Cairns Dive Adventures

Tour Length: 4 days & 3 nights | Operates: Year round
Destination: Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs
Departs: Monday 12pm | Returns: Thursday 11.30am
Transfers available: Yes, free from all Cairns City Hotels

Spirit of Freedom offers unsurpassed Great Barrier Reef diving, aboard one of Australia’s largest, liveaboard dive vessels.  Certified as an Advanced Ecotourism Operator through Ecotourism Australia, Spirit of Freedom is committed to protecting the unique reef environment, whilst allowing visitors to explore and enjoy its majestic wonders. This three day tour commences in Cairns and takes you 240km north, along the coast, where you can enjoy diving in the Ribbon Reefs and at the world famous Cod Hole.

There is time to take up to 11 dives, including a twilight or night dive.  Exact dive locations will vary, pending weather, but may include Pixie Pinnacle which is home to an abundance of schooling fish, as well as octopus, lionfish and barracuda and Challenger Bay which has a sandy bottom, sloping from 30m up to a reef platform five metres under the surface. Your final evening will be spent in the bay at Lizard Island, before going ashore in the morning to board your one-hour, low-level scenic flight back to Cairns.

Highlights & Inclusions

• 4 days and 3 nights, liveaboard dive trip
• Up to 11 dives, including twilight and night dives
• Note: Equipment hire is not included and is an additional $120 for full hire
• Ensuite cabin with daily service
• Chef prepared gourmet meals
• Australian wines and soft drinks with evening meals
• Scenic flight from Lizard Island to Cairns
• 26 maximum guests: 10 crew
• Sole occupancy available, as well as discounts for non-diving guests

Spirit of Freedom provides comfortable, liveaboard Great Barrier Reef dive trips varying from three to four to seven days.  The 37m long vessel is fully air-conditioned and has varying accommodation options including ocean view deluxe, ocean view standard, stateroom, double / twin share and quad share.  [The above price is for Quad Share accommodation.] All cabins have their own private bathroom and are serviced daily by one of the 10 crew.  The vessel’s amenities and friendly crew will ensure you have the very best time on your Great Barrier Reef dive adventure, both in and out of the water.  The spacious dive deck is fully equipped with professional equipment for your convenience. There are sun lounges on the top deck and an air-conditioned saloon with work stations.  Meals are prepared fresh daily by the on-board chef and are included in your ticket price.  The menus are designed to be fresh and healthy, keeping your batteries charged for the next dive.  Lunch and dinner are provided on the day of departure, with four meals a day for the rest of your Spirit of Freedom adventure, including continental and cooked breakfasts, lunch and dinner.

Dive Notes

• Recommended dive experience level: Open Water to Experienced
• Adventure level: mild to mid, pending weather conditions
• You will need to bring your dive certification with you
• Tanks and weight belts are provided as a part of the ticket price
• Dive computers must be used and are available for rent
• Nitrox fills are available, at an extra cost
• Night dives are available
• Dive courses are available on board, including PADI Advanced and Nitrox

Spirit of Freedom: Sample 3 Day Liveaboard Cod Hole Dive Itinerary
Monday: Your Spirit of Freedom adventure begins with boarding on Monday morning at Trinity Wharf in Cairns.  Complimentary transfers are provided from all Cairns hotels at 11am and orientation is provided on arrival.  Departure is at noon and lunch will be served as you commence your liveaboard dive journey to the Great Barrier Reef.  Your first dive opportunity is that first afternoon / evening as a twilight or night dive on the Outer Barrier Reef.  If it has been awhile since your last diving experience, take advantage of our orientation dive with safety instructor.  After dinner, Spirit of Freedom motors north, towards the Ribbon Reefs.

Tuesday & Wednesday: Two full days of amazing diving on the Great Barrier Reef’s Ribbon Reefs.  Enjoy up to five dives each day, including an optional night dive on Tuesday.  Exact dive sites and locations vary pending weather, but include the Cod Hole, Wonder-wall, Pixie Pinnacle, Challenger Bay, Lighthouse Bommie, Snake Pit and Two Towers.  The Cold Hole is world famous and the ultimate Great Barrier Reef dive site.  So named for its large resident population of giant Potato Cod, the Cod Hole is a diverse dive destination with cleaning stations, shallows and terraced reefs.  Fish feeding is conducted here, which is really an amazing experience.  The Snake Pit also takes its name from its residents, the Olive Sea Snakes.  This is an isolated reef between Lizard Island and number 10 Ribbon Reef, its ranges from 10m – 30m and is also home to green turtles, reef sharks, bat fish, barracuda, clams, sea stars and nudibraches.

Thursday: After breakfast, disembark Spirit of Freedom and tender to Lizard Island, where you can enjoy a guided walk to Mary Watson’s cottage and the air-strip.  Take to the air at 10am for an amazing one hour scenic flight back to Cairns, where the Spirit of Freedom courtesy coach will meet you at the airport and return you to your hotel.

Passenger notes:

• Maximum luggage weight is 20kg (45lb)
• Discounts available for non-divers
• Conditions excellent for snorkelers
• Minimum age for guests: 10 years old (no maximum)
• What is not included in the ticket price? Marine Park Levy, Gear Hire, Nitrox Fills, any dive courses taken on board, drinks outside of evening meal time.