A first timer’s guide to liveaboard diving

Seven days on board a ship in the open sea may be too much for some, but for others it’s the chance to reaffirm their love of the ocean, see every angle of the Great Barrier Reef and spend time with people from all around the world who share your passions: diving, photography and a chance to learn more about this breathtaking natural wonder.

To be able to say you have really seen the Great Barrier Reef and understand how it changes by day and night, in differing tides and in all weather conditions requires the time commitment and consistency of dives that only liveaboard diving can provide.

The outer reefs and beyond

There are three types of reef experience to be had here in Queensland, but on a liveaboard you will be spending most of your time on the outer reefs, far from the site of land.

The first step is to expanding your diving horizons is to understand the types of reef:

• Fringing Reefs – found around the inner islands, perfect for snorkelling and an ideal place for those who wouldn’t consider themselves experts to get exposure to the natural wonders of the reef.
• Coral Cays – formed over thousands of years and scattered throughout the middle reef. This type of reef typically offers sheltered diving with little to no current and calm waters offering the perfect opportunity for less experienced divers to hone their skills and become more confident in the water.
• The Outer Reef and beyond – the dive mecca for enthusiasts on the very edge of the continental shelf. This is where day boats stop and liveaboard expeditions start. Cruising along the steep drop-offs of the Continental Shelf, you will quickly realise that deeper water means bigger fish, adrenaline-packed drift diving and an opportunity to get close to some of the reef’s more elusive species.

Where to go for your liveaboard adventure

Cairns is the home of liveaboard diving in Queensland. A number of operators offer trips between three and 14 days long, heading to some of the most diverse and beautiful parts of the northern Great Barrier Reef.

Offering crystal-clear waters, the outer reefs are home to the greatest diversity of coral, fish and marine life anywhere in the world. Vertigo-inducing sheer walls see the ocean floor dropping away to over 1000 metres deep –  a once-in-a-lifetime sight that will take your breath away.

Joining other underwater explorers, you will eat, sleep and breathe diving for as long or as little as you like.

Perhaps one of the most famous operators in the region, Mike Ball Dive Expeditions have been operating for over 40 years and offer the ultimate liveaboard diving adventure, ideal for first timers..

Life onboard

Onboard Spoilsport, Mike Ball’s ship and your home for this diving adventure, feels more like a floating hotel, complete with a classroom and a dive platform equipped for 28 people.

There is a choice of 14 rooms, from budget bunk cabins with a shared toilet to private queen rooms with an ensuite. Don’t worry about bunking with a roommate if your regular dive buddy isn’t joining you, as you will be spending more time below the waves rather than below decks.

Spoilsport is not short on creature comforts, with hot showers, air-conditioning throughout and rooms serviced daily. You’re sure to work up and appetite diving several times a day, so once you’ve emptied your scuba tank you can refuel on a smorgasbord of chef-prepared food options. 

Life on a liveaboard follows the sun. You’ll be up at dawn for a wake-up dive and to bed a couple of hours after dark. At night, the motion of the ocean rocks you to sleep as softly as a baby’s bassinet (and  sometimes as roughly as a theme-park ride!).

Meet the crew

Along with the chef, who else is along on this adventure with you? Depending on the length of the trip there can be up to 14 staff to ensure your liveaboard is memorable in every way.

The captain and trip director will hop between islands and reefs, cherry-picking sites according to tide and weather allowing you to take the giant stride onto the best dive available. If you are relatively new to diving there are three divemasters to lead groups underwater, along with two general hands who can assist you off and onto the dive platform.

Photo opportunities

Dive liveaboards are home to the most enthusiastic of all divers. Most have their own kit, some bring technical camera equipment, and all seem to talk incessantly about marine life they’ve spotted and close calls with sharks – but their passion for the underwater world is unrivalled.

So even if you end up rooming with a professional cameraman and feel your lack of expertise stands out, it’s actually the perfect place to learn, hone and further your skills. 

When to book a liveaboard?

Any time of the year is perfect for liveaboard diving. As you are far out into the Coral Sea the normal stinger season isn’t an issue and if your book for June–July there is the possibility to snorkel with minke whales on their annual migration.

Keep an eye on special expeditions, such as Mike Ball’s ‘Minke Whale Dive Exhibition’, which run at various times of the year.

Diving gear and equipment

While some divers will bring their own gear, it isn’t a prerequisite to joining a liveaboard trip. Rental options are numerous and weight belts and tanks are supplied on board due to the bulky weight of these items.

And while this is the tropics and the water is warm, if you are spending hours in the water every day it’s advisable to wear a wetsuit. To encourage good diver behaviour, and to protect the fragile reef, a no gloves policy is in place.

Prepare yourself for seven days of exquisite aqua-adventures, eye-to-eye encounters with a huge medley of marine life that will give you goosebumps, and a refreshed love and appreciation for the oceans and the planet’s fragile coral-reef systems.

As you pull into the marina back in Cairns and say your farewells, you'll be left with new friends, an expanded dive log and the satisfaction that comes from knowing you have pushed your diving to the limits.