Great Barrier Reef Minke Whales

May 14-26, 2011

Minke whales are commonly seen along the Ribbon Reefs north of Cairns, Australia, between May and August. Mike Ball Expeditions conducts Minke Whale Expeditions with the entire second day devoted to finding and diving with these special cetaceans.

Since 1996, their usual hang-out areas have been discovered. A protocol with minimal impact on the whales has slowly developed allowing the whales to approach divers within their own comfort level. That and the Minke’s natural curiosity allow for personal encounters and spectacular opportunities for close up videos and phenomenal photography.

We will be diving from the world famous Spoilsport. The Spoilsport is Australia’s most awarded live-aboard dive boat. Her combination of space, stability and diver comfort and convenience is unmatched. You will enjoy the luxurious motor yacht atmosphere and sumptuous cuisine.

This fabulous seven-night, 450-mile Coral Sea Safari includes some of the best dive sites on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea. Before venturing out to find the Minke Whales, you will have a spectacular first dive at Challenger Bay, see man-size fish at Cod Hole, dive in gin-clear water along the walls of the Coral Sea, observe exciting shark and pelagic action in the Coral Sea, explore Lizard Island above and below the surface, make an outer edge big fish dive at Cod Wall, experience the best fish and coral bio-diversity at Ribbon’s Reef, and more superior dives north of Cook Town.

Spoilsport accommodates 29 divers with varying levels of comfort, depending on how much you choose to spoil yourself. Because not everyone can occupy the same space at the same time, those who put their money on specifics first will be given preferential reservations.

Should folks not reserve specific levels of comfort, we will average the overall cost of space remaining and a lottery for specific accommodations will be conducted and awarded for a uniform price. From experience, we can attest to the superb value of the Premium Cabins.

We anticipate the airfare to be around $1,500 per person (but, these days, who can tell for sure). With a $500 per person deposit, you can reserve your specific spot on this magnificent expedition. The available cabin classes are:

• Premium: Queen beds, a private bathroom and an ocean view.
• Standard: Twin beds, a private bathroom and an ocean view.
• Club: Twin bunks, a private bathroom and…no view.
• Budget: Four-person bunks, shared bathroom and…no view.

The Spoilsport expedition itself is May 17-24, but we need time to get there and time to get back plus we need time to experience some of the finer aspects of the countryside outback. We are currently arranging for various side trips for northern hemisphere residents (us) to better explore the outback of the “Down Under” in the southern hemisphere where the water runs down the drain the opposite way.

When traveling to the other side of the globe, we need you to provide a copy of your passport’s front page, scuba certification card, nitrox certification if applicable, emergency contact information, DAN insurance, a sealed envelope of personal medical information, a signed statement of understanding and liability release.

Don’t let the fact this is a 2011 trip lull you into thinking you can postpone a decision. Trust us: This trip will fill far in advance. For more info or to sign up, call or visit Harry’s Dive Shop.

Itinerary (Subject to Change)

On-Board Itinerary

As per usual travel itineraries and numerous years of travel experience, we plan to arrive at our ultimate destination with time to spare in the event of airline delays or whatever. This gives us time to acclimate to the time zone and “get in the groove.” It also allows time for baggage to catch up if needed.

• May 14, 2011: We leave New Orleans,4 arriving on May 16. (You lose a day going that far west.) After arriving in Sydney, we have two days to relax and see the sights, such as the world+famous Darling Harbour, MV Maverick, Sydney Opera House, and for those adventurers, the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb.
• May 18, 2011: We go to the airport to catch a morning flight to Cairns, Australia, and stay at the Cairns Colonial Club Resort. Here we have another afternoon to chill or to go to the neighborhood zoo to see, photograph, and hold a koala among visiting many more unique Australian creatures. Don't miss it.
• May 19, 2011: Board the boat for a six-day dive trip along the Great Barrier Reef with Minke Whales and more. (See acompnaying PDF file for one-board itinerary.)
• May 24, 2011: Get off the boat and go back to Cairns Colonial Club Resort.
• May 25, 2011: We can relax or do white water rafting or some other cool Australian thing.
• May 26, 2011: Catch the flight from Cairns back to Los Angeles via Sydney. Arrive in LA on the 26th. Sometimes we land in the USA before the leave Australia (not a typo). He he…

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Don’t Leave Home Without DAN

DAN Accident Insurance and DAN Travel Insurance: They’re the two things no intelligent diver would ever dream of traveling without. The good news is, if you don’t have these two pieces of valuable protection, you can sign up right now, on line.

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