Macro Shootout Expedition

The Macro Shootout showcases the best of the Great Barrier Reef featuring:

• A spectacular low-flying start to Lizard Island. (Luggage)
• Guaranteed access to restricted dive sites.
• All dives over 100 miles north of Cairns.
• 50% reduced cruise time and within sheltered waters.
• Macro photography coaching by Damien Siviero.
• Ribbon Reef’s – Best fish & coral biodiversity.
  Cod Hole, Snake Pit, Lighthouse Bommie & Pixie Pinnacle.
  Goggle Gardens, Blue Lagoon, Flare Point & Trolly Shoals.
  Steve’s Bommie, best fish biodiversity.

4 Night Shark Shooter Expedition precedes the 3 Night Macro Shootout. Damien Siviero runs daily workshops for you to capture that iconic shark shot. For more details click here Shark Shooter Expedition.

Get Spoilt:

Spoilsport is Australia’s most awarded liveaboard.
Enjoy sumptuous cuisine and a superb combination of diver conveniences, space & stability.

Weather:
Spoilsport’s favourite dive locations will be selected should weather force an itinerary change.

Macro Shootout Expedition

The Ribbon Reefs sites of best biodiversity gives you the opportunity to photograph pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, mantis shrimp. As well as the not so small critters at the world famous Cod Hole.

Getting that iconic Macro Shot

Your underwater photography coach is the award winning Damien Siviero. An accomplished technical and recreational diver with a passion for the underwater world, Damien will coach you on his techniques to achieve that iconic macro shot.

What awaits you?

Imagine yourself on a spectacular ‘flying start’ to Lizard Island. On the way you will have a birds-eye view of the Great Barrier Reef. Half of your 150 mile flight is at a very low 180 metres (600ft) above the sites you will dive along the Great Barrier Reef’s continental shelf. A truly spectacular beginning to your expedition.

Lizard Island

See where the famous English navigator James Cook climbed in 1770 to find a way out of the labyrinth of reefs. Naturalist Joseph Banks lamented that he had too little time to study the wealth of strange creatures he saw in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Will you have time to record the wealth of creatures you find?

The turquoise chain of Ribbon Reefs

This 55 mile chain of reefs from Lizard Island to Cooktown is the most prized dive region of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Marine life encounters range from pygmy seahorses to manta rays and whales. The Great Barrier Reef has 9 species of anemone fish, 43 species of butterfly fish, 1001 species of nudibranch, and 6 of the world’s 7 turtle species.

Diver size fish at the Cod Hole!

The Cod Hole is home to a family of ‘diver sized’ potato cod; incredibly inquisitive and often boisterous, these beautiful fish will wow you with their mere presence. Fantastic close up photographs or simply hanging out, either way you’ll be left with an indelible impression of these magnificent characters.

Snake Pit - Ribbon Reefs - GBR

An isolated platform reef shoaling up to form a number of deep coral bommies festooned with multi coloured crinoids. Olive sea snakes are commonly found and are both very curious and very complacent, allowing the more adventurous diver and photographer to get very close indeed!

Lighthouse Bommie - Ribbon Reefs - GBR

Big schools of brightly coloured yellow and blue snapper cruise the top of an adjacent reef, while numerous species of anemone fish have also made it their home. During minke whale season (June to August) this is one of the best spots to see these magnificent creatures.

Goggle Gardens - Ribbon Reefs - GBR

Goggle Gardens is a diverse site requiring more than one dive; spectacular coral formations rise from the depths of the ancient ‘starky river’ adorning walls, bommies and sandy flats to the reef edge crevasses.

Steve’s Bommie - Ribbon Reefs - GBR

On the final day, you will find yourself at one of the Great Barrier Reef’s best and most popular sites, Steve’s Bommie. This site is a photographers dream! It’s hard to put into the words the quantity and variety of Great Barrier Reef fish and corals that you will see here. A showcase of the best of the best.

Returning to Cairns

Disembark Thursday 8:00am at Trinity Wharf, Cairns.

Courtesy transfers are provided from the vessel to the Mike Ball office, inner city hotel locations and the Cairns Domestic and International Airports.

Dive Site Guarantee!

Spoilsport’s outstanding stability minimizes disruption to your itinerary and your scuba diving experience. If weather forces an itinerary change we divert to the best, ‘safe, accessible sites’ to ensure you get the best scuba diving available. 9% of Coral Sea itineraries are diverted to the Great Barrier Reef.

All itinerary details are subject to change, specific marine life cannot be guaranteed.

Expedition prices, per person in Australian dollars.

EMC $7.00/day
Fuel Levy $0

Rates include:

• Accommodation in twin/double cabins
• Delicious meals & snacks, wine and soft drink are included with the evening meal
• Tanks, air fills and weight belt
• Daily cabin service
• Reef ecology programme
• Dive computer workshop
• Transfer to the airport or Cairns hotel after your expedition
• Scenic flight Cairns to Lizard Island

Please note that the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority requires us to collect an Environmental Management Charge of $6.50 per day spent on the Great Barrier Reef.  This amount will be added to your bar bill at the end of your expedition. Click on the links here for extras such as dive courses, photo services and gear hire, plus discounts available. Premium – queen or double bed, private bathroom, ocean views. Standard – twin beds, private bathroom, ocean views. Club – twin bunk beds, private bathroom, no ocean view. Budget – twin bunk beds, share bathroom, no ocean view.

Itinerary

Sample itinerary, subject to change based on conditions.

Monday:  (2 dives + night dive)

• Check in at our office (3 Abbott St, Cairns) between 6:30 and 7am.
• 7:15 am:  Transfer to Cairns Airport.
• 8.00 am:  Board a light aircraft for a low level flight over the reef to Lizard Island (flight time approx. 1 hour).
• Board Spoilsport mid-morning where you will be served drinks and snacks while our Trip Director gives you a welcome briefing.
• Time to organise any rental equipment and put your dive gear together on the dive deck.
• 12:45 pm: Dive brief and dive
• 2:00 pm:  Lunch
• 3:45 pm:  Dive brief and dive
• 4:45 pm:  Afternoon tea
• 6:00 pm:  Dive brief and night dive
• 8:00 pm:  Dinner

Tuesday:  (4 dives + night dive) This is a sample of a ‘typical day’, however exact times may vary to optimise the prevailing weather conditions on the day.

• 6:30 am: Wake up call, light breakfast available in dining room.
• 7:00 am: Dive brief & diving commences.
• 9:00 am: Full cooked breakfast.
• 10:30 am: Dive brief & diving. “Open decks” accommodate 1-2 dives either am or pm.
• 2:00 pm: Lunch
• 3:30 pm: Dive brief & diving
• 4:30 pm: Afternoon tea
• 6:30 pm: Night dive brief & dive
• 8:00 pm: Dinner

Wednesday:  (4 dives)

• As per above. Exit last dive 5pm.
• As the sun sets we pour the champagne, lay out the nibbles and get ready for an Aussie BBQ party night. Don’t forget to wear your loudest tropical shirt or dress and sing along to music played by our talented crew.
• Spoilsport cruises back to Cairns overnight.

Thursday:

• Early morning docking.
• 7.00 am: Light breakfast.
• 8:00 am: Disembark and courtesy transfer to Cairns inner city hotels, the airport or our office where we can store your luggage until 5pm if you have a later flight.

Important:

• We recommend that you allow 24 hours between your last dive and your onward flight (all diving is finished by 5pm Wednesday).

• A luggage allowance applies to the flight from Cairns to Lizard Island:
  • 25kg / 55lb per person plus 3kg / 6.5lb – carry on.
  • An additional 10kg/22lb is allowed for professional photo/video housed systems.