Spoilsport Liveaboard, Australia

Name: Northern Exposure – Southbound (Horn Island - Cairns)
Start: 2026-12-03
End: 2026-12-10
Location: Australia

9.2 Superb

Nitrox available
Naturalist Guide
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers

from $ 406 / day Check dates

“Great crew who attended to every detail of comfort, safety and service with high professional standards.”
BRIAN D, Australia

Highlights

Australia’s most awarded liveaboard dive boat
Twin hull design to increase stability and reduce motion onboard
Swim with dwarf minke whales in June & July

The MV Spoilsport liveaboard is an award winning vessel which was custom built to explore the uncrowded dive sites of the Coral Sea. The twin hull design of the boat increases stability making for smooth sailing year-round. On board there are 4 cabin standards to cater to differing budgets, from the budget cabins with twin bunk beds to the premium cabins with double beds and ocean views.

The on board dining experience includes chef prepared meals with freshly sourced produce from sustainable resources from both land and sea. A wide variety of dietary requirements can be catered to, including vegetarian and vegan, which are served at the indoor salon and dining room. There is a large sun deck on the upper deck with a partially shaded area and comfortable loungers.

Guests can enjoy world-class diving on the Great Barrier Reef and in the Coral Sea with the Spoilsport Australia. Itineraries include the 5-night Coral Sea & Cod Hole trip, the 6-night Yongala & Coral Sea trip for adventure diving the SS Yongala Wreck; Wheeler, Holmes & Flinders Reef, 3, 4 & 7 night fly dive expeditions as well as the limited minke whale trips.

Call us or book online today to start planning your Coral Sea dive liveaboard aboard the Spoilsport yacht.

Please note that the 3 and 4 night itineraries can be extended to 7 night trips.

Choose your departure date

Date

Itinerary

Price

Select

17 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,033

FULL

17 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,443

FULL

21 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,795

FULL

24 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,033

FULL

24 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,443

FULL

28 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,795

FULL

01 Oct

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,033

FULL

01 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,443

FULL

05 Oct

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,795

FULL

22 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,480

FULL

29 Oct

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,033

FULL

29 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,443

FULL

Included: VAT, Port Fees, Local Flights, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Wine with Dinner, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Land Excursions, Naturalist Guide, Cabin Towels.

Required Extras: Fuel Surcharge (AUD20 / night), National Park Fees (AUD8 / day).

Optional Extras: Alcoholic Beverages, Soft drinks, Nitrox (AUD30 / day), Nitrox Course (AUD310 / item), Private Dive Guide (AUD350 / activity), Rental Gear (AUD44 / day), Scuba Diving Courses (AUD280-310 / item), Snorkel Gear.

Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.

* Extra fees are shown per person.

Pay by bank transfer or online with

Best Price Guaranteed

Boat features

Naturalist Guide
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers
Air Conditioned saloon
Sun Deck
Camera Station
Seaview Cabins
Non-Smoking Rooms
Custom built for diving
Charging stations
Indoor Saloon
Outdoor Dining
Observation Deck
BBQ Area
Available for Charter
Local & International Crew
Separate Rinse for u/w Camera
Leisure Deck
Daily housekeeping
Naturalist Guide

Food & Drinks

Free Wine w/Dinner
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Beer available
Wine Available
Full-board Option
Fine Wines Selection
Buffet style
Western Food
Local Food
Set Menu Dinner

If you have any specific dietary requirements whilst on-board your cruise, you can add this to your special requests on step 2 of the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.

Diving

Nitrox available
Shaded Diving Area
DIN Adaptors
Tech diving
Rebreather Support
Rinse Hoses
Dive deck
Tenders for diving
Sidemount Diving

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English.

Gear Rental

Equipment is available for rent on this boat. Please provide your rental needs on the booking form. If the rental gear is not included in the price, you will need to pay for it on board the boat. Show prices

Drawings & Vessel Layouts

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Year built: 1990

Year renovated: 2014

Length: 30 meters

Beam: 10.5 meters

Top speed: 15 knots

Cruising speed: 10 knots

Engines: 2 x 354 KW Detroit 60 series

Max guests: 28

Number of cabins: 14

Number of bathrooms: 14

Tenders: 2 inflatables

Water capacity: 8000 liters

Fuel capacity: 12'000 liters

Freshwater maker: 10'00 liters per day

Boat navigation and safety

Radar
GPS
Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
E.P.I.R.B. Distress System
Emergency Rafts
Life Vests
Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
Oxygen
First Aid Kits
Satellite & mobile phones
Bilge pump alarm
Search light
Crew trained in first aid
Emergency flares

Spoilsport Reviews

9.2 Superb

Vessel

8.9
Crew

9.3
Food

9.8
Diving

9.4
Value

8.8

8.8 Fabulous
Alexander W
United States

Excellent diving trip with mix of inner and outer barrier reef dive spots!
Very well-run and efficient crew! Exceptional dive sites, accommodating crew, and good food. Quarters were comfortable. They had the small extra features that make the trip better - water showers off the stern, and compressed air nozzles to dry camera gear after washing.
Recommended for
Quantity and ease of diving. Knowledgeable dive guides. No additional passenger pick-ups or drop offs - trip fully dedicated to diving.
06 Sep, 2026

10 Exceptional
Gerald B
Canada

Fantastic in every way!
Staff were very professional. Very impressed with commitment to procedures and safety. Experience excellent in all respects. Highly recommended.
Recommended for
Professionalism, Great Staff, Great Hospitality
11 May, 2016

10 Exceptional
Anne D
United States

Amazing first time liveaboard experience!
We loved the advanced course with Joe. Our diving greatly improved! Will was a great trip director - made it all fun, safe and easy. Bobbie is an amazing chef - the food variety was hard to believe. Julie’s photography and fish lectures were fantastic bonuses! We hope to return!
Recommended for
Dive sites, crew and food
07 Dec, 2019

10 Exceptional
Niccolo C
Switzerland

Can't wait to come back for another trip
Outstanding diving paired with a very friendly and cool crew. I very much enjoyed the diving as buddy pairs without guide. I would rate the diving on the outer reef sites slightly higher than on the ribbon reefs but both are very good. Another positive little detail is that dinner is served after the night dive so one can enjoy the outstanding food. The chef deserves an award for her cooking!
Recommended for
Food was outstanding. Friendly and very cool crew. Great diving on the outer reefs.
19 Nov, 2024

9.6 Exceptional
Francis R
Belgium

Awesome diving experience
From the first moment, everything was perfect! Awesome flight over the reef, super friendly staff, amazing diving spots, really the whole package. Will go diving with Mike Ball again for sure!
Recommended for
Diving spots - friendly crew - food
02 Mar, 2020

9.2 Superb
Russell H
United States

Spoilsport crew took great care of us!!!
The variety of each of the dive sites. The night dives were fantastic with lots of sharks and trevally coming out to feed. The vast diversity of the fish and coral species.
Recommended for
Helpfulness of the crew, amazing dive sites and the boat's amenities.
13 Dec, 2016

9.6 Exceptional
Ngung Chia S
Singapore

Minke Minke every where
Saw Minke Whale 3 days in the 8D7N expedition. Some excellent diving sites e.g. lighthouse bommie. Rough sea due to strong wind but trip is comfortable because of excellent crew and food. Cabin is above average with adequate storage space for luggage and good air conditioner. Very detail dive briefing, making unguided dive not a problem. They also provide two complimentary guided dive per day for those that need them. Professional organisation on dive deck. Bonus information on marine life and minke whales from researcher on boat. Provide drop off service in Cairns area.
Recommended for
Minke Whale, Crew, Diving
22 Jul, 2019

9.6 Exceptional
Cesar A
Spain

Wonderfull
LOVE from the crew,diving and food
Recommended for
Crew,nature and sea
27 Aug, 2023

10 Exceptional
Rowen T
Australia

World class diving
Excellent trip on Spoilsport - diving was amazing, crew was awesome and food was beautiful! Loved that there was an ecologist on board and BBQ night
Recommended for
Diving. Food. Crew.
23 May, 2026

10 Exceptional
Colin Z
United States

Excellent Trip in Maldives with Scubaspa
the small crew and passengers on the boat which made it great to make new friendships. the diving team was great and thorough with their itineraries. saw amazing aquatic life and sceneries there. highly recommended!
Recommended for
friendly crew, best dive team, and great food!
06 Dec, 2017

229 reviews

9.2 Superb
229 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

9.6 Exceptional
TAKASHI H
Japan

Diving paradise
The diving style followed the basic buddy system, and each dive lasted about an hour, which allowed me to take my time observing and photographing marine life. We did up to five dives a day, making it an ideal experience for anyone who can’t get enough of diving. During the surface intervals, I also flew my drone and captured the stunning scenery of the Great Barrier Reef. It truly was a perfect holiday.
Recommended for
Wonderful meal. Cheerful and friendly staff. The diving activities are carried out with a strong focus on ensuring safety..
27 Jan, 2026

9.2 Superb
Kathryn C
New Zealand

Swimming with 20+ minke whales, sharks, sea turtles & more!
Swimming with large groups of minke whales was incredible - they come so close to divers and snorkelers. The coral reefs are vibrant and full of sharks, fish, macro life and turtles. Incredible GBR outer-reef diving and the crew were so helpful and fun.
Recommended for
Minke whales, bull sharks, pygmy seahorses
16 Jul, 2019

9.6 Exceptional
Eglys V
Canada

Come dive with Spoilsport
Overal great experience. Very lovely boat
Recommended for
The diving sports. The equipment. The food.
24 Dec, 2025

10 Exceptional
Robert B
United States

Hands down, the best dive experience I've had around the world since I got certified in 1984!
My wife and I enjoyed the unique dive sites that the divemaster picked so that we could observe different formations and wildlife. Moving the boat at noon and over night allowed us to experience many different sites with no wasted travel time. Allowing those that choose to explore on their own was fantastic, but also offering up crew to lead a guided tour with those that felt more comfortable with guides was nice. I always judge an outfit by their attention to detail and their safety procedures. The Spoilsport was the best I've experienced. The pre-dive briefings by the divemaster including the use of a white board was very professional. The four tiered safety system in place for every dive - a lookout on the top deck, each diver carrying an inflatable neon safety sausage, and each diver carrying the duel use transmitter (one channel diver to ship, and another channel diver to Coast Guard) was very comforting. To me, everything after the above is just icing on the cake. The Spoilsport certainly added several layers of icing. The cabins were clean and adequate. The food was varied and amazing every day. Snacks were available throughout. The sitting area was great and really allowed all the divers and staff to mingle and socialize. It was nice to have the stand-alone computers available so everyone could share their photos. And, of course, the last night's massive BBQ was incredible and a great way to wrap of an amazing experience. I have and would highly recommend the Spoilsport to anyone who loves diving. Rob Born, Sacramento, Ca.
Recommended for
The unique dive sites, the professional crew and the social experience.
06 Dec, 2017

9.6 Exceptional
Sherry W
United States

The minke whales made for an unforgettable trip.
The minke whales coming so close and spending so much time with us was absolutely the highlight. The crew was really good at spotting them and immediately altering plans/dropping the float lines. The crew was always helpful and friendly. It was a fun trip
Recommended for
Whale encounters, informative evening presentations, flying back to Cairns.
06 Jul, 2016

8.8 Fabulous
Andreas M
Belgium

Awsome
Awsome crew, awsome meals, awsome service!
Recommended for
Crew, service, meals
28 May, 2019

10 Exceptional
Brian V
United States

These memories will last a lifetime and will always be at the top of the list!
My trip was full of amazing people and experiences! The scuba diving was safe and exciting. The boat (Spoilsport) was clean, well staffed with amazing food every meal. The crew were warm and friendly, extremely helpful and kept everyone very involved in the process.
Recommended for
The friends I made on the trip, the scuba diving and crew, the amazing food!
30 Oct, 2018

9.6 Exceptional
Hei Man C
Hong Kong

You will never regret it! :)
Mike Ball Spoilsport really lives up to its name. Our minke whale expedition is superb! We have numerous whale encounters every day. We even swam with sea turtles! No matter you’re a diver or a snorkeler, you will surely be having tons of fun.
Recommended for
Whale encounters, friendly and professional staff, food
17 Jun, 2019

9.6 Exceptional
Ray S
United States

Amazing trip!
The crew of the Spoilsport ran a very professional, well-organized and diverse diving experience. The trip went above and beyond our expectations. The sites and dive masters catered to divers of all levels and put safety first. Guides were available to point out unusual sights/species during each dive. Professional photographer present to capture highlights of each dive. Friendly staff that fostered an environment of cooperation and commraderie among the guests. Experience of a lifetime and highly recommended to anyone interested in diving the Great Barrier Reef!
Recommended for
Great crew, super diving, delicious dining!
16 Apr, 2018

10 Exceptional
Jane D
Australia

Exceeded my expectations
This trip was amazing. The team on Spoilsport were first class. The diving was amazing, the cabins were comfortable and kept very clean. I absolutely loved this liveaboard.
Recommended for
The crew. The dive sites. The company on board.
06 Oct, 2024

9.2 Superb
Anna R
Spain

Best crew
The first liveaboard of many!The team is exceptional, and the choir of the GBR stunning. The scenic flight to Lizard Island also makes it special.For beginners, not all dives are with an instructor/dive master, but being easy spots helps to gain confidence.Repeat!
Recommended for
Crew, comfort, safety
25 Aug, 2023

Translated from Spanish

10 Exceptional
Eric L
United States

This was the best dive trip I have ever been on, and I cannot wait for the next experience with SpoilSport!
Getting up close and personal with the Dwarf Minke Whales was incredible along with the evening commentary from Dr Allister Burris about what we saw and what it meant to science. The dive briefings from Kristy were spot on and quite informative of what we would see, and where we would see it. The crew was like a well oiled machine in the way that they worked together so well and anticipated our every need. Every day of diving just got better and better. And after diving - we were fed quite well!!
Recommended for
The best things about this experience were diving with the whales, the time spent with an experienced and highly professional crew, and of course the awesome food 3 times a day!
16 Jul, 2019

8.0 Very good
Emanuele P
Switzerland

Top
Very nice diving sites and marine life. Top crew
Recommended for
Crew courtesy and professionalism. Diving sites. amenities on board/ food.
03 Oct, 2025

10 Exceptional
David H
United States

Great experience
The staff had a great family vibe that put everyone at ease. Great diving locations and plenty to experience. I signed up for 3D/3N trip and didn't want it to end. Met great people to dive with during the trip.
Recommended for
Staff knowledge, family atmosphere, very safety conscious
20 Sep, 2016

8.8 Fabulous
FRANCESCO G
Australia

Awesome diving and great crew
Night Dives were awesome. Most day dives were excellent. Food was unbelievable and the crew were friendly, knowledgeable and extremely helpful and considerate.
Recommended for
Food Night Dives Crew
12 Jul, 2021

9.6 Exceptional
Mei G
Australia

Most amazing trip ever!
I can’t put into words how amazing this experience was. It was my first liveaboard and it was so incredible! Everything about it. The crew were so fantastic. They were absolute pros and the focus on safety was second to none.
Recommended for
Amazing crew. Food. Great group.
23 Sep, 2025

9.6 Exceptional
Maximilian David C
Switzerland

An asolutely perfect trip z
It was a great trip for us!The crew is just not only good, they were fantastic. Familiar, friendly and uncomplicated.The lowest cabin category is so-so, but all the higher categories are wonderful.The diving is a little different than on other boats. You often dive without a guide. No problem for experienced divers. Great explanation of the dive sites. SAFETY IS THE TOP PRIORITY FOR THE OPERATOR! :-)
Recommended for
The staff was great. Thanks to the catamaran, it is a quieter boat. Dive sites in the Coral Sea.
26 Jan, 2026

Translated from German

9.6 Exceptional
Louise H
United Kingdom

Great diving in a relaxed and fun environment
Great diving in a relaxed and fun environment
Recommended for
Crew, diving, other divers
28 Mar, 2016

9.6 Exceptional
Jörg A
Germany

The best liveaboard experience I've ever had.
The crew was very friendly und highly professional. The daily schedule on board, including the preperation and support during the dives, was perfectly organized. High safety standards, excellent food, and fantastic dive sites made this liveaboard an unforgettable experience.
Recommended for
Great Dive Sites. Perfect Organization. Crew Service and Food onboard.
24 Aug, 2026

10 Exceptional
Zachary R
United States

Exceeded expectations and the absolute best way to experience the Great Barrier Reef.
The night dive in Gotham was unreal, so much activity and so many sharks made this the best night dive I have ever been on. Everything about the trip was perfect, from the low altitude plane ride over the reef to the food served constantly throughout the day. One of the best parts was the fact that they catered to my party's different levels of dive experience and did everything imaginable to make the trip a one of a kind experience. Furthermore, the personalty of the crew was top notch as they knew when to be serious, but more importantly, they were extremely laid back and helped remind us that we're in one of the best spots in the world to go diving and diving should be fun.
Recommended for
The a sheer number of dives, the biodiversity, the one-on-one expertise given by the crew
03 Apr, 2017