Spirit of Freedom - 4 Day Coral Sea Reefs

At 120 feet, the Spirit of Freedom is one of Australia's largest and comfortable live aboard dive vessel. Spirit of Freedom features three decks of spacious comfort 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 offers smooth and comfortable cruising. A multi-talented and professional crew will look after your in and out of water needs on board Spirit of Freedom. While the diving may be amazing on this live aboard cruise, the facilities and service offered onboard Spirit will complete your ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience.

Itinerary

Thursday: Courtesy coach transfer from Cairns city hotels to Cairns airport will commence at 07:30am. Your twin-engine light aircraft will depart at 08:30am for your scenic flight over the reef to Lizard Island. Spirit of Freedom crew will greet you on arrival and transfer you to the vessel, where you will depart for the reef.

This afternoon, you will have the opportunity for two dives before departing in the late evening for Osprey Reef, in the Coral Sea. The dives may be at sites such as the Cod Hole and Dynamite Pass.

Friday & Saturday: Osprey Reef. Australia's Coral Sea reefs are renown for crystal clear water with an average visibility in excess of 100 feet. Two days can be spent diving at Osprey Reef, including North Horn, well known for its shark action. You can expect to see grey whalers, silvertips, reef sharks, occasional hammerheads, schooling barracuda, trevally, and other pelagics are common. The landscape is amazing with sheer walls laced with gorgonians, sea whips, and bright yellow soft corals rising from thousands of feet below.

Sunday:

Option 1: Today return to the Ribbon Reefs # 3 to 5 to dive the sensational Steve's Bommie, Temple of Doom, Flare Point, and other sites. After dinner on Sunday evening, cruise overnight back to Cairns.

Option 2: Weather depending, dive Bougainville Reef, a second Coral Sea Reef.

Monday: Arrive Cairns approximately 06:30am. Breakfast will be served on board and hotel transfers will be arranged for approx 07:30am.

Accommodation

Accommodating up to 26 guests, Spirit of Freedom has 11 spacious air conditioned cabins all with a private bathroom and serviced daily. A range of cabin types are available with three premium cabin types containing 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: Thursday 08.30 from Cairns (7.30am transfer from Cairns City Hotel)
Returns: Monday 7.30 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 yacht.

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 Displacement 250 tonnes Unlimited fresh water 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

Guests on Spirit of Freedom are free to do their own dive planning and diving in buddy pairs. The majority of the divers appreciate this freedom and independence rather than being restrained in a larger group. A professional dive crew member will be in the water to oversee inexperienced or nervous divers. This will generally be on all dives, (with some exceptions). Divers who feel more comfortable diving with the Safety Instructor are welcome to join this group. This is not a specific guided dive situation as the Instructor is in the water primarily as a safety diver. There is no charge to dive with the Safety Instructor.

Spirit of Freedom have no set limits on time, depth of style of diving outside of normal safe diving practices. Guests may dive with their own buddies to their own pace and interests.

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.

Snorkelers: 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 snorkeling. Snorkelers are welcomed aboard Spirit of Freedom and receive a discount off the 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: 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

Opportunity for up to 16 dives over 3 ½ days Coral Sea Reef Diving Flight over the reef to Lizard Island

Inclusions

Low-level scenic flight Cairns to Lizard Island Chef prepared meals Use of tanks and weight belts Australian wines and soft drinks with evening meals Transfer to/from Cairns accommodation

Getting There

Each Monday Spirit of Freedom provides 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