Sleek and spacious, the 'Spirit of Freedom' offers the best in 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

Why choose Spirit of Freedom...

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1. Voted Best Australian Live-aboard by readers of Australasia Dive Log (2012).

2. 37 m (124 ft) in length, with a steel hull and electronic stabilisers, Spirit of Freedom provides space, comfort and stability for cruising the Coral Sea.

3. Spirit of Freedom is the only dive boat in Australia with a private bathroom in every cabin

4. FREE WIFI (when in range)

5. Safety is assured with a Nautilus Lifeline for every diver

6. Dive Australia's "must do" dive sites, such as the Cod Hole, Steve's Bommie, and North Horn, Osprey Reef

7. Be shoulder to 'shoulder' with the massive but friendly Potato Cod at the Cod Hole

8. Encounter Dwarf Minke Whales on the Ribbon Reefs in June/July, the only known aggregation of these inquisitive whales in the world!

9. Dive with upwards of 50 sharks on the thrilling shark dive at Osprey Reef

10. Advanced Eco tourism & Climate Action Innovator Certification.

Spirit of Freedom 3 Day Itinerary

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Monday:

The Spirit of Freedom courtesy bus will pick you up from your Cairns hotel around 11:00am 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.

 

Tuesday & Wednesday:

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.

 

Thursday:

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.