Mike Ball Dive Expeditions Fact File

1. 1969Started Dive School in Townsville. First Australian dive school to use cylinder pressure gauges and BCD’s.
2. 1977Introduced the first dive skins/stinger suits to diving.
3. 1981Acquires the world’s first custom built twin hull dive vessel – ‘Watersport’. Built Australia’s most hi-tech dive shop and training facility.
4. 1986Built ‘Supersport’ – to expand service to Coral Sea.
5. 1989Built ‘Spoilsport’ – internationally credited as world’s best liveaboard.
6. 1990Expanded operations to Cairns.
7. 1997Purchased Bob and Dinah Halstead’s Telita.  Expanded operations into Papua New Guinea.  World’s first formal Solo Diving program.  Introduced 5 star liveaboard service to Papua New Guinea with Paradise Sport.
8. 2000Centralised operations at Cairns head office.
9. 2004Inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame at Grand Cayman Island.
10. 2005Introduced photo competition on every departure.
11. 2006Replaced Supersport in Cairns with Spoilsport.
12. 2007Closed Papua New Guinea service after 10 great years. Achieves advanced Ecotourism accreditation.
13. 2008Announces new rebreather service
14. 2009Celebrates 40 years of service to the diving industry.
15. 2014Foundation member of Global Shark Diving.
16. 2017Celebrates 20 years of offering Solo Diving to guests.
17. 2019Celebrates 50 Years – Five Decades of Diving.
18. 2020Managed to navigate the Pandemic and continued to run weekly departures.

Awards

1. 1977Royal Humane Society Award
2. 1988Royal Humane Society Award
3. 1993Australian Tourism Awards: Award of Distinction Tour Operator Queensland Tourism Awards: Best Tour Operator Suncorp Tourism Awards: Best Tour Operator Dive Industry Trade & Travel Association: Scuba Excellence Award
4. 1994Rodale’s: Spoilsport Favourite Liveaboard – Top 5
   Rodale’s: Spoilsport Most Environmentally Sensitive – 1st Place
   Rodale’s: Supersport Best Food – Top 5
   Rodale’s: Supersport Favourite Liveaboard – Top 5
   Rodale’s: Supersport Most Environmentally Sensitive – Top 5
5. 1995Rodale’s: Spoilsport Favourite Liveaboard – Top 5
   Rodale’s: Spoilsport Most Environmentally Sensitive – Top 5
   Rodale’s: Supersport Favourite Liveaboard – 1st Place
6. 1996Rodale’s: Spoilsport Best Liveaboard – Top 5
   Rodale’s: Spoilsport Best Dive Staff – Top 10
   Rodale’s: Supersport Best Boat – Top 10
   Rodale’s: Supersport Best Value – Top 10
7. 1998Rodale’s: MBDE Best Liveaboard – Top 15
8. 1999Rodale’s: Spoilsport Best Liveaboard – Top 5
   Rodale’s: Spoilsport The Gold List – 1st Place
9. 2000Rodale’s: MBDE Most Popular Liveaboard – Top 15
10. 2001Rodale’s: Paradise Sport Best Liveaboard – Top 10
    Rodale’s: Spoilsport Best Liveaboard – Top 5
11. 2002Rodale’s: Spoilsport Best Liveaboard – Top 10
    Rodale’s: Supersport Best Liveaboard – Top 10
    Rodale’s: Supersport Best Liveaboard Staff – 1st Place
    Dive & Travel Awards: Supersport Best Liveaboard – Top 5
    DAN SEAP: Contribution to DAN Award
12. 2003Rodale’s: Spoilsport Top Liveaboard – Top 10
    Rodale’s: Supersport Top Liveaboard – Top 5
    Rodale’s: Supersport Top Liveaboard Staff – Top 5
13. 2004Octopus: MBDE Organisation of Best Dive Trip.
    Mike Ball: International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.
    Minke Whale Research Awards
14. 2005Minke Whale Research Awards
15. 2006Minke Whale Research Awards
16. 2007Minke Whale Research Awards
17. 2008Fodor’s Choice Award: Fodor’s Travel Choice
    Minke Whale Research Awards
18. 2009SDI/TDI: Outstanding Achievement Award
    Australia’s 20 Best Experiences Awards – Australia’s Best Dive Experience
    PADI: ‘Making Divers Smile Since 1969’ Award.
19. 2013SDI/TDI: Top Performing Facility Award 2013 – Oceania Region.
    Dive Log: Australia’s Best Liveaboard
20. 2014TNQ Tourism Awards. Finalist – Adventure Tourism. QLD Tourism Awards. Silver Award – Adventure Tourism.
    Dive Log: Australia’s Best Liveaboard
21. 2017SDI/TDI: Completing the most Computer Nitrox and Solo Diving Courses in 2017. (Outstanding Instructor Award – Julia Sumerling & Laurence Buckingham)
22. 2020Scuba Diving 2020 Readers Choice Awards: Spoilsport earned five Readers Choice awards among liveaboards in the Pacific and Indian Region and Australia took home five awards of its own among destinations.
23. 2021Scuba Diving 2021 Readers Choice Awards: Spoilsport earned five Readers Choice awards among liveaboards in the Pacific and Indian Region and Australia took home five awards of its own among destinations.
24. 2022Scuba Diving 2022 Readers Choice Awards: Spoilsport earned five Readers Choice awards among liveaboards in the Pacific and Indian Region and Australia took home five awards of its own among destinations.
25. 2023Spoilsport wins the prestigious Travelers’ Choice Award from TripAdvisor! This places us among the top 10% of listings on TripAdvisor, showcasing our commitment to providing exceptional dive experiences and outstanding hospitality.
26. 2024Second straight year Spoilsport wins the prestigious Travelers’ Choice Award from TripAdvisor! This continues to place us among the top 10% of listings on TripAdvisor, showcasing our commitment to providing exceptional dive experiences and outstanding hospitality.