1st May , 2008

5th May, 2008

8th May, 2008

12th May, 2008

15th May, 2008

22nd May 2008

26th May 2008

29th May 2008

Spoilsport - 1st May 2008

Written by Trip Director - Kerrin Jones

This trip we explored a couple of sites that have not been dived for several years with excellent results. Guests returned from a dive at Tabletops with great reports of interesting marine life spotted including a couple of giant Queensland Gropers, Sea Snakes and more. Another popular dive site was Acropolis, with some of the best hard corals to be seen on the Great Barrier Reef and some great smaller life such as pygmy seahorses, harlequin ghost pipefish and leafy scorpionfish spotted this week.

However, the highlight of the trip would have to be our first minke whale of the whole season, seen at Lighthouse Bommie. This friendly whale made some very close approaches to the boat, divers and snorkellers and is hopefully the start of a great minke whale season to come!

Guest Comments

Keri Gazzard, Australia "Fun and helpful staff, very well looked after, great food. Good diving. Fun atmosphere all the time. We had a ball.""

Spoilsport - 5th May 2008

Written by Trip Director - Kerrin Jones

Our southbound trip began with a visit to scenic Lizard Island. Diving then began at the Cod Hole with two dives (one of them a drift dive in a raging current) where divers encountered plenty of potato cod along with white tip reef sharks, bumphead parrotfish and much more. Our second day of diving was spent around the bottom of Ribbon Reef No. 10 with some excellent dives at Acropolis, Lighthouse Bommie and Pixie Gardens. Divers enjoyed the great hard corals at Acropolis and the range of marine life at Lighthouse Bommie.

Highlights of the third day were Steve's Bommie, and a huge loggerhead turtle seen at Flare Point, which let divers approach very closely.

Guest Comments

David Kappin, Israel "Great dives, friendly crew, comfortable boat and good meals."

Spoilsport - 8th May, 2008

Written by Trip Director - James Hutchinson

Once again the Coral Sea Expedition proved to be one of the best reasons to visit Australia. With the diving starting out at such wonderful sites as Flare Point and Steves Bommie on the Ribbon Reefs, it was never headed any other direction. Such marvellous creatures as leafy scorpionfish, wobbegong sharks and an array of nudibranchs were a great start before heading out to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. Once there, incredible wall dives and great visibilitiy were cherished by divers before the real spectacle began in the way of the shark attraction at North Horn. Attracting approximately 30 sharks including white tip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, five silvertip whalers and one huge potato cod, the attraction was a huge success. Hammerheads and thresher sharks were also sighted along with a few Manta Rays. A fantastic trip was had by all.

Guest Comments :

Anu Kaplas, Finland "the staff is working good together, they really had fun and that affects the guests so this whole trip was great in total.This was perfect cruise."

Ivan Micallef, Australia . “TThe diving and spacious boat. The manta (ray), hammerheads (sharks) and the warm water...just keep doing what you do best. In all honesty had the time of my life."

Seamus Vanecko, USA “Crew was excellent!!! "

Spoilsport - 12th May, 2008

Written by Trip Director - James Hutchinson

Flying in to Lizard Island above the Great Barrier Reef, its hard to imagine what's about to happen under the water. That all changes as soon as you jump in at the Cod Hole. The potato cod provided an extremely intimate experience unrivalled anywhere else. Following that up with amazing dives at Lighthouse Bommie, Steve's Bommie and Andy's Postcard, there were many incredible sighting such as leafy scorpionfish, turtles, olive green sea snakes, mantis shrimp and even a very rare Rhinopias (leafy scorpionfish).

Finishing the trip with our aussie bbq and Spoilsports party night. Lots of laughs were had and a good time enjoyed by everyone.

Guest Comments :

Silvo Loomet, Estonia "Crew was very nice and friendly, equipment was good, diving spots were great...good boat...thank you!"

Linda Harris, USA "I thought it was wonderful"

Phillip Erstrom, Sweden "The fact that there was a photo competition on board got me to put even more effort into my shots!"

Spoilsport - 15th May, 2008

Written by Trip Director - Kerrin Jones

For this week long expedition we welcomed aboard a group of eleven divers from Galaxsea Divers in the UK, along with other guests from Germany, Canada and the USA. The trip got off to a great start wuth a close encounter with a couple of minke whales on our second dive of the trip. We are just coming up to the time of the year when these friendly and inquisitive whales approach boats and divers, a great experience for everyone.

Two days were spent diving Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea which provided divers with sheer walls rising from the depths covered in colourful soft corals and sea fans with plenty of great fish life. An added bonus this week was having shark researcher Dr. Dean Miller onbobard, collecting data on the movements of tagged sharks at Osprey Reef. Dean also gave a very interesting talk about his research which greatly increased everyone's appreciation of their diving at Osprey Reef.

Other underwater highlights of this trip included a tawny nurse shark, pygmy seahorses, rhinopias (or lacy scorpionfish), eagle rays and hammerhead sightings.

Guest Comments :

Sue Norman, UK "Diversity of dive sites, general organisation and healthy & safety attention and great customer service was all excellent."

Paul Whitby, UK "The boat and crew are superb, of course!! Thanks."

DAvid Rossman, USA " The best thing about the expedition - the ability to experience multiple world-class dive sites in a short period of time... in comfort!"

Spoilsport - 22nd May, 2008

Written by Trip Director - Kerrin Jones

Divers enjoyed a fantastic dive trip this expedition with some of the best diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Dive highlights included an eagle ray sighting at Fanbelt, some close encounters with olive sea snakes at Tabletops and Lighthouse Bommie and several Greay Reef Sharks spotted at the corner of the Cod Hole.

Guests also enjoyed our onboard Reef Ecology Program to increase divers awareness of local marine life. The end of the trip was celebrated with a barbecue and party night, followed by the trip underwater digital photo contest and trip video.

Guest Comments :

Ruth Bolles, USA - "The divemasters were very helpful. I am a new diver and the staff was so patient and always available to assist and dive with us. A BIG thank you for that!"

Jay Westenkof, USA - "Great staff, great boat"

Giorgio DIani, Italy - "What was the best thing about the expedition? Crew, good feeling, quality service offered"

Spoilsport - 26th May, 2008

Written by Trip Director - Kerrin Jones

Thsi trip began with a visit to scenic Lizard Island, Monday afternoon and night were spent diving the Cod hole. Divers enjoyed close encoutners with huge Potato Cod and saw lots of white-tip reef sharks and grey reef sharks.

Two Towers provided sightings of sea snakes, turtles and dog-tooth tuna, while Pixie Pinnacle presented dives with a variety of nudibranchs flame file shells and mantis shrimp.

Another great trip!

Guest Comments :

Mary Ann Hollick, USA - "Your excellent staff who really made our trip outstanding. The video pro Laurence was so excellent. Best video in 7 liveaboards. Kerrin dive trip director, excellent and so much enthusiasm"

Ray Jakubczak, USA - " Enthusiastic crew. Great video. Great food. Vickie and Hanna really looked after the cabins well. Laurence was very helpful with photos."

Vikki Sercombe, UK - "The friendliness of the crew, the relaxed atmosphere and the professionalism. The food was excellent and all in all the trip was very comfortbale. I thouroughly enjoyed it."

Spoilsport - 29th May, 2008

Written by Trip Director - Kerrin Jones

Divers had a range of fantastic diving with two days spent on some of the best sites on the Great Barrier Reef and one day at Osprey Reef. Great Barrier Reef highlights included sightings of the very rare Rhinopias (or lacy scorpionfish), and at the Cod Hole one very luck group of divers were visited by a few dolphins as they made their way down to see the pygmy seahorses.

Osprey Reef provided a hammerhead shark sighting, great visibility and sheer walls covered in soft corals. At this week's shark attraction the resident silvertips got more involved in the feed than ever before giving divers a great view of these magnificent animals.

Guest Comments :

Andrew Paton, Australia - " Diving No.1, Hospitaltiy No.1, Staff No.1, Equipment No.1, Atmosphere No.1, FOOD No.1, dive instructor legends, keep up the top work."

Colin Bell, Australia - "The diving was very enjoybale because the staff go out of their way to make everything so easy."

Graham Link, UK - "Extremely professional crew that made the trip a pleasure. Excellent dive sites. Complete relaxation."