Vessel Manual (Appendix) - 20
Australia – Travel Tips
General Information
Visa & Passport: In most countries Australian visas are available electronically via your airline or travel agent issuing the
airline ticket. You will require a current passport, with no less six months validity, and tickets to an onward destination.
Currency: Australian dollar. Amex, Visa, MasterCard, Bankcard and Diners are widely accepted.
Transfers: We provide transfers from Cairns Colonial Club to the airport for your ongoing flight to Spoilsport and city hotel
transfers from Spoilsport on your return. Some hotels provide courtesy transfers on arrivals and/or departures into the areas.
Excess Baggage: Please check with your carrier on baggage restrictions and dangerous goods conditions. If more than one
carrier is being used we strongly recommend that you check with all carriers as these restrictions and conditions may vary.
Note: No single item can weight more than 30kg.
Travel Insurance: Should be taken to cover trip; weather problems, expedition cancellations, airline difficulties, medical
problems and lost or damaged luggage. Unforseen weather or machinery problems may cause us to cancel or change an
itinerary. No refund is offered for time lost due to the medical evacuation of a guest or reduction of dives due to weather
conditions. No compensation is offered to guests to change flights or holiday plans.
Diving Information
For full details go to www.mikeball.com / expeditions / services.
Q. Do I need diver evacuation insurance?
A. Yes, you must have Dive Alert Network (D.A.N.) evacuation insurance or similar dive insurance that will cover your
evacuation in an emergency. MBDE is a D.A.N. sponsor and can offer a 30 day cover for $16; this can be arranged at
check-in.
Q. Do I need a certification card to scuba dive?
A. Yes, please bring it with you.
Q. Do I need a dive medical to participate in a dive course?
A. Yes, if you are participating in a PADI Open Water Course. For other courses you need to be medically fit to dive as
indicated by completing the PADI Australia Medical Questionnaire, in some cases a dive medical me be required. Note:
We can send a medical form that complies with the relevant Australian requirements.
Q. Do certified divers require a dive medical?
A. No, if you are in good health for diving. If you have a medical history of heart or lung disorders, asthma, epilepsy or
insulin dependant diabetes you must produce a diving medical certification completed by a diving medical specialist.
Q. What equipment is provided on the trips?
A. Tanks and weight belts.
Q. What cylinder valve connection is used?
A. US style yoke connections. DIN fittings and adaptors are not provided.
Q. Can I hire dive equipment?
A. Yes, our standard package includes BCD, regulator, octopus, gauges, wetsuit and computer. A complimentary computer
workshop is included. One computer per diver is required. If you require equipment please advise us in advance.
Q. Is Nitrox available?
A. Yes, Nitrox facilities and training are available.
Q. Can I hire cameras, videos, housings?
A. Yes, we do have camera rental. Type and cost varies per expedition, you can check out full details on our web site
www.mikeball.com / expeditions / services / photo services. Camera housings are not available.
Q. Are equipment spares onboard?
A. It’s impossible to carry just the right o-ring for every reg or BCD and the same applies to battery sizes etc. The safest
way to ensure you enjoy maximum diving is to have your gear serviced before your expedition and bring spare parts to
suit.
Q. Do I need a wet suit?
Australian Travel Tips 080206.doc
Vessel Manual (Appendix) - 20
A. Yes, we recommend you wear some form of protection against cold, sun and abrasions.
Temperature Chart
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Australia C 28 28 27 26 25 24 22 22 24 25 26 27
“F 82 82 80 78 77 75 72 72 75 77 78 80
*Temperature is based on yearly averages and may change depending on conditions.
Living Aboard Information
Q. What type of power outlets are on board?
A. MBDE vessels provide the unique Australian three pin 240 volt outlet and the US two pin (unpolarised) 110 volt outlets
in the cabins and other areas of the vessel.
Q. What personal items do I need?
A. You should bring your own personal toiletries, personal medication, swimming costume, hat, sunscreen, personal insect
repellent, sunglasses, foot wear (sandals or tennis shoes), T-shirts, shorts, sweater and sweat pants - light weight pants
and tops for the evening are a good idea. Also your wildest “loud” shirt/dress for the BBQ evening.
Q. What about food & beverages?
A. We provide 24hr complimentary tea, coffee, softdrinks and water. A selection of beverages is served with every meal.
Three chef prepared meals and in-between meal snacks are provided each day with fruit and biscuits always available.
Please advise in advance if your have special dietary requirements. Additional wine, beer, mixed drinks and chocolates
are available for purchase on board. You can pay your bar expenses at the end of the expedition.
Q. How do I pay any onboard expenses?
A. You can settle your onboard expenses with either Australian dollars or credit card.
Q. What about tipping?
A. Tipping is not mandatory, however for exceptional service tips of about 10% in restaurants and 5% in taxis are more
common. You will find our live aboard crews are exceptional and provide excellent service day and night. A tip is
always very welcome and can be given to the Trip Director to be shared amongst the crew.
Q. Can I be contacted while on board the boat?
A. Yes, in emergency contact our office in Australia on t: +61 7 4053 0500 or e: resv@mikeball.com. Make sure the
message includes your name, which vessel and date of travel.
EVERY DIVE AN ADVENTURE!
(details are subject to change)
Australian Travel Tips 080206.doc
MIKE BALL DIVE EXPEDITIONS
Coral Sea Safari
7 nights / 6 dive days – Unlimited diving (approx. 26 dives or 28 dives whole vessel charter)
ITINERARY
Thursday: Check-in and Departure
• Prior to 4:00pm. Check-in luggage at 143 Lake Street, Cairns.
• If unable to check-in prior to 4:00pm phone us on 4031 5484 for departure details.
• 7:00pm board Spoilsport at the Marlin Jetty - Berth 16, Cairns.
• Cruise overnight to the magnificent Ribbon Reefs, the first stop on your 700km dive odyssey.
Friday: Ribbon Reef #9 - Pixie Gardens, Cod Hole
• Buddy up with diver size fish that dive with you at the Cod Hole!
• Swim with giant potato cod, napoleon wrasse and moray eels.
• Enjoy close encounters with huge Maori wrasse.
• Anticipate spectacular coral gardens, spotted rays, reef sharks and green turtle sightings.
• Night dive where decorator crabs, egg cowry shells, moray eels and crayfish are just a few of the creatures you can find.
Saturday & Sunday: Coral Sea - Osprey Reef
• Cruise 100 miles overnight to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea.
• Enjoy 40 meter (132ft) visibility with spectacular walls disappearing to 1000metres.
• At North Horn swim with giant potato cod, napoleon wrasse, moray eels, tuna and barracuda.
• Witness the resident shark population including grey whalers, whitetip reef sharks, silvertips and hammerheads.
• Search for the commonly seen green and loggerhead turtles.
• Find the caves, overhangs and spectacular walls adorned with huge soft coral trees and gorgonian fans.
Monday: Lizard Island & Ribbon Reef #10 & #9 – Cod Wall, Cod Hole, Challenger Bay
• Climb “Cook’s Look” at Lizard Island where Captain Cook searched for safe passage through the reef.
• Explore the rarely dived Cod Wall at the outer reef edge that disappears into 60 meters (200ft)
• Glide back towards the Cod Hole while enjoying the clear water and spectacular coral formations.
• Choose to dive the Cod Hole again if you agree with us that one day is not enough to enjoy its diverse marine life.
• Shallow but fantastic, Challenger Bay is extremely rich in biodiversity from spectacular coral gardens and unusual critters
through to large schooling fish. Great night dive location… watch out for Baza the Barra!
Tuesday: Ribbon Reef #9, #5, #4 - Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Pinnacle, Andy’s Postcard, Clam Beds, Vertical Gardens
• Circumnavigate Pixie Pinnacle and Lighthouse Bommie shrouded in fusilier baitfish. Fluorescent purple and orange anthias
attract predatory fish to these photogenic sites. Majestic Minke whales are seen here in June and July.
• Rising from 80 meters the pinnacle of Andy’s Postcard is encrusted in had corals, lion fish, nudibranchs, octopus, schooling
trevally and barracuda.
• See spectacular giant clams at Clam Beds as well as caves, canyons and coral encrusted bommies awaiting exploration.
• Sheer walls covered in whip corals and sea fans brim the natural amphitheatre of Vertical Gardens. Marine life varies from
the many colourful nudibranchs to large schooling bump head parrotfish.
Wednesday: Ribbon Reef #3 - Flare Point, Joani’s Joy, Steve’s Bommie
• Spiral majestic coral pinnacles teeming with diverse marine life.
• See huge schools of baitfish stalked by barracuda, mackerel and trevally.
• Anticipate spectacular coral gardens, spotted rays, reef sharks and green turtle sightings.
Thursday: Dock at Marlin Jetty - Berth 16, Cairns
• Early morning docking, breakfast, 8:00am courtesy transfers to Cairns city hotels.
Note: Itinerary subject to change.
Prime dives sites - GUARANTEED!
• This itinerary has been designed to include the ‘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 diving.
• Spoilsport’s outstanding stability minimises disruption to your itinerary and your diving experience.
Whole Vessel Charter Option:
• Additional Ribbon Reef sites: No Name Reef, Yonge Reef, Day Reef, Hicks Reef.
• Drift dives with schooling fish at the northern Ribbon Reef passes between No Name Reef, Yonge Reef and Hicks Reef, can
be substituted for the standard Monday itinerary.
07 night - Coral Sea Safari - Itinerary 200405.doc
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING YOUR WEEK DIVING THE GBR AND CORAL SEA YOU WILL TRAVEL TO ALVA BEACH TO STAY AT "YONGALA DIVES FOR 2 NIGHTS TO DIVE THE YONGALA WRECK.
The S.S. Yongala sank in a cyclone on the 23rd March 1911 and remained undiscovered for almost 50 years, not being positively identified until 1958. The wreck now lies on its starboard side in 14-28 metres of water and at 109m long is the largest and most intact, historic shipwreck in Australian waters.
She sank just 12 nautical miles off the coast of Cape Bowling Green in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park with the loss of all 122 passengers. Exactly what happened we will never know - although research indicates the vessel was steaming, the fact no life rafts were found indicate the loss of the Yongala was sudden and tragic.
It has now become known as one of the world’s top wreck dives and certainly one of Australia’s best dive sites due to the prolific variety of marine life. Giant Queensland gropers hang beneath the stern while schools of trevally and cobia congregate around the depths of the wreck. Queenfish, barracuda, turtles, sea snakes, eagle rays and clown fish are just some of the other incredible life inhabiting the coral encrusted structure.
The Great Barrier Reef is the most bio-diverse ecosystem on the planet including over 1500 species of fish and 350 different types of coral. The Yongala wreck has now become an artificial reef with more varieties of coral growing on it than most natural reef systems. It is also host to a huge diversity of pelagic and reef species found in the Coral Sea. You will see more fish in one dive on the wreck than ten on the reef. It’s certainly a dive experience you will never forget.
Our brand new on-site accommodation has just made diving the S.S. Yongala even easier. Fully self contained, clean and very well appointed with all the mod cons, the complete Yongala Dive experience is now available.
Dining Room
Sleep in that little bit longer or go for a walk down the beach before your day’s diving begins. Yongala Diver’s Lodge is the closest accommodation to the dive site. Less than an hour from your bed (a 10min 4WD drive down Alva Beach, 30min fast and fun ride to the dive site) and you’re ready to have the dive of your life.
Yongala Diver’s Lodge is a newly renovated Queenslander set in a tropical garden and decorated to a high standard for your enjoyment and relaxation. The accommodation is spacious with a separate dining area, lounge with TV/DVD and sun room. Bedrooms include two dorm style rooms sleeping 6 and 4 (with double bunk) and a Queen Room.
Both the boat and lodge hold a total of 12 guests max. This is perfect for dive clubs and large groups as you have exclusive use of Yongala Dive’s operation.
Included in the cost is a daily breakfast (Cereal, toast, tea/coffee etc) and all linen. Other facilities include telephone, washing machine and BBQ area. Gear washing and drying facilities are also available.
.
An open water certification and 6 logged dives with deep dive training is our minimum requirement for this dive (see below). The Yongala is an intermediate dive site and it is recommended that divers should be comfortable in conditions which can sometimes be challenging.
The more experienced divers can choose to dive with a buddy or take a guided tour at no extra cost.
Almost constant sunshine and temperatures averaging around 31°C in the summer and 25°C in the winter (can cool to around 14°C in the evening) combine to make this area a great destination at all times of the year. Humidity is about 70% throughout the year with the highest rainfall coming from end of January and February.
The lovely warm waters of tropical Northern Queensland vary from around 26-31°C in the summer to 22-25°C in the winter, means diving is possible all year around. Lookout for the whales during the winter months (june to sept) while manta rays also make frequent appearances during june to december.
Due to the location of the wreck we will be moored in open water and surface conditions can sometimes be choppy and moderate currents may be experienced. If you suffer from seasickness please take appropriate medication before departure.
YONGALA WRECK TESTIMONIALS
brilliant trip, couldn’t get better
M.J. Fletcher, U.K. Oct 2006
amazing dives,excellent gear & most professional and friendly staff. One of the best, if not the best dives ever!
Robert Henke, Germany, Dec 2006
great staff, very professional, great equipment & boat, good local knowledge. Happy to come back again.
Sean Newell, Australia, March 2007
the trip to the Yongala was amazing, we’ll remember it forever. Peace & Aloha!!
Heather & Shayne, Hawaii, August 2006
Exellent, efficient and slick operation. nice clean accommodation and great boat and so close to the wreck. will recommend to others
Thor, Denmark, March 2007
fantastic adventure, lodge is the best accommodation I’ve stayed in so far, staff very friendly & helpful, awesome dive as promised. I’ll be back!
Katie Fletcher, England, March 2007
Definately #1 dive in oz!! Office staff very helpful in organizing trip, crew were great-very friendly!! I will definately be back for more!
Jackie Williamson, Canada, May 2007
I had a fantastic day and night. By far one of my most memorable parts of my visit to oz.
Alex Law, U.K. May 2007
Wickedly awesomely wicked! Now I know why eveyone rates the trip so much, great crew too.
Jeni Gwynn, June 2007
Really friendly & efficient staff. Dive was even better than imagined! Staff were awesome!
Naomi Trueman, June 2007
Accommodation was best so far on my trip by miles, clean, comfortable-well done-keep it up. Dive was amazing!!! loved every second of it, highly recommended, a must do dive.
Selina Barbour, Scotland, June 2007