Liveaboard Australia reputable company

[tarponchik]

That's plain misinformation.

Mike Ball (Spoilsport) and Spirit of Freedom are the go-to liveaboards out of Cairns, and both have been running for more than 20 years. They both typically run 7-8 days trips, some of which you can disembark half way for an island flight back.

There are also a handful of other liveaboards that typically run 2-3 night trips, which all go to the outer reef, but not as far north as the longer trips.

We were not able to find info on Spoilsport back then. As for the "7-8 days trips", our trip was just 4 days of diving (11.21-24.2019). We started at the island and ended in Cairns. So you are essentially repeating what I've said.

 

[tarponchik]

BTW, if you start at Cairns, I strongly recommend driving south to dive Yongala wreck. This is a dive to die for, easily one of the top 10 in the world. Do this either before or after LVB, does not matter. Book a cabin at Avla Beach park to dive early in the morning with local dive shop. This is about an hour ride on a speedboat, 2 tank dive.

 

[stiebs]

We were not able to find info on Spoilsport back then. As for the "7-8 days trips", our trip was just 4 days of diving (11.21-24.2019). We started at the island and ended in Cairns. So you are essentially repeating what I've said.

No, I'm not repeating what you said. Mike Ball's Spoilsport is *the* premier GBR liveaboard, and has been since the 1990's. If you couldn't find Spoilsport in 2019, you weren't looking very hard!!

You also implied that they run short trips of 3-4 days, and you can do 2 or more together. When actually, the trips are usually 7-8 days, and run from Cairns up north to Lizard Island and back. For the "short" trips you essentially cut the itenary in half by either starting or ending the trip at Lizard Island.

BTW, if you start at Cairns, I strongly recommend driving south to dive Yongala wreck. This is a dive to die for, easily one of the top 10 in the world. Do this either before or after LVB, does not matter. Book a cabin at Avla Beach park to dive early in the morning with local dive shop. This is about an hour ride on a speedboat, 2 tank dive.

You should probably also mention that it's a 5-hr drive from Cairns to Alva Beach where the Yongala is.

SoF. They are the only LVB that goes to the outer reef (or, at least they were in 2019)

It's great that you want to help out with what you know, but don't state your incomplete knowledge/awareness as fact when it isn't.

 

[tarponchik]

No, I'm not repeating what you said. Mike Ball's Spoilsport is *the* premier GBR liveaboard, and has been since the 1990's. If you couldn't find Spoilsport in 2019, you weren't looking very hard!!

You also implied that they run short trips of 3-4 days, and you can do 2 or more together. When actually, the trips are usually 7-8 days, and run from Cairns up north to Lizard Island and back. For the "short" trips you essentially cut the itenary in half by either starting or ending the trip at Lizard Island.



You should probably also mention that it's a 5-hr drive from Cairns to Alva Beach where the Yongala is.



It's great that you want to help out with what you know, but don't state your incomplete knowledge/awareness as fact when it isn't.

Yes, I implied this and stand correct. I do not think it makes any difference for the end users if they can start at Cairns and end at the island, or vice versa, or do a back to back if they wish. Just FYI, on our SoF trip only 2 divers were continuing, everybody else flew to the island and disembarked at Cairns. I have no regrets we did it this way because the flight on the small plane over the coast offered spectacular views, and 4 days of diving GBR were enough for us.

As for the Alva Beach, I assumed the TS knows how to use google maps.

 

[Tina L]

Both Spoilsport and Spirit of Freedom to Coral Sea trips, and both offer fly/dive packages, which is cruise Cairns to Lizard Island and fly back, or the other way around.

Both vessels only have twin share, no singles, and highly unlikely they'll want you sleeping in the lounge.

They also both often book out well in advance.

Thank you, I’m trying to book it out well in advance. I wonder if I’ll get too tired if I do both the live aboard and Lady Elliott. I might want to make a management decision decision and do one of the other. Does anybody have advice?

 

[Tina L]

BTW, if you start at Cairns, I strongly recommend driving south to dive Yongala wreck. This is a dive to die for, easily one of the top 10 in the world. Do this either before or after LVB, does not matter. Book a cabin at Avla Beach park to dive early in the morning with local dive shop. This is about an hour ride on a speedboat, 2

No, I'm not repeating what you said. Mike Ball's Spoilsport is *the* premier GBR liveaboard, and has been since the 1990's. If you couldn't find Spoilsport in 2019, you weren't looking very hard!!

You also implied that they run short trips of 3-4 days, and you can do 2 or more together. When actually, the trips are usually 7-8 days, and run from Cairns up north to Lizard Island and back. For the "short" trips you essentially cut the itenary in half by either starting or ending the trip at Lizard Island.



You should probably also mention that it's a 5-hr drive from Cairns to Alva Beach where the Yongala is.



It's great that you want to help out with what you know, but don't state your incomplete knowledge/awareness as fact when it isn't.

 

[Tina L]

I wasn’t even aware of the famous wreck dive. It will take a long time to get to Lady Elliott too. Maybe that’s a better Dive than Lady Elliot. Thank you very much. It will certainly be a different Dive.

 

[Tina L]

No, I'm not repeating what you said. Mike Ball's Spoilsport is *the* premier GBR liveaboard, and has been since the 1990's. If you couldn't find Spoilsport in 2019, you weren't looking very hard!!

You also implied that they run short trips of 3-4 days, and you can do 2 or more together. When actually, the trips are usually 7-8 days, and run from Cairns up north to Lizard Island and back. For the "short" trips you essentially cut the itenary in half by either starting or ending the trip at Lizard Island.



You should probably also mention that it's a 5-hr drive from Cairns to Alva Beach where the Yongala is.



It's great that you want to help out with what you know, but don't state your incomplete knowledge/awareness as fact when it isn't.

I appreciate both of you. Thank you very much.

 

[Tina L]

I can do mantas in Mexico. That’s really close to home. I think the wreck dive would be great. Driving in Australia might be cool if the scenery is nice.

 

[Pressurehead]

You should probably also mention that it's a 5-hr drive from Cairns to Alva Beach where the Yongala is.

It should be on every serious divers 'bucket list', just be aware , it is VERY weather dependent.

Edit: I have been there when it would be the best dive in the world, calm, fantastic vis and large sea life.
And when it was rough, poor vis and half the boat was sea sick.