Spirit of Freedom - 3 Day Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs

Spirit of Freedom offers guests smooth and comfortable cruising onboard one of Australia's largest liveaboard dive vessels. Spirit of Freedom features three spacious decks including sun deck, lounge and bar, dining saloon, and huge dive deck. Equipped with electronic stabilisers, silent generators, and fully air conditioned throughout, the Spirit of Freedom features the latests in facilities and comfort.

A liveaboard on The Spirit of Freedom is a great way to dive the world famous Cod Hole and explore the crystal clear waters of the Ribbon Reefs, an ecosystem of unsurpassed marine diversity and exquisite natural beauty.

Enjoy your Great Barrier Reef liveaboard cruise in style on The Spirit of Freedom with professional crew and spacious cabins.

Itinerary

Monday: Boarding Spirit of Freedom at 11:15am at Trinity Wharf (complimentary transfers from Cairns city hotels are available) for a 12 noon departure. Lunch will be served on board while you cruise to the Great Barrier Reef, where you will enjoy an afternoon orientation dive and a twilight or night dive.

Tuesday: Today dive Steve's Bommie, on Ribbon Reef # 3. This is an isolated pinnacle that rises from 100 feet at its base to around 15 feet from the surface. Colourful antheas and a vast array of fish cover this bommie, while big eye trevally and barracuda hang out in the blue. Today you may also dive the Clam Gardens, where giant clams up to three feet across will amaze you. Some of the other favourite sites in this area of the Ribbons include Flare Point and the beautiful Gorgonia Wall.

Wednesday: This morning dive the Cod Hole. This is a popular dive site famous for it's resident family of large Potato Cod. May also dive Dynamite Pass, possibly as a drift dive, well known as a channel for sharks cruising from the Coral Sea to the Barrier Reef. This afternoon dive Lighthouse Bommie, where Golden sea snakes are frequently sighted. In the spring months this site is also a Manta Ray cleaning station. Other sites you may visit today include Challenger Bay and Pixie Wall. This evening cruise into Watson's Bay on Lizard Island where you will overnight in the lea of the island.

Thursday: This morning, after a leisurely breakfast, you have the opportunity to go ashore and explore Lizard Island . At 10:30am you will board a twin-engine light aircraft at Lizard Island for your low level flight over the reef back to Cairns. Arriving back at Cairns airport at approximately 11:30am, the Spirit of Freedom courtesy coach will meet you for your transfer back to your Cairns city hotel.

Accommodation

Accommodating up to 26 guests, Spirit of Freedom has 11 spacious air conditioned cabins all with a private bathroom. A range of cabin types are available and the three premium cabin types contain TV/DVD and CD player.

Ocean View Deluxe: Large cabin with wardrobe, writing desk, bedside tables, TV & DVD player. Bedding is 1 Double Bed. Maximum room capacity is 2 Adults.

Ocean View Standard: Contains wardrobe, TV & DVD player. Bedding is 1 Double Bed. Maximum room capacity is 2 Adults.

Stateroom: Spacious cabin with wardrobe, chest of drawers, bed side tables, TV & DVD player. Bedding is 1 Queen Bed. Maximum room capacity is 2 Adults.

Double or Twin: Contains wardrobe, bedside table. Bedding is 1 Double Bed + 1 Overhead Single Bed. Maximum room capacity is 2 Adults.

Quad Share: Bedding is Bunk Style Single Beds. Maximum room capacity is 4 Adults.

Dining

The chefs provide first class meals and can cater to specific dietary requirements. Enjoy Australian and international cuisines and four meals a day. Australian wine and soft drinks are complimentary with the evening meal.

Departures

Departs: Monday 12.00 noon from Cairns
Returns: Thursday 11.30am to Cairns

Vessel Details

Sleek, stylish and spacious - the ‘Spirit of Freedom' is Australia's premier live-aboard dive vessel and offers the best in cruising comfort to the far northern Great Barrier Reef and remote Coral Sea reefs. This 120ft/37m vessel features electronic stabilizers, wide screen TV/DVD, comfortable lounge areas, sun decks and luxury accommodation. With classic lines, white exterior, polished timber and chrome, gourmet meals and an outstanding level of service, you will feel like you are aboard your very own private motor yacht.

A multi-talented and professional crew will look after you in and out of water needs on board Spirit of Freedom. The dive team are experienced locals who are only too happy to share their extensive reef knowledge as well as a little 'Aussie' good humour.

Length 37 metres Beam 7.1 metres Speed 12 knots Fresh Water unlimited Passengers maximum 26 Crew 8 - 10

Facilities

Dining Room Lounge Bar Wide Screen TV/DVD Sun decks Air-conditioned cabins Fully stocked bar Comprehensive Marine Library Camera hire

Activities

The Great Barrier Reef is a broad chain of 2,900 individual reefs and is the Earth's largest structure built by living organisms, being clearly visible from space. Here you will discover an ecosystem of unsurpassed marine diversity and exquisite natural beauty.

The Ribbon Reefs stretch north to the Cod Hole in a turquoise chain of individual coral reefs where formations vary from beds of huge plate corals and coral gardens to isolated pinnacles to walls and channels for that perfect ‘drift dive'. You will encounter a resident family of giant potato cod at the world famous Cod Hole, while the ‘Ribbons' are a photographers dream with clouds of colourful tropical fish, anemones, cruising pelagics, moray eels, and the giant Napoleon Wrasse.

Guided Dives: It is not Spirit of Freedom's policy for dives to be divemaster led. However, guided dives may be available upon request to the Trip Director when on board the vessel depending on staff availability (charges apply).

Spirit of Freedom SternNitrox Dives: Refills are set at 32% at $10 per fill or package price for all dives on nitrox. Nitrox certification cards must be produced upon boarding and regulators need to be O2 approved by the manufacturer.

Snorkellers: The size and facilities of the Spirit of Freedom certainly offer the same level of comfort as a mini cruise ship. Non-divers can enjoy DVD movies, games, the resource library, and relaxing on sun lounges on the top deck. Spirit of Freedom recommend the Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs itinerary for those who like to snorkel. There are many shallow coral gardens offering fantastic snorkelling. Snorkellers are welcomed aboard Spirit of Freedom and receive a $100 discount off the advertised rates.

Flying After Diving: Spirit of Freedom recommends a minimum wait of 24 hours before flying after multiple dives. The last dive of the trip will generally be around 5.00pm the day before returning to Cairns. 24 hours is a guideline only and for maximum safety give yourself as long as possible. Please be aware that skydiving or a trip to Kuranda or the Atherton tablelands will include going to altitude.

Weather: Australian seasons are the reverse of the Northern hemisphere. Our summer is DEC - FEB and winter is JUN - AUG. However as Cairns is close to the equator and in a tropical zone, we experience relatively warm winters and high humidity in the summer months. Rain is not uncommon from January to April, but while this rain can fall on Cairns due to the surrounding mountains, it is often clear out to sea.

Best time to Dive: May to August being our winter and colder water can offer great visibility and beautiful clear days, but sometimes stronger winds. September through to December sees the water warm up a little, generally clear conditions and light winds, with many coral reef species breeding at this time. January through April is considered our wetter season with amazing feeding and marine action following the breeding season.

Dive & Reef Destinations

Code Hole & Ribbon Reefs: The Cod Hole is located 200 km to the north of Cairns and has become famous for it's family of resident Potato Cod (Groper). Each of these huge fish can weigh up to 100kg and are well accustomed to posing for diver's cameras. The Ribbon Reefs are a string of 10 coral ramparts of the Great Barrier Reef stretching southward from the Cod Hole. Coral formations vary from beds of huge plate corals to isolated pinnacles sustaining an amazing display of fish life, to walls and channels for the perfect drift dives as well as caves, canyons and shallow coral gardens. Divers can expect to encounter the enormous giant clams, golden gorgonian fans, and clouds of colourful tropical fish, as well as cruising pelagics, moray eels, green turtles, reef sharks and the giant Napoleon Wrasse.

Coral Sea & Cod Hole: Beyond the continental shelf that harbours the Great Barrier Reef, lie the isolated reef systems and crystal clear waters of Australia's Coral Sea. This is home territory for huge schools of pelagic fish and sharks in an undersea world of mountains, pinnacles and sheer walls laced with golden gorgonian fans and rising from thousands of feet below. Be prepared for an amazing range of diving experiences at the Coral Sea. Destinations will vary and be selected according to the prevailing weather in order to provide you the best diving and most comfortable conditions.

Highlights

Cod Hole Opportunity for up to 11 dives over 2½ days Low level reef flight from Lizard Island

Inclusions

Transfers to/ from Cairns city accommodation Low level reef flight - Lizard Island to Cairns Opportunity for up to 11 dives Ensuite cabin with daily service Chef prepared meals Australian wines & soft drinks with evening meals

Getting There

Each Monday Spirit of Freedom provides a courtesy coach transfer from Cairns city accommodation to Trinity Wharf where boarding commences at 11.15am. Return is by low level reef flight the following Thursday. The courtesy coach will meet you at the airport and transfer you back to your Cairns city accommodation.

Additional Information

Children: The minimum age for children onboard Spirit of Freedom is 12 years and adult rates apply. Under 18 years old divers must dive with a parent of certified diver
Exclusions: Dive equipment (excluding tanks and weight belts), additional beverages, Environmental Management Charge (Reef Tax), Crew gratuities, Travel or medivac insurance
Fuel Levy: Payable onboard
Luggage: Due to light aircraft weight restrictions your total luggage weight is limited to 20kg per person, preference of soft sided bags
Operated By: Spirit of Freedom