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Spirit of Freedom’s 7 night Cairns liveaboard trip delivers the areas best in class diving! You can do up to 26 dives including 2 night dives, exploring the Great Barrier Reef’s Ribbon Reef and world famous Cod Hole, as well as the amazing Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. Highlights will be an outstanding diversity and abundance of marine life, including giant potato cod and a shark encounter dive. These trips aren’t cheap, but they are bucket list worthy. The mostly inclusive pricing covers your cabin accommodation, all meals, daily cabin service, guided walk on Lizard Island and some dive equipment. As this trip visits remote locations, Spirit of Freedom requires divers to have a minimum of Advanced certification, with 20 ocean dives, 5 having been completed in the last 12 months.
The 7 night Spirit of Freedom Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs and Coral Sea liveaboard dive trip departs Cairns every Thursday at 12pm and returns the following Thursday at 8am. Spirit of Freedom has access to many dive sites and will pick the best ones to maximise your experience at the time of travel. Please note this trip is designed for scuba divers. The Coral Sea sites are not suitable for snorkelers. As such, if you or your group has snorkelers in it, we would recommend a different Cairns liveaboard reef tour.
What We Love About Spirit of Freedom. Spirit of Freedom is top of class when it comes to quality dive sites and experiences. Cod Hole, Steve’s Bommie, North Horn and Rapid Horn, these names won’t mean much to you now, but once you’ve been, you’ll never forget them. The boat is well maintained and spacious, the meals are fabulous and the crew attentive. The daily itinerary maximises your dive time but never feels rushed. Top deck sunset BBQ for the win and walk on Lizard Island.
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Get a free underwater camera rental when you book tours through us valued at over $750, we’ll lend you a GoPro underwater camera to use for the duration of your tours. Numbers are limited and allocated on a first-come basis. Get in touch with us to claim this deal today.
This boat and trip is for divers who want to see the best of the Great Barrier Reef, and then go on an expedition to Osprey Reef, with its 1,000m wall drop offs and spectacular visibility. In the water you’ll be amazed at the diversity and colour of marine life, on the boat you’ll enjoy delicious meals and the service of a very friendly and professional crew. You’ll be at sea for 7 nights, with a maximum of 23 other guests and a minimum of 12 crew. 11 guest cabins, all air conditioned with private bathrooms, in a range of configurations including doubles, twins and quad share.
Certified divers can do up to 26 dives on a Spirit of Freedom Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs and Coral Sea Cairns Liveaboard Dive Trip, which includes 24 day dives and 2 night dives. You’ll be visiting and exploring remote dive sites, some with 1,000m wall drops offs, and as such the operator requires divers to have a minimum of Advanced certification, with 20 logged ocean dives, 5 having been completed in the last 12 months. You’ll do 2 dives on day 1, on Cairns’ outer Great Barrier Reef. Then for the next 3 days, you’ll be diving on the far northern Ribbon Reefs, including at least 1 dive at the world famous Cod Hole. You have the chance for 5 dives on day 2, including 1 night dive. 4 dives on day 3 and 2 dives on day 4. That night, Spirit of Freedom motors to Osprey Reef on the Coral Sea, where you’ll spend the next 2 days diving and exploring. 5 dives on day 5, including 1 night dive. 4 dives on day 6, and that night Spirit of Freedom returns to the Ribbon Reefs, which is where you’ll end your diving adventure. 4 dives on day 7. No diving on day 8. You don’t have to do all the dives, but they are all included in the tour price; there’s no discount provided if you do less dives.
Please note that this trip is for scuba divers with advanced certification. The diving is unguided and in buddy pairs. If you are not travelling with your dive buddy, one will be allocated to you on the boat. There will be an orientation dive at the start of the trip and a Safety Diver in the water on all dives. Water entry is giant stride. Dive site briefings are included in the tour price. You will be required to show proof of your dive certification.
Please Note. Some diving equipment is included in the tour price, and this is: mask, snorkel, boots, fins, tanks, weights and weight belts – as well as surface marker buoys, whistles and Nautilus LifeLine Marine GPS. Additional equipment can be rented at additional cost to the tour price. Rental equipment includes: BCD, regulators, computer, torch and wetsuits.
The MV Spirit of Freedom was designed and custom-built to provide exceptional long-range cruise and dive expeditions on the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. It’s a monohull vessel with electronic stabilisers for passenger comfort. Spirit of Freedom has 3 decks and takes a maximum of 24 guests and a minimum of 12 crew on each trip. In addition to the 11 accommodation cabins and dive deck, Spirit of Freedom has lots of shared communal spaces, from the air conditioned dining saloon and forward lounge, complete with Ship’s Bar, to the spacious open air top deck with sun lounges and shaded table and chair seating. Spirit of Freedom has a cruising speed of 12 knots. It’s 37m long x 7.1m wide.
The passenger accommodation on Spirit of Freedom’s Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs Cairns liveaboard dive trips is provided in 11 cabins. All the cabins are air conditioned with their own private toilet. They come in a range of configurations, from doubles and twins to quad share. Linen and shower towels are provided and included, but you should bring your own ‘ocean’ towel to use on the dive deck. There are 2 ocean view cabins, the rest are located below deck. When you’re not in your cabin, you’re welcome to relax in the air conditioned saloon area, guest lounge or on the external decks, including the top sundeck.
As the name suggests, the Ocean View Deluxe cabin is located on the top deck and provides ocean views through 3 large windows. The cabin has a double bed, tables, wardrobes and flat screen TV. Double or sole occupancy only.
The Ocean View Standard cabin is also on the top deck, with 2 windows providing views. This cabin has a double bed, wardrobe and flat screen TV. Double or sole occupancy only.
The Stateroom Cabin is the largest guest cabin on Spirit of Freedom. It’s located below deck and has a queen bed, extra shelving, bedside tables, wardrobe and flat screen TV. Double or sole occupancy only.
There are 7 standard double or twin share cabins on Spirit of Freedom. 5 of them have a double bed with a single bed over the top, bunk style. Usually only 2 guests are allocated to these cabins, but 3 can share upon request. 1 cabin has a double bed. 1 cabin has 2 single beds. These cabins have a wardrobe, bedside tables and personal reading light. Double, twin and sole occupancy only.
There is 1 quad share cabin, which has 4 single beds in bunk bed style. As with all cabins, the quad share cabin is air conditioned and has its own bathroom and wardrobe. It’s located midships, below deck.
Spirit of Freedom’s range of dive sites are the best of the best. The far northern Ribbon Reefs of the Great Barrier Reef are well known for the abundance of coral cover and marine life. The Cod Hole has a large population of very friendly potato cod, some as big as small divers, Steve’s Bommie is awesome and there’s lots more including the Snake Pit, Challenger Bay and Vertical Gardens. While Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea is known for its outstanding visibility, sometimes up to 100m and sharks. North Horn offers a shark encounter dive, False Entrance has large schools of trevally and Around the Bend for soft corals, sea fans and more. Day 1 = 2 dives. Day 2 = 4 dives and 1 night dive. Day 3 = 4 dives. Day 4 = 2 dives. Day 5 = 4 dives and 1 night dive. Day 6 = 4 dives. Day 7 = 4 dives. No diving on day 8. You do not have to participate in all the dives, but they are all included in the tour price; there is no discount provided if you do less dives.
Dining on Spirit of Freedom is excellent! The meals are prepared fresh, the menu changes daily and the servings are generous – and in between meals, there’s snacks. In fact, food is such a part of the trip, that a common onboard saying is, “if you’re not diving or sleeping, you’re eating”. The first meal of the day is a light continental breakfast, which is available before the first dive. This is followed by a second breakfast, a hearty feast of bacon and eggs and all the good stuff. After more diving, lunch is served, and then another dive, afternoon tea, more diving and finally dinner with dessert. Fresh fruit is available all day and there’s unlimited access to tea, coffee, Milo and chilled water. Soft drinks, juice and snack items, including chocolate bars and crisps, can be bought separately and any onboard purchases are settled at the end of the trip. Please note that Spirit of Freedom is a licensed vessel. They provide 1 complimentary beer, wine or soft drink with the evening meal. Additional alcoholic beverages are available for purchase. Please note alcohol can only be consumed at the conclusion of diving for the day. You can NOT drink and then dive. Once you have had an alcoholic beverage, you will not be permitted to enter the water again until the following day
Most dietary requirements can be accommodated on Spirit of Freedom, with advance notice to be provided. Their hospitality staff can identify which items are suited to your specific requirements. “However, due to logistical constraints in regard to provisioning and limited food preparation areas, we cannot guarantee a 100% safe environment for anyone suffering from a severe food allergy (anaphylaxis), including exposure via cross-contamination or airborne allergens.
All persons with a known allergy, especially those with a previous medical history of anaphylaxis, must travel with sufficient medication and a pre-prepared action plan to manage their condition.”
The Spirit of Freedom Osprey Reef and Coral Sea Cairns liveaboard dive trips start with a scenic flight to Lizard Island. As such, it’s important to adhere to the flight operator’s baggage allowance of 20kg (45lb) per person, including carry-on luggage. When packing for your trip, make sure you bring appropriate clothing (casual attire is fine) and swimwear, including warm layers for cooler evenings. Essential items include an ocean towel, hat, sunscreen, toiletries, dive certification card and logbook, seasickness medication, and a reusable water bottle, which can be refilled on board. Additionally, ensure you have any required personal medications and basic toiletries.
Do Not Bring: Sleeping bags, pillows, extra luggage (can be safely stored at our Cairns office at no extra cost) or alcoholic beverages.
Spirit Of Freedom’s 7 night / 8 day Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs and Coral Sea liveaboard dive trip, departs Cairns every Thursday at 12pm and returns the following Thursday at 8am. Please note: Spirit of Freedom runs 3 night and 4 night itineraries – which combine to form the 7 night trip. On day 4 of the 7 night trip, the guests booked on a 3 night trip will depart at Lizard Island, taking a scenic flight back to Cairns, while the 4 night guests arrive on the same flight and transfer to Spirit of Freedom. So new people will join mid-way through the expedition. This provides you with time to enjoy a guided walk on Lizard Island. Courtesy transfers are provided to and from Cairns city accommodation and airport.
Courtesy transfers are provided from Cairns accommodation and airport to Spirit of Freedom. Transfers start at 11am. The boat departs Cairns at 12pm.
Starting your Spirit of Freedom adventure. Boarding the boat, meeting the crew and 2 scuba dives on Cairns’ outer Great Barrier Reef. Sunset at sea is always a winner!
On arrival at Spirit of Freedom, the crew will greet you and provide an orientation of the vessel. You’ll also be shown your cabin. As you enjoy lunch in the dining saloon, Spirit of Freedom departs Cairns and makes its way to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. 2 dives this afternoon, an orientation dive and a twilight dive. After that dinner and dessert are served and you’re welcome to relax and settle in. Overnight, Spirit of Freedom makes its way to the Ribbon Reefs.
Dive time! 5 dives today including a night dive. The daily schedule runs a bit like this – sleep, eat, dive, repeat – stay hydrated and drink lots of water.
Early morning scuba dives on the Great Barrier Reef are very rewarding, you’ll see sharks settling in for a day of rest and the smaller fish start to emerge for the day. It’s a busy time on the reef and worth getting up for!
Spirit of Freedom provides a light breakfast of fruit and yoghurt, tea and coffee, before the first dive of the day. Then while you dive, the hospitality crew are busy whipping up bacon and eggs, hashbrowns and more for ‘second breakfast’. The daily schedule of exact dive times and locations varies, depending on conditions at the time of travel, but on Fridays it’s usually: Wake – Eat – Dive – Eat – Dive – Lunch – Dive – Afternoon Tea – Dive – Dinner – Night Dive – Dessert. Remember, once you consume alcohol, you’re out of the water until the next day. So, if you want to participate in the night dive, skip the beer / wine at dinner (you can have it with dessert).
Full day of diving and exploring the many awesome sites on the Great Barrier Reef’s Ribbon Reefs. 4 day dives today – no night dives.
Exploring the amazing dive sites of the Great Barrier Reef’s far northern Ribbon Reefs. The visibility is excellent and marine diversity and abundance will blow your mind. Sunset BBQ dinner.
Day 3 rolls like day 2 – dive, eat, sleep, repeat. You’re in a truly remarkable location, exploring reefs that few others ever get the chance to see. Each site on the Ribbon Reefs offer divers something different, from colourful schools of anthias and diagonal-banded sweetlips to encounters with reef sharks, sea snakes and moray eels. At least 1 dive on the Ribbon Reefs will be at the Cod Hole, home to a large population of friendly potato cod. In the afternoon, Spirit of Freedom makes its way to Watson’s Bay at Lizard Island, and tonight you’ll enjoy a stunning top deck BBQ as the sun sets.
Passenger changeover day [3 night guests depart – 4 night guests arrive] with the chance to take a walk on Lizard Island.
Lizard Island is just lovely and quite a historic site. This morning, head over to the island with the crew and enjoy a guided tour. 2 dives in the afternoon.
Enjoy breakfast on Spirit of Freedom, before a tender transfer over to Lizard Island. Join a guided island walk with the crew, taking in Mary Watson’s Cottage and Chinaman’s Ridge. As the new guests arrive, you’ll all be tender transferred from the beach back to Spirit of Freedom. There’s 2 Ribbon Reef dives this afternoon and tonight while you rest, Spirit of Freedom commences the 10 hour crossing to Osprey Reef, in the Coral Sea.
Get ready, the next stage starts now. Adventure diving at Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. Stay hydrated and drink lots of water.
Waking up, with nothing around you but the sea. No land in sight. The early morning dive is a great time be in the water – lots of sharks – 4 day dives and 1 night dive today.
Sleep, eat, dive, repeat, this 7 night Cairns liveaboard is for those that love to dive! Catch sunrise over the Coral Sea, grab a fruit snack and get ready for the first dive of the day. While you dive, bacon and eggs are being prepared for ‘second breakfast’. The exact dive schedule, times and locations vary based on conditions, but, if possible, at least 1 dive at Osprey Reef will be at North Horn – for a memorable shark encounter. There’s the chance for a night dive tonight.
Full day on Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. Spirit of Freedom will move during the day, so you can explore lots of sites.
Up to 4 dives today exploring Osprey Reef and its many amazing dive sites. The underwater visibility out here is usually epic, between 30 – 100m.
By now you’ve settled into the Spirit of Freedom ‘routine’. Life is good. Enjoy your second day exploring Osprey Reef, a true oceanic wilderness. Coral walls dropping to over 1,000m below, large soft corals and sea fans, silvertip and grey reef sharks for days. It’s your last day here so make the most of it. Tonight while you sleep, Spirit of Freedom makes its return to the Ribbon Reefs.
Last day of diving on your 7 night trip. You can do up to 4 day dives today – no night dives.
Diving some more stunning Ribbon Reef sites. Pending weather, a visit to the sensational Steve’s Bommie – one of our favourites
It’s your last day on Spirit of Freedom’s Cairns liveaboard dive trip, make every moment count. Up to 4 dives and as the day progresses, so does Spirit of Freedom’s southward trajectory. Celebrate your last night with a BBQ and tonight while you sleep, Spirit of Freedom motors south, taking you back to the tropical port city of Cairns.
Morning departure from the boat with transfers back to your Cairns accommodation.
Full day to explore Cairns and its rainforest surrounds (at your own pace and cost).
Arrive back to Cairns around 6.30am. Spirit of Freedom serves a light breakfast on board, before departure. There’s time for a group photo in front of the boat, before courtesy transfers drop you back to your accommodation, at around 8am.
The 7 night Spirit of Freedom Cairns liveaboard trip takes you up to the Great Barrier Reef’s far northern Ribbon Reefs and then to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. The exact locations you go to are dependent on the weather and tides at the time of travel, but you can be assured all the sites on this 7 night / 8 day trip are amazing.
Spirit of Freedom is a dive liveaboard boat. The destinations on the 7 night liveaboard trip include 2 days on Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. At some of these sites, the coral is over 20m under the surface, so this trip is not suitable for snorkelers.
Yes, Spirit of Freedom requires diving passengers on their 7 night Cod Hole, Ribbon Reef and Osprey Reef trip to have a minimum of Advanced certification, with 20 ocean dives, 5 having been completed in the last 12 months. Certification and log books will be required to be supplied. Why is this? The locations you will visit are very remote and as such, safety and experience are paramount.
The 7 night Spirit of Freedom Cairns liveaboard dive trip is amazing! You’ll see some of the best of the Great Barrier Reef and also explore Osprey Reef, with its 1,000m sheer wall drop offs and visibility that varies from 30 to 100m. This dive trip is a bucket list trip.
You can do up to 26 dives on a 7 night Spirit of Freedom Cairns liveaboard dive trip, which includes 24 day dives and 2 night dive. You don’t have to participate in all the dives, but there’s no discount provided for dives not completed.
No. There are no dedicated dive guides on Spirit of Freedom, which is why they suggest experienced divers. You will complete 1 guided orientation dive and there will be a Safety Diver in the water.
Yes, you need to be able to swim in open water to go on a Spirit of Freedom Cairns liveaboard dive trip. Spirit of Freedom visits remote reef sites. All reef experiences are conducted in the water. There is no pontoon, glass bottom boat or semi submersible, so the only way to ‘see the reef’ is to get in the water. In the Coral Sea, waves and current will be factor from time to time.
Whether this trip is suitable for your family depends on the age of your children. Spirit of Freedom has a minimum passenger age of 16. If your children are 16 or older and hold an Advanced Dive certification with the required number of dives, then absolutely—this trip is a fantastic choice for families looking to create unforgettable diving memories. However, if they are younger, this particular experience won’t be suitable. Fortunately, there are other Cairns liveaboard dive trips that may better fit your family’s needs.
The dining experience aboard Spirit of Freedom is exceptional, with freshly prepared meals served daily. Designed to be delicious and nourishing, the menu ensures divers stay energised throughout their trip. Guests are treated to two breakfasts—one before and one after the first dive—followed by lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and dessert. Fresh fruit is always available for snacks, offering a light and healthy option between meals. Dietary requirements can be accommodated with prior notice at the time of booking
Spirit of Freedom takes a maximum of 24 guests and a minimum of 12 crew on their Cairns liveaboard dive trips. All cabins are air conditioned and have their own private bathroom.
Yes, non-diving friends / partners can come on a Spirit of Freedom Cairns liveaboard dive trip, but please note the 7 night expedition includes 2 days at Osprey Reef. In some of these places, the reef doesn’t even ‘start’ until you are 20m under the water, so this will not be ‘amazing’ for non-divers. That said, there will be opportunities for snorkeling at some of the Ribbon Reef sites, and of course plenty of time for relaxing and enjoying the boat.
Lots of great inclusions in the 7 night Spirit of Freedom Cairns liveaboard dive trip. These are: your cabin accommodation, linen and cabin towel, all meals and unlimited tea and coffee. The evening meal comes with 1 beer, wine or soft drink – additional beverages can be purchased at additional cost. The price also includes 26 scuba dives – 24 day dives and 2 night dives – and some diving equipment (but not all – there are equipment rental packages available for BCDs, regulators and more) – a guided orientation dive, dive briefings and Safety Diver in the water. A guided walk on Lizard Island.
Spirit of Freedom is an excellent liveaboard boat. The dive deck is well planned and spacious, the cabins are comfortable and there’s lots of communal spaces, from the forward lounge and dining saloon to the top deck. It has 3 decks and takes a maximum of 24 guests with a cruising speed of 12 knots. Very stable ride in most sea conditions. 37m long x 7.1m wide.
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