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north queensland & great barrier reef - spirit of freedom

vessel information

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.

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.

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.

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 is available and the three premium cabin types contain TV/DVD and CD player.

Ocean View Deluxe: (1) large cabin with wardrobe, writing desk, bedside tables, TV/DVD and CD player. Double bed

Ocean View Standard: (1) wardrobe, TV/DVD and CD player. Double bed

Stateroom: (1) spacious cabin with wardrobe, chest of drawers, bedside tables, TV/DVD and CD player. Queen bed

Double/Twin: (7) wardrobe. Double bed, bunk style single beds or double bed with single over. Usually only two people are allocated to this cabin type but for friends of family travelling together they can place three on request. The third person in the cabin will be charged at the quad share rate.

Quad Share: (2) wardrobe. Bunk style single beds

Facilities

Lunch and dinner are provided on the day of departure, with four meals a day on ensuing days, and breakfast on the day of return to Cairns. The four meals include continental breakfast followed by a cooked breakfast after the first dive of the day. Special dietary requirements can be catered to with prior notice. Tea, coffee and fountain water are always available for self service. Australian wines and soft drinks are served complimentary with the evening meal. Outside of this time we operate a ships bar with beer, mixed drinks, wine selection. Drinks can be placed on a tab for payment at the end of your trip.

There is also a comprehensive marine library, VCR/DVD movies, and a fully stocked bar for relaxation after diving. Nitrox fills, camera hire, and CD downloading are also available on board (charges apply).

Due to lack of accommodation on the main deck, steep stairwells, and hatch combings, the Spirit of Freedom is not a suitable vessel for people with mobility impairments.

[Vessel Floorplans] [Vessel Specifications]

Diving

Guests on Spirit of Freedom are free to do their own dive planning and diving in buddy pairs. The majority of our 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 our 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).

Nitrox 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.

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 thru 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.

Snorkelling

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 off the advertised rates.

Dive & Reef Destinations

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.

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.

[Spirit of Freedom – Cod Hole & Coral Sea Itineraries]

Times

Click here, for Spirit of Freedoms trip schedule 2005 - 2006

Please note: this is to be used as a guide only and availability of cruises will be confirmed upon booking.

Getting to Spirit of Freedom

3 day/3 night Cod Hole: 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.

4 day/4 night Coral Sea: Each Thursday from 07.30am Spirit of Freedom provides courtesy coach transfer from Cairns city accommodation to Cairns light aircraft airport. Here you will board for your low level reef flight to Lizard Island, where you will join the Spirit of Freedom. The vessel will return to Cairns early morning the following Monday and the courtesy coach will transport you back to your Cairns city accommodation.

7 day/7 night Cod Hole & Coral Sea: Each Monday Spirit of Freedom provides courtesy coach transfer from Cairns city accommodation to Trinity Wharf where boarding commences at 11.15am. The vessel will return to Cairns early morning the following Monday and the courtesy coach will transport you back to your Cairns city accommodation.

Back to:

• 3 Night code hole & ribbon reefs
• 4 Night coral sea
• 7 Night code hole & coral sea