Expeditions: 2nd September, 2005 6th September, 2005 9th September, 2005
  20 September, 2005 27 September, 2005  
       

Date: 27 September, 2005 Vessel: Spoilsport

This expedition began with a continental feel with passengers from the USA, Australia, Russia, Germany and Canada. The diving began at Bowl Reef and two great sites; Magic Land and Dead Calm. Light winds, glorious sunshine and calm seas made for excellent diving conditions. Divers saw excellent coral and fish life through out. The second day took us to Rock Arch, 130NM from the main land in the Coral Sea, an expanse of 50m, electric blue, water awaited the divers. With the magnificent swim through's the early morning light cascaded through the caverns. Next we moved a short distance to Fan Fare with great wide angle shots for photographers on board. For the adventurous divers we then went for an exploratory dive which took is to a large bommie with schooling fusiliers, unicorn fish, lagoon rays and gray reef sharks. A different site we'll have to visit again. We then set off for Flinders Cay for champagne and a beautiful sunset.

The following day started at Cod Wall with the visit to gorgonian gigantus, the 18ft gorgonian fan at 42m, then a great wall dive with many passengers seeing hammerhead sharks and gray whaler sharks in the clear coral sea water. Scuba Zoo followed with over 30 gray whaler sharks and a silvertip shark posing for divers and their cameras. We traveled back to the Great Barrier Reef for another two days of diving with allot of exploratory diving and came across some great dive sites with great coral cray fish, cuttlefish, shovel nose rays and more reef sharks.

Our final dives were on the historic SS Yongala where a plethora of marine life call home. Passengers saw schools of sweet lip, trevally, and a multitude of diverse marine life.

Thanks to all our passengers and crew for making this a memorable expedition.

Trip Director: Richard Kennedy. Photo Video/Pro: Laurence Buckingham.
Guest Photo Competition

1st Place
Congratulations to Stefan Backhus for getting this close-up photograph of a green turtle at the Yongala Wreck,
Coral Sea.

3rd Place
Fred Parkinson, Nudibranch (notodoris minor) - Fan Fare,
Coral Sea .

3rd Place
Stefan Backhus, Rhinopias - Pelagic Point,
Coral Sea.
Guest Comments
Jonathan Gaskin, USA. "The diving was fantastic and the crew was superb."
Sarah Mansell, Australia. "Everything was great, excellent diving, great food, beautiful scenery, staff were really great/friendly."
Fred Parkinson, Canada. "Healthy marine environment, great variety of corals, huge numbers of fish, big and small - they were all there."
Date: 20 September, 2005 Vessel: Spoilsport
The Cod Wall was it's usual unpredictable self with a 3m tiger shark being a highlight for some of the divers. Beautiful conditions were had through out our expedition with Wheeler Reef being it's gorgeous self. Eagle rays, bull rays and shovel nose rays at the Yongala wreck again put big smiles on every bodies faces.
Trip Director: Daniel Foote. Photo Video/Pro: James Hutchinson.
Guest Comments
Dean Cerf, USA. "The sites are incredible and being on a live aboard diving more than one site per day was great. The Yongala was my overall favourite."
Sally Wright, Australia. "Relaxed pace no pressure, fantastic diving, lovely weather and friendly crew."
Sheena Moyer, Australia. "The complete package was excellent. The additional help with my dive gear makes it possible for me to dive and is greatly appreciated."
Date: 9th September, 2005 Vessel: Spoilsport
Great weather conditions through out this expedition. Glorious sunshine and calm seas took Spoilsport and it's 24 guests from Australia, New Zealand and USA to explore the outer Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Starting at AIMES Bommie where scorpion fish, reef sharks and excellent nudibranch's were spotted. At Wheeler Reef exceptional corals and marine life prevailed; barracuda, turtles, nudibranchs and great visibility. The next two days were spent on the Yongala Wreck where large grouper, manta rays, bull rays, eagle rays and sea snakes were spotted and all other regular schools of pelagics being harassed by sharks. A fantastic expedition all in all.

Congratulations to Sean and Kelly for completing their PADI Advanced Open Water course.
Trip Director: Richard Kennedy. Photo Video/Pro: Daniel Foote.
Guest Photo Competition

1st Place
Congratulations to John Ferguson for taking this great underwater photograph of a turtle,
Coral Sea.


2nd Place
Dennis McHugh, Diver - Coral Sea.

3rd Place
Paul Webb, Coral Trout - Coral Sea.
Guest Comments
Ben Lester, USA. "Friendly, professional crew."
Seam Martin, USA. "The crew was fantastic. Richard is an excellent director; very kind, courteous, attentive. Dennis is an amazing instructor; very informative, calming, professional and friendly. Great to be Advanced certified."
Vanessa Hattingh, New Zealand. "Exceptional attention to detail: excellent diving."
Date: 6th September, 2005 Vessel: Spoilsport
This expedition was started with 14 guests all Australian's - a great amount of enthusiasm was met with awesome diving on the Yongala Wreck. With no current and glorious sunshine the unlimited dives on day one made it easy for divers to not only take in the magnificent Yongala Wreck but study it closer and familiarise themselves with the different areas and marine life that either lives or visits the wreck for cleaning or feeding. After the night dive on the Yongala Wreck - possibly the best night dive for most divers. A short steam away and the divers where getting wet again at Bowl Reef with it's great coral and diverse marine life, to end a thoroughly superb expedition.

Congratulations to Roslyn on completing her PADI Advanced Open Water course and to Malcolm and Gosia for there new life as Nitrox divers.
Trip Director: Richard Kennedy. Photo Video/Pro: Daniel Foote.
Guest Comments
Mick Jordan, Australia. "Was a pleasure to come on the trip! Please keep up the good work."
Dave Young, Australia. "Excellent diving operation and Yongala Wreck."
Jane Lucas, Australia. "Fantastic diving with great crew."
Date: 2nd September, 2005 Vessel: Spoilsport
A great expedition started with a fun and enthusiastic group of 20 from Brisbane - good weather prevailed through out with glorious sunshine and flat seas. We traveled out to the outer Great Barrier Reef for our first dive on Bowl Reef with nudibranchs, excellent corals, good visibility, great swim through's and topography... it was a great first dive. The afternoon dives and night dive was at Grouper Gap, where again, good visibility and coral life was abundant; reef sharks, nudibranchs, great caves and swim through's to explore. The next day we stayed on the Yongala Wreck where we were blessed with great visibility and even better weather, with our open dive deck policy it was possible to have 6 dives on this magnificent wreck. With no current guests and crew saw manta rays, bull rays, sharks, huge Queensland grouper, shovel nose rays, too many turtles (if you can ever have too many), sea snakes, various nudibranchs, and with huge schools of barracuda and trevally it was difficult to swim through.

Thanks to all of the Blue Zone Scuba and guests for a memorable expedition.
Trip Director: Richard Kennedy. Photo Video/Pro: N/A
Guest Comments
Lee-Anne Smollett, Australia. "Absolute fabulous. The open deck policy was great. The crew were excellent, except Richard who was a pain in the butt... just kidding. Can't think of a single improvement, was the best dive trip ever."
Terry Furphy, Australia. "Good diving, excellent service and staff."
Bob Croasdale, Australia. "Great diving, great staff, excellent boat. Keep up the great work."