In this ongoing series, we speak to the people who run dive centres, resorts and liveaboards from around the world about their businesses and the diving they have to offer…

What is your name?

Craig Stephen

What is the name of your business?

Mike Ball Dive Expeditions

What is your role within the business?

General Manager

How long has the business operated for?

Since 1969

How long have you dived for, and what qualification are you?

32 yrs, OWSI

What is your favorite type of diving?

With so much great diving on offer, that’s a difficult question, I do however still get very excited, dropping in on remote uncatalogued reefs, especially when the current is ripping through 🙂

If you could tell people one thing about your business (or maybe more!) to make them want to visit you what would it be?

Our vessel Spoilsport is crewed by knowledgeable seasoned and enthusiastic individuals that form a most magnificent team dynamic and ensure our passengers needs are met.  Our expeditions always optimise the prevailing conditions to ensure we get the very best possible experience on each and every dive. We offer a diverse range of dive sites, dive styles and animals from large to small. People are what make the difference and whether travelling solo or accompanied, as soon as you step on board, you will feel as relaxed as in your own home.

What is your favorite dive in your location and why?

Osprey Reefs ‘North Horn’ is undoubtedly one of my favourites. Osprey is an isolated Atoll over 100 miles offshore and 70 miles beyond the GBR. Two converging walls plummeting to over 1000m (3000ft) adjoined by way of a small plateau creating a natural amphitheatre teaming with life. Grey whaler are the predominant shark species, Silvertip, Whitetip, Great and Scalloped Hammerheads are also commonly seen. It’s not just the sharks however, the western wall has a fabulous drift dive back towards the amphitheatre covered in beautiful pink soft corals and fans. Potato Cod, Morays and even the occasional Whale Shark turn up from time to time. Its got everything including that ‘Big Blue Abyss’ feeling we all love so much ….  a very special place.

What types of diving are available in your location?

Beginner to advanced, Bommies or pinnacles, classic reef, drift, night, wall, reef caves & caverns; Minke Whale, Shark, Nautilus …

What do you find most rewarding about your current role?

The variety, from managing vessel slipping to hiring the next passionate reef guide and developing exciting new itineraries …

What is your favorite underwater creature?

Nigh impossible to answer, a bit like saying who your favourite child is, and that’s a definite nono, haha. Until I meet an Oceanic White Tip, I’d have to say a Silvertip, grace, beauty, unpredictable, intimidating …

Are there any exciting changes / developments coming up in the near future?

We have recently introduced NEW Far Northern Itineraries; 3 different areas on a 7 night expedition which include the Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Seas’ offshore deep water atolls and the Far Northern sector of the GBR where the deep waters well up producing vibrant reefs and exciting fish action. For 2020 we’ll be re-introducing one way travel between Cairns and Horne Island at the tip of Australia taking in the amazing Far Norther Reefs where some of the best coral reefs in the world abound with a vibrancy rarely surpassed.

As a center what is the biggest problem you face at the moment?

There are a few concerns not relative to just our center, but Coral Bleaching is an obvious one.  We are very fortunate to have such a vast reef system stretching over 2600km with some 2900 individual reefs. Having a roving permit, means we can pick and choose where we dive and ‘rest sites’ as they recover. However, the trend for rising ocean temperatures and greater frequency of El Nino climatic events, allows less time for coral recovery which may ultimately see the time v recovery work against us. Shark baiting or netting near populated areas also concerns us. Too many sharks are targeted as a consequence of shark attacks, often as a knee jerk reaction by government agencies feeling they need to do something. Most educated people including the families and victims of attacks accept the risk and their consequences; it is really quite disturbing how much ignorance still exists around these most amazing (and important to the environment) animals.

Is your center involved in any environmental work?

As a company, we are Advance Eco Certified; this means that we apply best practice to manage ourselves in an environmentally sustainable way, which includes auditing by a government appointed regulator. We recycle at the end of every expedition donating the proceeds to local clean up charities; we have done away with ‘giveaway marketing’ plastic bottles and introduced metal ones, done away with glow sticks, we’ve repowered our engines both main vessel and tenders to minimise our environmental footprint and use suppliers with similar best practice and are constantly looking to improve. We have many affiliations with research groups both gov and NGO offering research space on our expeditions and are very proactive on boards and committees to secure MPA’s throughout the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea.

How do you see the SCUBA / Freediving / snorkeling industry overall? What changes would you make?

I’ve seen our industry go through some highs and lows, impacted by other emerging adventure sports and global events.  Those of us fortunate enough to work within this industry really do appreciate just how lucky we are to earn a living so close to nature. That connection feeds our passion for conservation and encourages us to be proactive as ambassador’s for change. Gone are the days when ‘diving was dangerous and sex was safe’; there’s little machismo connected with diving these days and a lot more compassion for what we all understand, is an extremely fragile environment. The planets future is in the hands of our youth so for me, we need to energise the youth to get involved in our ‘sport’ to ensure not only its future but to create new ambassadors for environmental change.

What would you say to our visitors to promote the diving you have to offer

Our itineraries offer incredible diversity of marine life and photo opportunities from macro to wide-angle from pygmy sea horses to Minke whales and if you like sharks, well, we have lots of sharks. No two dive expeditions are ever the same for marine life encounters which is one of the reasons we have so many repeat guests. The friendliness of our crew, the chef prepared meals on a large spacious vessel, all make this big comfy girl a very pleasurable experience. Whether travelling as a group a couple or on your own, you will feel as welcome as in your own home.

Where can our visitors find out more about your business?

Website: https://www.mikeball.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikeBallDiveExpeditions

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeballdive/

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/mikeballdive