Mike Ball Dive Expeditions
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions is a privately held Australian liveaboard scuba diving operator founded in 1969, running 3–7 night expeditions from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea aboard the flagship vessel Spoilsport, serving experienced divers, underwater photographers, and adventure travelers globally through direct bookings and travel agent partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersCairns, Australia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Mike Ball Dive Expeditions does
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions is a privately held Australian liveaboard scuba diving operator headquartered in Cairns, Queensland, with continuous operations since 1969. The company runs multi-night (3–7 night) expeditions from Cairns into the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea aboard its flagship vessel Spoilsport, described as Australia's most awarded dive liveaboard. Its customer base is predominantly experienced and advanced recreational divers — and adjacent segments such as underwater photographers and adventure travelers — who require access to remote dive sites (Ribbon Reefs, Cod Hole, Holmes, Bougainville, Osprey, Ashmore) and seasonal wildlife encounters, most notably dwarf minke whales in June–July.
The product portfolio centers on a single purpose-built twin-hull vessel with an "open dive deck" policy and includes standard expeditions (3–7 nights to the GBR & Ribbon Reefs), special and exploratory expeditions (Coral Sea, Far North, Ashmore, Yongala Wreck), seasonal minke whale itineraries, and fly-dive variants. Add-on modules generate incremental revenue from equipment rental, dive courses, photo services, and rebreather support. There is no proprietary software platform; the technology stack is operational — vessel design, dive planning, reef ecology program delivery, and digital booking infrastructure.
Revenue is generated per-booking through expedition packages priced approximately A$4,802–A$7,935 per person for 7-night itineraries depending on cabin tier (Premium, Standard, Club, Budget), with published FY27 pricing roughly 13% above FY26. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via mikeball.com, supplemented by a global network of travel agent and dive shop partners and listings on platforms including PADI Travel, Liveaboard.com, Caradonna Adventures, and Dive The World. The company operates with 51–100 employees and is associated with Eco Tourism Australia and CHARROA, supporting its environmental and access positioning in regulated marine park zones.
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mike Ball Dive Expeditions
- Legal name
- Mike Ball Dive Expeditions
- Website
- https://mikeball.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Mike Ball Dive Expeditions is a privately held Australian liveaboard scuba diving operator founded in 1969, running 3–7 night expeditions from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea aboard the flagship vessel Spoilsport, serving experienced divers, underwater photographers, and adventure travelers globally through direct bookings and travel agent partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Liveaboard Scuba Diving Tourism
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872), Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Diving Experiences (Scuba Dives, Dive Trips, PADI/SSI Courses) (THAJAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Scuba Diving & Freediving Centers (Training, Guided Dives) (THAAAKAD), Dive & Snorkel Guides / Dive Masters (Boat-Based & Shore-Based) (THAAALAC)
Keywords
Where Mike Ball Dive Expeditions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cairns
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Expedition Bookings: Primary revenue from multi-night liveaboard diving expeditions (3-7 nights) departing from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Prices range from approximately $4,802 to $7,935 per person depending on cabin type and expedition length.
- Cabin Accommodation: Revenue from cabin rentals across four tiers: Premium (queen/double bed, private bathroom, ocean views), Standard (twin beds, private bathroom, ocean views), Club (twin bunk beds, private bathroom, no ocean view), and Budget (twin bunk beds, shared bathroom, no ocean view).
- Equipment Rental: Additional revenue from hire gear, dive equipment rental, and rebreather service.
- Dive Courses: Revenue from dive courses offered during expeditions.
- Photo Services: Revenue from photo services including underwater photography support and photo competition.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | 7 Night Coral Sea Exploratory - Premium Cabin |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | 7 Night Coral Sea Exploratory - Standard Cabin |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | 7 Night Coral Sea Exploratory - Club Cabin |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | 7 Night Coral Sea Exploratory - Budget Cabin |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Environmental Management Fee |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions operates multi-night liveaboard scuba diving expeditions from Cairns, Australia, aboard its twin-hull vessel Spoilsport. Trips range from 3 to 7 nights and target the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, with up to 28 dives per expedition and ancillary offerings including dive courses, equipment rental, photo services, and shark diving experiences.
Product overview
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions operates a portfolio of liveaboard scuba diving expedition products centered around their flagship vessel Spoilsport, Australia's most awarded dive liveaboard. The core offering consists of standard and special expedition packages ranging from 3 to 10 nights, targeting the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea regions. Standard expeditions include GBR & Ribbon Reefs (5 nights) and various Coral Sea itineraries (3-7 nights), while special expeditions feature unique experiences like Minke Whale encounters, shark diving, wreck dives (Yongala), and exploratory trips to remote northern reefs (Ashmore, Far North). Add-on modules include equipment rental, dive courses, photo services, and rebreather support. The company operates a twin-hull vessel with an 'open dive deck' policy and integrates environmental research programs into their expeditions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Standard Expeditions Multi-night liveaboard scuba diving expeditions (3, 4, 5 and 7 nights) departing from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef, catering to certified recreational and advanced divers.
- Coral Sea Exploratory 7 night expedition combining adventure diving in the Coral Sea (Holmes, Bougainville, Osprey Reefs) with the Ribbon Reefs on the Great Barrier Reef, offering up to 28 dives for advanced divers.
- GBR & Ribbon Reefs Expedition 5 night liveaboard expedition showcasing signature Great Barrier Reef sites including Cod Hole, Pixie Pinnacle, Steve's Bommie, and Lighthouse Bommie.
- Minke Whale Expeditions Seasonal 3, 4 and 7 night liveaboard expeditions dedicated to in-water encounters with dwarf minke whales, available during the June-July season on the Great Barrier Reef.
- Coral Sea & Cod Hole Expedition 5 night expedition combining Coral Sea diving with the famous Cod Hole on the Great Barrier Reef, where divers can swim with resident potato cod.
- Fly Dive Cod Hole 3 night fly dive expedition to Cod Hole with quicker access to dive sites via aircraft, designed for divers with limited time.
- Fly Dive Coral Sea 4 night fly dive expedition to Coral Sea destinations including Osprey Reef, with aircraft access enabling time-efficient remote diving.
- Coral Sea Safari 7 night Coral Sea expedition focused on remote reef exploration for adventurous divers.
- Far North Coral Sea Expeditions Exploratory liveaboard expedition to untouched, pristine reefs of the far northern Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea.
- Northern Exposure Expeditions Liveaboard expedition exploring the far northern Great Barrier Reef region.
- Ashmore Exploratory Special exploratory expedition to Ashmore Reef in the Coral Sea for advanced divers.
- Yongala Wreck & Coral Sea Expedition 7 night expedition featuring the historic SS Yongala shipwreck dive combined with Coral Sea sites.
- Special Expeditions Portfolio of exploratory dive trips to remote reefs and unusual locations, planned by divers for divers.
- Shark Diving Australia Shark diving experiences including shark observation dives, shark feeds, and private shark shoot dives at North Horn on Osprey Reef.
- Photo Services On-board underwater photography services and annual photo competition for documenting dive expeditions.
- Dive Courses Scuba diving courses and training programs available to participants during expeditions.
- Equipment Rental Dive gear hire and rental services for expedition participants.
- Rebreather Service Technical support and servicing for rebreather diving equipment on board.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 28 dives on 7-night expeditions
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Mike Ball Dive Expeditions
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PADI TravelcorePADI Travel is a major online booking platform for scuba diving and liveaboard expeditions. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions Spoilsport is listed on PADI Travel for booking.
- Liveaboard.comcoreGlobal liveaboard booking platform listing Mike Ball Dive Expeditions' Spoilsport vessel.
- Caradonna AdventurescoreMajor dive travel company offering Mike Ball Dive Expeditions as part of their liveaboard portfolio.
- Dive The WorldcoreAustralia-based dive travel specialist partner listing Mike Ball expeditions.
- Cod Hole and Ribbon Reef Operators Association (CHARROA)minorIndustry association for operators in the Cod Hole and Ribbon Reef region, promoting sustainable diving practices.
- Eco Tourism AustraliaminorEcotourism certification and industry body that Mike Ball Dive Expeditions is associated with, supporting environmental best practices.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Spirit of Freedom: Cairns-based liveaboard dive operator offering 3–7 night expeditions to the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea — directly competes with Mike Ball in the same premium liveaboard diving segment from the same departure port.
- Deep Sea Divers Den: Cairns-based dive operator offering both day trips and liveaboard expeditions to the Great Barrier Reef, overlapping directly with Mike Ball on dive courses, equipment rental, and reef access.
- Carpe Diem Maldives: Maldives liveaboard operator offering 7-night diving safaris to central atolls; comparable premium liveaboard dive experience for the international advanced diver market.
- Blue Force Fleet: Maldives-based liveaboard operator offering multi-night diving expeditions with a similar premium service model and itineraries targeting big marine life encounters.
- Pro Dive Cairns: Cairns-based dive operator offering multi-day liveaboard and day-trip scuba experiences on the Great Barrier Reef, targeting both training divers and certified advanced divers in the same geography.
- MV FeBrina (Coral Sea Divers): Long-established Cairns-based liveaboard dive operator targeting the Ribbon Reefs and Coral Sea, serving the same advanced diver segment with comparable expedition products.
Broad incumbents
- Emperor Divers: Established liveaboard dive operator with multiple vessels primarily in the Red Sea and Maldives; competes for the same international advanced-diver customer base but in different dive geographies.
- Aggressor Adventures: Global liveaboard dive fleet operator with itineraries across the Caribbean, Indo-Pacific, and beyond. A large incumbent in the broader liveaboard category, competing indirectly for international dive travelers but lacking Mike Ball's GBR specialization.
Others
- PADI Travel: Global online booking platform for liveaboard and dive travel that distributes Mike Ball's products and serves as both a channel partner and an aggregator showcasing competing liveaboard operators.
- Liveaboard.com: Specialized liveaboard booking platform that lists Mike Ball's Spoilsport alongside competing vessels globally, functioning as a distribution channel and a comparator shopping destination for customers.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions social profiles
Digital presenceMike Ball Dive Expeditions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mike Ball Dive Expeditions
What does Mike Ball Dive Expeditions do?
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions operates multi-night liveaboard scuba diving expeditions from Cairns, Australia, aboard its twin-hull vessel Spoilsport. Trips range from 3 to 7 nights and target the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, with up to 28 dives per expedition and ancillary offerings including dive courses, equipment rental, photo services, and shark diving experiences.
Is Mike Ball Dive Expeditions a public or private company?
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Mike Ball Dive Expeditions founded?
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions was founded in 1969. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Mike Ball Dive Expeditions based?
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions is headquartered in Cairns, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Mike Ball Dive Expeditions make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Expedition Bookings are the primary driver. The others are cabin Accommodation, equipment Rental, dive Courses and photo Services.
Who are Mike Ball Dive Expeditions's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Spirit of Freedom, Deep Sea Divers Den, Carpe Diem Maldives, Blue Force Fleet, Pro Dive Cairns and MV FeBrina (Coral Sea Divers). Broad incumbents are Emperor Divers and Aggressor Adventures. Others are PADI Travel and Liveaboard.com.
Does Mike Ball Dive Expeditions have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mike Ball Dive Expeditions.
What industry is Mike Ball Dive Expeditions in?
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions's product category is Liveaboard Scuba Diving Tourism. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAJAD, Diving Experiences (Scuba Dives, Dive Trips, PADI/SSI Courses), with a secondary code of THAAAKAD, Scuba Diving & Freediving Centers (Training, Guided Dives). Its NAICS code is 4872.