Mike Ball/Spoilsport Itinerary Decision

[aoshell]

Hello to all! I'm trying to decide on which itinerary to choose for our trip to OZ in March, 2026. We want to do a Mike Ball trip on the Spoilsport. They offer the 5-night "Coral Sea & Cod Hole" and the 7-night "Yongala Wreck & Coral Sea Expedition". We would like the extra 2 days that the 7-night trip gets us, but the route is totally different than the 5-day.

Would we be missing out not going to Osprey reef? The 7-night goes to Holmes & Flinders reefs, which are much closer in than Osprey. Any input appreciated!

 

[MB NZ]

Osprey is head and shoulders above the other reef diving sites, or at least it was 10 years ago, but the Yongala is an awesome dive too. I haven't done the Yongala myself, but everyone raves about it. On balance, I'd go for the 7 night trip.

 

[Damselfish]

I wouldn’t worry about missing Cod Hole, if that is of any concern. We saw 2 cod, one big one getting all the food and bullying a little one. Wasn’t impressed.

 

[clownfishsydney]

Osprey Reef is fantastic but then so is the Yongala. Very hard decision, but I think I would do the Yongala one (I have dived it 10 times) and have also been on the reefs off Townsville which were also very good.

 

[Aquapro Dive Services]

IMO and having done both many times as an instructor up here, do the 5 day Coral Sea and Cod Hole trip then do the Yongala day trip out of Ayr if yr itinerary allows it.
Southern reef dive spots on the Yongala trip and not worth the detour.