Group Report: Perth Scuba (9th October 2009 'Extreme' Package) by Lee Johnson
 On the 9th of October, 26 of Perth Scuba’s dive crew headed out for an “Extreme” Dive trip which included Level 4 White Water Rafting on the Tully River and a 4 day live aboard trip with Mike Ball on board Spoilsport.
Not knowing what to expect, the group of mad keen divers and 1 non diver soon made their new surroundings home in true Perth Scuba style… with alcohol. The awesome Mike Ball crew didn’t know what to expect from there I’m sure…
 After a wobbly tripout to the edge of the barrier reef over night, (who would ever want to bethe skipper of a boat??!) we woke to great cooked breakfasts every morning - (thanks Andy)and had our regular dive briefings from Kieran (our trip Director) who was very artistic – Your “bommies” look like crabs Kieran! The diving was absolutely fantastic throughout the trip and the highlights of the trip had to be the shark feed at Osprey, the Giant Potato Cod and Cod Hole (which strangely enough didn’t taste anything like Potato – J/K) and the visibility! There was plenty to see and photograph! The cameras and video cameras were running hot and the photos that were taken were awesome! The final BBQ party night was fun and games and once again the Perth Scuba crew showed that they are a great bunch of drinkers with a diving problem. The trip stickers were plastered all over the boat and the party games began… It was really sad to have to say goodbye to our new Mike Ball friends when we left. The team at Mike Ball made the trip far more than what anyone expected. The service was fantastic, the food and the diving was as good as it gets and from a tour leader’s perspective, everything was done for us.When we originally booked this trip, we booked for 8 people, after our information night on the trip, we ended up booking the whole boat. I highly recommend that anyone who has yet to dive our very own Great Barrier Reef, there really is no better group to do it with than Mike Ball. Thanks to everyone involved at MB– Thanks to the Perth Scuba crew! There is no better group to travel with than you guys! - Lee Johnson.
Fore more information on the 'Extreme Dive Package' please click here.
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(Photo by Xanthe Rivett September 2009)
By Spoilsport Captain
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Pirate Peter
THERE BE THINGS DOWN THERE...
The ol’ brine me lads is a mysterious and alluring entity where many mysteries are to be unfolded, aarrgghh and what forces do these waters of Neptune possess? Since the dawn of time Neptune’s forces have plagued man. There have even been times when me family jewels have dried up in Neptune’s wrath; aye me lads these were scary times! However, such forces can be tamed and even utilized by man. CURRENT. Aye me lads how many ships have been wrecked and divers lost due to this force of nature? How many diving hours get used each year searching for divers lost in current? Me and me lads well we love a good current, we always swim into it, if we can’t we surface immediately then we call in the longboats, "board me clients" I say to the driver “up current of the reef Mister Kennedy there be no swimming against me lady today, we will drop into her arms and drift back to Spoily". You know folks before any diver jumps off our boats we insist checking the currents before our shipmates dive, we even display our treasure maps to help find all the hidden treasure on our reefs.
It’s a grand affair the dive briefs on ol’ Spoily we all gather round Mister Kennedy. He shares hidden secrets taken from Spoilys treasure maps and fantasy becomes reality when you read these maps aarrggh. He will guide your mind through these maps and describe the array of coral bommies that landscape our treasure troves. The secrets we share on Spoily is what makes our ship so special!
Remember me Hearties swim into current, if you lose sight of the reef, surface immediately - the current will take you further away. Listen carefully in dive briefs, there be treasures to be found there. Aarrgghh.
This has been the Pirate Pete.
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(Photo by Laurence Buckingham)
By Spoilsport Photo Pro & Marine Biologist - Laurence (Ocean Man) Buckingham
Each week as Mike Ball’s liveaboard vessel explores the riches of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and Osprey Reef, its crew assiduously gather data for several long-term government and academic research projects. Subjects range from mega-fauna, such as minke and humpback whales, to the essential building blocks of reefs, corals. At many sites, water temperature and visibility are measured and samples are obtained to monitor water quality.
No doubt the most exhiliariting “assignment” is filming dwarf minke whales. Researchers at James Cook University identify individuals, study behaviour and assess the impact of in-water interactions with swimmers. Photos, videos and detailed questionnaires provided by guests and crew are critical.
A broad study called “Eye on the Reef”monitors the entire GBR using data gathered by scuba operators. Their instructors record temperature, visibility, iconic fish, whales, turtles and coral health at designated sites.
Hard science conducted by the GBR Marine Park Authority relies on precise measurements and seawater samples taken by dive staff. The water’s chlorophyll content is then used to calibrate satellite imagery so that in years to come, water quality can be measured. Passive sampling devices are deployed at Pixie Reef to measure trace elements of pesticides.
In late November, renowned shark researchers Richard Fitzpatrick and John Rumney join Spoilsport to make detailed shark metabolism studies. They found that the silvertip, white-tip and grey reef sharks at Osprey Reef have very narrow home ranges—only several kilometers wide.
The sharks and fish at Osprey are highly vulnerable to overfishing since most species live and breed their entire lives on the reef. If a species is fished out, it will probably not return. That’s happened in other isolated reefs of the world. Fortunately, the shark population at Osprey is thankfully alive and well.
The goal of the aforementioned research is to monitor the health of the GBR and Osprey Reef. The GBR is considered by many as having the best environmental protection of any large-scale marine ecosystem. And Osprey may be one of the last bastions of untouched marine wilderness on the planet. Hopefully it will stay that way forever.
For more information on Mike Ball Dive Expeditions involvement in research programs, please click here.
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