409 Dive Log Australasia December 24

Great Barrier Reef on the November

View from the Bridge Trevor Jackson - Spoilsport Skipper www.mikeball.com/blog

PHOTOS FROM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

If angels dared to wet their wings.

Years ago, on a boat that has since sailed into retirement, we had a saying: "Hell Diver." The phrase still pops up now and then in the Spoilsport wheelhouse. It refers to someone like a Navy Seal — a diver with years of experience, exceptional physical fitness, and youthful energy coursing through their veins. No sea too rough, no dive too tough. Got your anchor stuck? Call the Hell Diver. Can’t find the wreck? Hell Diver. You get the idea. I used to fancy myself as a bit of a Hell Diver, but those days are long gone. Now, I prefer a slower pace. I’m no longer charging into 3-knot currents, and my personal depth limit has shrunk to a fraction of what it once was. I’m not alone at this end of the spectrum. There are plenty of like-minded folks — people just starting out, teenagers taking their first plunge, retirees ticking off bucket-list dives. Then there are the 40-somethings rediscovering their love of the ocean from their 20s, and parents sharing the magic of the sea with their kids. Or maybe it’s just someone looking for a good old-fashioned holiday. These divers aren’t after a physical challenge, nor are they out to prove anything. They seek rediscovery, awakening — something that radiates pure joy. They want calm seas, gentle currents, a controlled environment, and, to borrow an Aussie phrase, “No worries.” They don’t aspire to be Hell Divers. Who needs that kind of heat? They prefer cool, calm, and collected. Now, you can find this relaxed style of diving in many places, and it’s damn good, to be honest. But it’s not quite *great*. Think 30-meter visibility, mantas and minkes, postcard-perfect coral, and giant cod. Swell-protected dive sites that are second to none. There’s no substitute for the Ribbons; it’s the ultimate diving experience. We know it, and we want you to experience it too. Next year, Spoilsport is embracing the “work smarter, not harder” approach with a series of 5-night trips straight to this underwater Garden of Eden. We’ll take you to dive icons of biblical proportions: Cod Hole, Steve’s Bommie, Pixie Pinnacle, Lighthouse Bommie, and Crackerjack, all sheltered by the Ribbons. These long, pencil-shaped reefs block out the ocean swell, creating a true oasis of calm. No need for Hell Divers here. If heaven has a place at sea, and if angels dared to wet their wings, the Ribbons would surely be their destination — a paradise waiting to be found. It’s not the Ribbons.

1st. Carlos Donoso-Lillo

3rd. Paul Tan

2nd. Dave Fry

Coral Sea & Great Barrier Reef! The Best Diving on the Dive with giant potato cod, explore deep walls, witness shark action at Osprey Reef.

New Special Expeditions! Check out our website for details.

Ribbon Reefs Suited to both Divers and Snorkelers.

In May 2025, our inaugural Ribbons Only trips begin. We’ll see you there... Amen.

www.mikeball.com T: +61 7 4053 0500 E: resv@mikeball.com #spoilsportlive #mikeballdive

Check out availability of Expeditions on Spoilsport. www.mikeball.com/availability