = 5 Star Service!
We aim to spoil you! To ensure your needs are met, on arrival the ‘trip director’ will have a private consultation with you. In between dives you enjoy Spoilsports luxurious motor yacht atmosphere and attentive crew. Spoilsport is the Great Barrier Reef’s most awarded liveaboard.

Spoilsport Premium Cabin
Spoilsport. (explore vessel)
Spoilsport was designed to provide divers with a new level of comfort and convenience. You get less rock’n’roll with more space and comfort. She has received 11 prestigious Rodale’s Reader Choice awards including Best Liveaboard and Most Environmentally Sensitive.

Champagne on arrival
Sumptuous Meals. (see menus)
Enjoy a sumptuous variety of meals that has earned Spoilsport an enviable reputation for catering excellence. Vegetarian and standard diets are catered for with Australian and International menus using fresh local produce. Please advise if you have special dietary needs.

Best Australian Dive Experience Award
Spoilsport Vessel Features:

• Spoilsport is Australia’s most ‘Awarded’ liveaboard,
• Length 30m (100ft); Beam 10m (36ft); Speed 15 knots,
• Passenger average 20 (max 28) Crew 11,
• Twin hulls reduce seasickness and maximize stability, space and privacy,
• Twin or double cabins, most with ocean views. Daily cabin service,
• Spacious: dining room; lounge; alfresco deck and sundeck,
• Sensational chef prepared meals and in-between meal snacks,
• Complimentary soft drinks and Australian wines with dinner.

Photographer and Cod

• Complimentary Reef Ecology Program,
• Low key photo comp on every expedition,
• Huge dive deck with convenient entry/exit platforms,
• Photographer friendly with 3 large camera tables,
• ‘Open dive deck’ allows flexible dive planning,
• 3 dive sites per day is normal,
• Underwater photography and video services,
• Nitrox fills (see prices)
• PADI instruction: Advanced, Nitrox, Naturalist and Photo/Video,
• Dry towel after each dive,
• Solo diving as per Mike Ball Safe Solo System,
• 2 large inflatables for personalised dive service.

Details subject to change.

Photo Credits:
Geri Murphy and Mike Ball.
 

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Download the itinerary (pdf) here.