From: bbaker@novell.com (Brad Baker)
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: AUSTRALIA diving locations
Keywords: all, everything and anything goes ?
Date: 12 Jan 93 20:02:36 GMT
Organization: Novell Inc., San Jose, Califonia

In article <1iulvcINNjhq@leo.asc.slb.com> hargrove@nobelium.asc.slb.com (Jim Hargrove) writes:
>I just spent a marvelous week on the Spoilsport diving in the Coral Sea. The Spoilsport leaves Townsville on Tuesday (at least that is the most recent schedule) and returns the following Monday. I highly recommend it, though it is a trifle expensive.
>

The Spoilsport is a Mike Ball Expeditions boat.
I feel compelled to tell my recent experience and opinion of Mike Ball
Expeditions.

Three weeks ago I paid $370 to dive the Yongala Wreck onboard the Watersport.
Due to 2 meter swells, we were not able to dive the Yongala.  Instead,
we went to a couple really desolate and low visibility reefs. 
The complaint I have is that we were not told until AFTER paying and boarding
about their refund policy.  Once we had boarded, we were told that the 
current conditions were marginal, and that we MIGHT NOT be able to do the
dive, and if anyone wishes to leave now they would recieve a FULL CREDIT, 
not refund, to do the dive sometime in the next two years.  Well given that
we went to all the trouble to pack and board the boat and that we were not
likely to be able to get back to Australia in the next two years, we went
out on the boat.  The swells were beyond their 1.5 meter limit, and we
didn't get to do the dive.  And for our trouble, Mike Ball Expeditions
generously gave us a $29 refund.  $29 out of $370 !!!  We spent $15-20
on drinks on board the boat!!  Why even bother!

If you're looking for great cliff diving, cave diving, night diving, and
shark feeds.  Go for a boat called the Rum Runner doing Holmes Reef in
the Coral Sea out of Cairns.  They GUARANTEE 30 METER VISIBILITY or your
money back.  Now that's what I call a guarantee, and a reputable dive
company.  

What I don't understand is why Mike Ball being one of the biggest dive
expedition companies (they have three boats) can't swallow the loss and 
just give a full refund.  We were told by the 1st mate that being forced 
to abort the Yongala dive only happens 4-5 times each year.  At least tell
people your policy BEFORE paying and boarding!!

In guessing why they appear not to care about dis-pleasing their customers,
I can only think that it is because they are one of the few companies
with permits to dive the Yongala and/or they do so much business that 
they don't care if a few people are unhappy with their experience.

Suffice it to say, that I will never dive on a Mike Ball boat again, and
cannot reccomend it to anyone.

+-------------------+
| Brad Baker        |
| bbaker@novell.com |
| Novell, Inc.      |
| San Jose, CA      |
| (408)473-8408     |
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|The opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect the values and      |
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