The Spirit of Freedom offers the best in liveaboard dive cruising to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and remote Coral Sea reefs. Scuba Dive Tours of 3, 4 and 7 day duration depart our of Cairns to iconic dive sites such as the Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs and North Horn, Osprey Reef. Shark dives, Potato Cod feeding, sheer walls laced with massive soft corals, manta-rays, minke whales, and abundant healthy tropical reefs, rich with marine biodiversity are just some of the high-lights you'll experience with Spirit of Freedom diving tours.
Sleek and spacious, the 'Spirit of Freedom' offers the some of the best live-aboard dive cruising to the Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs. This tour begins every Monday from Cairns, and travels along the rarely visited Ribbon Reefs, finishing 240 km to the north at the world famous Cod Hole. Over two and half days you will have the opportunity for up to 11 dives and encounter clouds of colourful tropical fish, an incredible variety of vibrant healthy corals, giant clams, anemones, huge schools of cruising pelagic fish, and a family of giant potato cod. Your last night is spent on board the 'Spirit' in the bay at Lizard Island. Enjoy time ashore at Lizard Island the next morning, before boarding your return flight to Cairns. The one-hour, low-level scenic flight back will arrive in Cairns around 11:30am on Thursday.
Thursday: Our courtesy bus will pick you up from your Cairns hotel around 10.30am to transfer you to Trinity Wharf, where you will board the vessel. You will be greeted by the Spirit of Freedom crew, who will give you an orientation of the vessel before a 12 noon departure. Enjoy lunch on board while we cruise to the outer Great Barrier Reef for an afternoon check-out dive and a twilight or night dive. After dinner we cruise north to the Ribbon Reefs.
Friday & Saturday: These two days are spent diving at the most northern of the Ribbon Reefs, Number 9 & 10 Ribbon Reefs. Dive sites and sequence may vary depending on the weather conditions, but will always include at least one dive at the Cod Hole, where you encounter a family of massive and very friendly Potato Cod. Other sites may include Wonder-wall, Pixie Pinnacle, Challenger Bay, Two Towers, Lighthouse Bommie, and the Snake Pit, just to name a few. If the current is right, you may also take a drift dive at Dynamite Pass, well know as a channel for sharks to pass through. See the dive site page for site selection of some of our dive sites on the Ribbon Reefs. 4 to 5 dives will be available each day, including a night dive on the Tuesday. On Wednesday evening we overnight at Watson's Bay on Lizard Island and enjoy a sunset BBQ dinner on the top deck.
Sunday: This morning after breakfast you will disembark and say farewell to Spirit of Freedom. On shore at Lizard Island you can take the guided walk from Watson's Beach to Mary Watson's cottage over Chinaman's Ridge and back to the air-strip. Here you will board a twin-engine light aircraft for your low level flight over the reef and / or along the coast back to Cairns. The one hour flight arrives at Hinterland Aviation, Cairns General Aviation Airport around 11.15 to 11:30am, where the Spirit of Freedom courtesy coach will meet you for your transfer back to your Cairns city hotel.
Spirit of Freedom is one of Australia’s most comfortable and well appointed live-aboard dive vessels. At 37 metres in length, with three decks of living space, generous cabins with private bathroom, the Spirit of Freedom offers all the amenities of a hotel, complimented by first class meals and outstanding service. A large dive deck with nitrox and photo facilities, houses every convenience to ensure comfort, safety and freedom in your diving.
Join a Spirit of Freedom dive trip to the Ribbon Reefs and Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea and witness the massive Potato Cod being fed at the Cod Hole, experience the thrilling shark dive at North Horn, Osprey Reef, and in the winter months you may even encounter the inquisitive Minke Whale on the Ribbon Reefs. Spirit of Freedom live-aboard dive tours depart from Cairns in the tropical north of Australia and offer 3, 4 and 7 night dive expeditions.
Cabin Types
Quad Share - We have one quad share cabin containing four single beds, bunk style. This cabin is located midships on the lower deck, with easy access to the main deck. It is 7.2 square metres in area, (not including bathroom, an additional 1.8 square metres), is fully air-conditioned and also contains a wardrobe and private bathroom. |
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Double/Twin - We have seven standard double or twin share cabins. Five of these cabins contain a double bed with a single bed over the top, bunk style. One cabin contains just a double bed and one cabin has two single beds. Please advise your preference for double or twin share when placing your booking. These cabins are all located on the lower deck, with easy access to the main deck. They are an average 7.2 square metres in area, (not including bathroom, an additional 1.8 square metres), are fully air-conditioned and also contain a wardrobe, bedside table and private bathroom. | |
The Stateroom - This cabin is located in a private area on the lower deck, close to the dive deck and dining saloon. It is a spacious 9.2 square metres in area (not including bathroom, an additional 2.8 square metres) and contains a queen size bed, extra shelving, wardrobe, bedside tables and 26″ flat screen TV. It is fully air-conditioned and has its own private bathroom. Double Occupancy only: no twin share option available. Please enquire for Sole Occupancy rates. | |
Ocean View Standard - This cabin is located on the top deck with internal stairwell access to the main deck, as well as external access to the top deck and dive deck. It is 5.2 square metres in area (not including bathroom, an additional 2 square metres) and contains a double bed, a wardrobe, and 26” flat screen TV. It is fully air-conditioned and has its own private bathroom. Double Occupancy only: no twin share option available. Please enquire for Sole Occupancy rates. | |
Ocean View Deluxe - This cabin is located on the top deck with internal stairwell access to the main deck, as well as external access to the top deck and dive deck. It is a spacious 8.5 square metres in area (not including the bathroom, an additional 2 square metres) and contains a double bed, bedside tables, writing desk, wardrobe, and 26″ flat screen TV. It is fully air-conditioned and has its own private bathroom. Double Occupancy only: no twin share option available. Please enquire for Sole Occupancy rates. |
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