Cairns Dive Adventures

Tour Length: 7 nights & 6 days | Operates: Year round
Destination: Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs & Coral Sea
Departs: Thursday 6pm | Returns: Thursday 8am
Transfers available: Yes, free from all Cairns City Hotels

This tour is the latest addition to the Mike Ball Dive Expeditions portfolio of dive trips.  A 450 mile Coral Sea Safari, this trip lasts seven nights, with six days of unlimited scuba diving on the best dive sites of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea.  Dive alongside man-sized Potato Cod at the world famous Cod Hole, explore spectacular, shallow water coral gardens, teeming with large schools of bait fish, be amazed at the diversity of reef and open water sharks, see green and loggerhead sea turtles and at the right time of year (June and July) dive with Minkie Whales on the Ribbon Reefs offshore from Cooktown.

Mike Ball Dive Expeditions has been operating since 1969, its 30m vessel, Spoilsport, is Australia’s most award liveaboard dive boat and is guaranteed to maximise passenger comfort and smooth journey conditions.  This tour is fully inclusive of transfers, accommodation, chef prepared meals, soft drinks and Australian wine served with dinner. Tailored specifically for those with a passion for underwater photographer, you will find the facilities and onboard expertise, second to none.

Tour Length: 3 nights & 3 days | Operates: Year round
Destination: Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs
Departs: Monday 7am | Returns: Thursday 8m
Transfers available: Yes, free from all Cairns City Hotels

An amazing value for money, Cairns liveaboard dive trip to the world famous Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs, on the Great Barrier Reef.  With over 40 years experience providing dive tours to the Great Barrier Reef, Mike Ball Dive Expeditions are held in high esteem with industry peers and customers alike.  Specialising in tailoring trips to the needs of individual divers, Mike Ball Dive Expeditions is the only operator to provide solo diving on the Great Barrier Reef.  Orientation dives and guided dives are also available on this three day / night tour, which allows for up to 12 dives, including two night dives.

Tour highlights include a scenic flight to Lizard Island and three days of spectacular Great Barrier Reef diving at the Cod Hole, Cod Wall, Challengers Bar, Lighthouse Bommie, Acropolis, Pixie Pinnacles, Vertical Gardens, Clam Beds, Andy’s Postcard, Steve’s Bommie, Flare Point and Joani’s Joy.  The names may not mean much, but these are some of the most exclusive, pristine and exciting dive sites on the Great Barrier Reef.  Ranging from shallow to deep, there is an amazing variety of marine life and corals.  You will soon see why this reef is called ‘Great’ and considered an international must-do dive destination.

Tour Length: 4 nights & 4 days | Operates: Year round
Destination: Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs & Coral Sea
Departs: Thursday 6pm | Returns: Monday 11am
Transfers available: Yes, free from all Cairns City Hotels

An excellent four day, four night liveaboard dive tour from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef’s Ribbon Reefs, Cod Hole and open waters of the Coral Sea, and back again.  Scuba diving highlights include exploring the Great Barrier Reef, starting with the pristine coral gardens at Challenger Bay, which is home to schools of silver trevally, bream and surgeon fish, followed by the world famous Cod Hole.  Dive with giant Potato Cod, who are nearly as big as the people, or venture to the front of the reef where Queensland groupers swim in the currents.  The waters here are crystal clear and warm year round.  They are home to an amazing diversity of flora and fauna, including massive soft coral trees, plate corals and staghorn corals, sharks, sea horses and everything in between.

Enjoy up to 14 dives, including two night dives, transfers, twin share accommodation and meals on the custom-built Spoilsport, which has won 11 awards for its comfort and style, including the Rodale’s Reader Choice Award for ‘Best Liveaboard’ and ‘Most Environmentally Friendly’.  This Mike Ball Cairns Dive Adventure concludes with a scenic 250km flight over the Great Barrier Reef back to Cairns.

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.

Tour Length: 4 days & 4 nights | Operates: Year round
Destination: Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs & Coral Sea
Departs: Thursday 8.30am | Returns: Monday 7.00am
Transfers available: Yes, free from all Cairns City Hotels.

Spirit of Freedom is one of Australia’s premier liveaboard Great Barrier Reef dive operators.  Their 37m boat is one of the largest in Australia and provides comfort and luxury during your four day, four night dive tour to the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs.  Your journey commences with a one-hour scenic flight to Lizard Island, where you will be transferred to the Spirit of Freedom vessel.  You can enjoy up to 15 dives on the Spirit of Freedom Coral Sea and Ribbon Reefs liveaboard dive tour, commencing at the world famous Cod Hole and Dynamite Pass on the Ribbon Reefs, before heading out to the wilderness of the Coral Sea and Osprey Reef.

Spirit of Freedom is an experienced Cairns dive tour operator with Advanced Ecotourism Accreditation through Ecotourism Australia. This is in recognition of their commitment to operate at the highest environmental standards and provide their guests with education and interpretation on the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef.   You will see some amazing natural wonders during your Spirit of Freedom adventure, before ending your trip at Trinity Wharf in Cairns.

Tour Length: 7 days & 7 nights | Operates: Year round
Destination: Coral Sea & Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs
Departs: Monday 12.00pm | Returns: Monday 7.00am
Transfers available: Yes, free from all Cairns City Hotels.

This is undoubtedly the most comprehensive live aboard dive tour departing from Cairns.  It provides you with 6.5 days of diving on some of the most remote, pristine and spectacular dive sites in the world.  The operator, Spirit of Freedom has been accredited by Ecotourism Australia as being an Advanced Ecotourism experience.  This means that when choosing this Cairns live aboard dive tour, you know you are travelling with a crew that respects and protects the precious Great Barrier Reef marine environment and is committed to its preservation for future generations.

Commencing in Cairns, the Spirit of Freedom seven day Cold Hole, Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea dive adventure provides you with the chance to enjoy up to 26 dives on the Great Barrier Reef, including drift dives, wall dives and night dives.  Your sea chariot, the 37m Spirit of Freedom, is one Australia’s largest live aboard dive vessels and yet it provides a high guest to crew ratio of 26 to 10, ensuring you enjoy first class service on your ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea dive adventure.