Cod Hole And Ribbon Reefs Dive Adventure

Spirit of Freedom Australia - Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs Dive Adventure

About Spirit of Freedom

World Class Dive Cruises

Spirit of Freedom offers world class, liveaboard dive cruises to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea reefs. Departing from Cairns in Northern Australia, the Spirit of Freedom ventures far beyond the reach of day trip vessels to explore the seldom visited dive sites of the northern Great Barrier Reef and remote Coral Sea Reefs. Shark dives, Potato Cod feeding, sheer walls laced with massive soft corals, manta-rays, minke whale encounters and abundant, healthy tropical reefs, rich with marine biodiversity, are just some of the highlights you’ll experience when you join our dive tours.

Spirit of Freedom is regarded as one of Australia’s most comfortable and well appointed liveaboard dive vessels. With three decks of living space, generous cabins with private bathrooms, this 37 metre (125 ft) vessel offers all the amenities of a hotel, complimented by first class meals and personalized professional service, from the crew of 10.

Spirit of Freedom is owned and operated by Cairns’ locals, Chris Eade and Phillip Hobbs. With more than 30 years experience in dive tourism, they have earned a reputation for quality dive tours with the highest safety standards.

As a guest on Spirit of Freedom your expectations will be exceeded with stunning dive locations, amazing marine encounters, comfortable accommodations and great Australian service.

Ribbon Reef Dive Site

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 11:45am on Thursday.

DEPARTS: Cairns 12:00 noon Monday

RETURNS: Cairns 11:45am Thursday

INCLUDES: Transfers to/from your Cairns city hotel, Low-level scenic flight – Lizard Island to Cairns, Opportunity for up to 11 dives, En-suite cabin with daily service, Chef prepared gourmet meals – Australian style, Australian wines & soft drinks with evening meals

DIVE LEVEL RECOMMENDATION: Open Water to Experienced

ITINERARY

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 11:45am, where the Spirit of Freedom courtesy coach will meet you for your transfer back to your Cairns city hotel.

The Spirit of Freedom was custom built for long range cruising and to optimise the sea conditions of the Coral Sea region. Design features such as the specific length of the vessel, combined with electronic stabilizers ensure maximum sea keeping capability for greatest passenger comfort. Heavy duty medium rev marine diesel engines provide fuel efficiency, reliability, and low vibration and sound emission. The Spirit of Freedom undergoes an annual 4 week refit or maintenance period, to keep her in top condition. She carries a current 1B Queensland survey to 260 miles offshore range, which includes all Coral Sea Reefs & Islands.

Year built: 1992
Construction: Steel hull with aluminum superstructure
Engines: 2 x Yanmar 500hp 368 kw diesel
Generators: 2 x Cummings 6BTs, 90 KVA each
Navigation: JRC 72 mile radar, Transas Plotter, Tsunami GPS System
Communications: Ship’s phone, satellite phone and email, Icom HF Radio, Icom VHF radio, Wireless internet access when in range
Length: 37 metres / 122 feet
Beam: 7.1 metres / 24 feet
Draft: 2.2 metres / 7.26 feet
Speed: 11 knots
Displacement: 250 tonnes
Fresh Water: 20,000 litres plus Desalinators; Fully Air-conditioned throughout; Electronic Stabilizers
Crew: 1
Passengers: Maximum 26
Passenger Cabins: 11
Dive deck: 2 x Bauer 21 CFM Compressors; DNAx Nitrox Membrane System; 2 x 4.8m Naiad Tender boats

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