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Location :
Added by Jopie, at 13 January 2016
Opening Hours
- Monday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday Closed
- Sunday Closed
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9 Reviews
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04 October 2017
An absolutely incredible experience (3 night cod hole).
Check-in at 7 at the office was simple; we dropped off our scuba gear and clothing bags, waited for everyone else to arrive and then headed to the airport.
At the airport, we were weighed with our carry on luggage (don't need any, it goes in the plane wing) and given a map of the route and dive sites. We were given a general dive/safety briefing and headed to the 2 planes. Trip to lizard island was ~1hour. It was loud, but bearable. It is a low level reef flight so you see many reefs (great pictures!).
When we arrived, we were transported on 2 small dinghy boats to the Spoilsport. Once on board, we met the the crew and the 7-night members. We were given a briefing about the boat and what the trip would be like.
Diving:
Spectacular. Favourite spot was Steve's Bommie. At various the dive sites, you will likely see all sorts of creatures and coral, including clown fish, reef sharks, octopi, turtles, sea snakes, lion fish, etc. Although the coral was damaged and dead in some areas, this is not the fault of MBDE (and to be expected go watch Chasing Coral).
The dive briefs were great, no doubt due to our wonderful trip director Kerrin. He explained (and drew out) the site and all crucial information, common locations animals, and currents. Kerrin also made sure everyone had a buddy, and if they didn't he helped find them one. He also stated when he and the other instructors would be diving and ask if anyone wanted to join a guided dive. Jelle, Olly, and Callum were all wonderful dive instructors and very entertaining. They were fun in and out of the water. They made the trip awesome and memorable!
We brought our own gear, so cannot comment on the rented gear. I did buy dive socks for $20 onboard which made a HUGE difference in foot warmth, and ease of putting on my wetsuit and boots. Isobel, the host, was great in this regard, as she helped me try multiple pairs on, gave her recommendations and advice. She also did the same when my boyfriend and another passenger wanted to buy a pair for themselves.
Food:
The food was absolutely outstanding. You can see the menu on the website, but it does not do the food justice. There are delicious baked goods for afternoon snacks and the desserts (especially rose ice cream) were to die for. The chefs Thomas and Celia did an absolutely outstanding job, and I am a picky eater! If you don't like certain things, there will always be many options so you won't go hungry. Also, the coffee/cappuccino machine has over 10 hot drink options available at any time - it was great! Although the dinners were sometimes late (around 8pm), this is to accommodate the night divers which I understand.
The Boat:
The boat was lovely and huge. We went with the club room to have our own bathroom, which was a good idea. If I were to do the trip again, I would upgrade to the room without bunkbeds but that's a personal preference. Although we did not see Russel (Captain), Brendon (Trainee) or Richard (Engineer) too much, they were all friendly and approachable and helped when an outlet wasn't working.
Extras:
Trent (1st mate) and Tom & Alek (volunteers) were all great. Tom was especially helpful when I felt sea sick the first day (he brought me water, crackers, and was friendly/supportive). They also all added humour to the trip.
Gary, the cameraman, was also great. I think he should explain at the start of the trip how the picture/video pricing works ($80 for all the pictures on a USB) because we would have dove near him more to be in more than 1 picture. We still bought the pics/video because they were outstanding and a great souvenir. He was also very friendly and his reef talk was very informative/interesting!
Kerrin's wake up call and dive brief songs were AWESOME. He was seriously one of the best/my favourite parts of the whole trip. So so so fun and friendly and wonderful!!
ALL IN ALL AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING EXPERIENCE. I'd do it again if I wasn't 15,000 km away!!!response / report this review -
15 September 2017
we joined the 3 days cod hole expedition and we enjoyed every second
The flight over the great barrier reef was amazing ,the crew was profesional very helpful and very nice to all of us
The ship was comfortable clean excellent cabins and suitable for diving
The diving sites were beautiful and the guides knew were to take us
The food was great, a lot of variety, every day a new menu
The last night when we had the BBQ which was fabulous , drinks great food great music and even a multi talent captain that sings and play on the guitar
Thank you all
we had a great time
Galit
Israelresponse / report this review -
23 July 2017
Did a 8 day exploratory trip in 2004, it was a fantastic trip. Very professional would recommend these guys in Australia.
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01 May 2017
A Live Aboard
Pay a group of scuba diving experts and a massive yacht crew to take you on week long tour of the most amazing coral reefs in the world and see if that'll change you perspective on life. I never knew this existed until talking to scuba junkies on a trip before this. Live on a yacht for a week and dive all day as they cruise around the Coral Sea in the the Great Barrier Reef. Everything from night dives, drift dives, deep dives, wreck dives, shark feeding dives, and wall diving, all in one day sometimes. You can dive up to 5 times a day or not dive at all if you want to just live aboard and enjoy wine and food cooked for you as you float thru the most amazing waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
The yacht is fully equipped to accommodate about 20 guests (not including crew) to dive, sleep, drink, and eat for a week. Meet the most amazing and interesting people from all over the world on this boat. Make sure to bring your wallet, it'll cost you about a cool $2k for a 4 night trip on this baby.
Shark Week For Reals.
The best dive was the shark feed. Enter an underwater natural amphitheater where divers can sit along rock side formations just like tiered seating in a stadium. Set in the middle is even a rock formation of a stage. A large trash can filled with frozen fish heads opens up for hundreds of sharks in the area to come feed. Watch your heads, it's about to go down.
Make sure you take that Dramamine if you get motion sickness.response / report this review -
08 November 2016
It's disturbing that this owner so strongly adheres to his profit structures. I took a 3 day dive in late September. Due to my error I had to alter an initial 4 day dive booking. Apparently within the guidelines, I was administered a 30% cancellation penalty (of the initial booking fee). My total extra costs, for a lesser dive, was aprox. $800.00 Cdn. On appeal that I did not 'cancel' but had a booking adjustment and continued as a client and that a lesser 'service charge' would be more appropriate, I was strongly denied. An odd way to welcome the international tourist.
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08 October 2016
Unforgettable but disappointing
The trip in overall was really good, is just frustrating when you have a dream about diving in the Great Barrier Reef, save your money to finally take your liveaboard dreams, but in the end they actually don't take you to the Great Barrier Reef.
I'm aware that weather conditions can change the route and the dive spots that we've been outside of the Great Barrier were very good and I wouldn't be impressed if they are better than the GBR itself, but to say the liveaboard takes you there and them not to even try, I dont think its ethic.
Another thing I wasn't expecting was the way the sharks are treated. Teasing sharks with tuna heads locked in cages or into chains is not nice. The sharks seemed stressed, fighting against each other, getting hurt (I saw and recorded a shark getting completely tangled and unable to move with the chain they put the tuna head in, sharks loose their teeth for biting the chains and cages, which can be taken and used as souvenirs like the crew suggests ). I also don't think treating and using the sharks for human entertainment like this is ethic. By the way the sharks are treated I wouldn't expect an accident evolving a human and a shark to happen. They already make you sign a document before going to the water removing any responsibilities form their part if an accident happens. If you don't sign you won't be allowed to this specific dive.response / report this review -
06 August 2016
Had a great four-day trip with them on the Great Barrier Reef in June 2016, watching whales. The staff are extremely friendly and professional, the food is brilliant, and the boat is very well set up for diving. Also, we saw six whales.
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12 May 2016
Great trip, great hosts, a very professional and we'll run live-aboard.
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20 January 2016
Highly recommended if u want to do a proper GBR liveaboard, well organized safe diving, very friendly and reputable services. Most important of all they listened and acted according to our concerns.
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