Coral Sea 2006

Minke Whales and the Coral Sea?

Luke Endacott and Brad Gordon from ADA along with 19 regular customers, have just returned from a great trip to the Outer Great Barrier Reef onboard Mike Ball's Spoilsport. This liveaboard boat is as good as it gets.

We were lucky enough to dive and snorkel with Minke Whales on numerous occasions during the 7 days we were onboard. If you ever get a chance to swim with the Minke Whales - just do it!! What an amazing experience to be in the water with these highly inquisitive whales. They seemed to stay in one place the whole time so every time you entered the water they were there waiting. Unlike other whales I have swum with over the years, the Minkes really seemed to take an interest in everyone in the water

Due to strong winds we did not make it out to the Coral Sea but that did not dampen the enthusiasim - it just meant we got more Minke Whales and the chance to do a number of dives on the world famous Cod Hole. On every dive the Potato Cod behaved for the photographers like supermodels! There is nothing like doing a dive with the feeling that you are been watched and then turning around and seeing a 1.5m long cod staring at you only a meter away!!

Although we were bombarded with strong winds and big swell for the duration of the trip we still managed to get in 4 - 5 great dives every day and managed to find some pretty amazing crtitters on the reef.

Thanks to all who came along and made the trip so much fun. Look out for more trips coming soon!