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Spirit of Freedom’s 4 night Osprey Reef and Coral Sea Cairns liveaboard dive trips deliver epic diving, in remote locations with amazing visibility. You can do up to 15 dives, including 1 night dive, and most of the diving is on Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. This destination is remote with 1,000m wall drop-offs. There’s so much to see – lots of sharks, and Spirit of Freedom dedicates 1 dive specifically for shark encounters – stunning soft corals, pelagic fish and more. The tour price includes your cabin accommodation, all meals, daily cabin service, scenic flight from Cairns to Lizard Island and cruise from Lizard Island to Osprey Reef and back to Cairns. Some diving equipment is included in the price, and rental packages are available for more (see below). Please note Spirit of Freedom requires diving guests to have a minimum of Advanced certification, with 20 ocean dives, 5 having been completed in the last 12 months.
The 4 night Spirit of Freedom Osprey Reef and Coral Sea Cairns liveaboard dive trip departs every Sunday at 8.30am, with a scenic flight to Lizard Island, which is where you meet the boat. You’ll enjoy 2 dives on the Great Barrier Reef’s Ribbon Reefs on day 1, 9 dives at various locations on Osprey Reef on days 2 and 3, including 1 night dive, 4 dives back on the Ribbon Reefs on day 4. No diving on day 5. Exact dive sites will be selected to maximise your in-water experience, pending conditions at your time of travel. Please note Spirit of Freedom is primarily a dive boat. Reef sites are chosen for suitability for scuba divers. The Osprey Reef and Coral Sea sites are not suitable for snorkelers. If you / your group are snorkelers, then we recommend a different Cairns liveaboard reef tour.
What We Love About Spirit of Freedom. Experienced divers seeking serious shark action, remote locations and jaw dropping visibility will LOVE this trip! As well as including a shark encounter dive, you’ll explore coral walls with 1,000m drop offs, decorated with a stunning array of soft corals. Large schools of pelagic fish and so much more. Spirit of Freedom is a great boat, with brilliant crew and delicious food. The dive schedule ensures lots of diving, with time for rest too. The scenic flight from Cairns to Lizard Island is an added bonus.
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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.
Spirit of Freedom ticks a lot of boxes. The crew are great, and the boat is awesome. There are 11 comfortable passenger cabins in a range of configurations including doubles, twin share and quad share, all with their own private bathroom. The 4 night Osprey Reef and Coral Sea trip starts with a scenic flight from Cairns to Lizard Island, which is where the boat awaits. There’s a maximum of 24 guests on each trip and a minimum of 12 crew, so the customer service is excellent.
Certified divers can do up to 15 dives on a Spirit of Freedom Osprey Reef and Coral Sea Cairns Liveaboard Dive Trip, which includes 14 day dives and 1 night dive. Due to the remote locations, dive depths and conditions, Spirit of Freedom suggest divers booking this trip have a minimum of Advanced certification, with 20 ocean dives, 5 having been completed in the last 12 months. You’ll do 2 dives on the first day, on the far northern Ribbon Reefs, then spend the next 2 days diving at various locations on Osprey Reef, including 9 dives (8 day dives and 1 night dive). The last full day is spent diving the Ribbon Reefs (different locations) with 4 dives. You do not dive on day 5. You don’t have to participate in all the dives, but they are all included in the tour price; there’s no discount if you do less dives.
Spirit of Freedom does not provide dive guides as such. However, there is a Safety Guide in the water for all dives, and you can join them if you wish. The dive depths on Osprey Reef include 1,000m wall drop-offs and you will be diving to your certification and experience levels. Diving is done in buddy pairs, if you are not travelling with your dive buddy, one will be allocated to you on the boat. 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 Osprey Reef and Coral Sea Cairns liveaboard trips provide diving opportunities in remote locations on stunning coral reefs. As well as exploring various sites on Osprey Reef, you’ll also complete up to 6 dives on the Great Barrier Reef’s Ribbon Reefs. You can participate in up to 15 dives in total, including 1 night dive and a shark encounter dive. Spirit of Freedom has access to some of the best dive sites available – including North Horn, False Entrance, Castles, Steve’s Bommie and more – they’ll select the best ones to maximise your experience, pending conditions at the time of travel. Day 1 = 2 dives. Day 2 = 4 dives and 1 night dive. Day 3 = 4 dives. Day 4 = 4 dives. No diving on day 5. You don’t have to participate in all the dives, but all are included in the tour price; there’s no discount 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 Cod Hole and Ribbon Reef liveaboard dive trips depart Cairns every Thursday at 12pm, and return on Sunday around 11.30am. They are 3 night / 4 day trips. Courtesy transfers are provided to and from Cairns city accommodation and airport.
8.30am departure for the Cairns to Lizard Island flight. Spirit of Freedom provides courtesy transfers from Cairns accommodation to the airport; pick-ups from 7am.
The scenic flight from Cairns to Lizard Island reveals and size and scale of the Great Barrier Reef. 2 dives today and your first sunset at sea!
Spirit of Freedom is anchored at Watson’s Bay at Lizard Island, awaiting your arrival. To get there, a scenic flight from Cairns, which departs at 8.30am. Spirit of Freedom provides courtesy transfers from your accommodation to the airport, and the crew will meet you on the tarmac at Lizard Island. A tender transfer will get you aboard, where you’ll be greeted by more crew eager to welcome you. You’ll also be shown your cabin and provided with an orientation of the boat, while Spriit of Freedom leaves the bay and makes its way to your first dive destination, on the Great Barrier Reef’s far northern Ribbon Reefs. There’s time for 2 dives today, including an orientation dive. After diving is completed, dinner is served and while you settle in for the night, Spirit of Freedom commences the 10 hour crossing to Osprey Reef, in the Coral Sea.
Get ready to explore the depths of Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea! The schedule runs a little bit like this – sleep, eat, dive, repeat. Stay hydrated and drink lots of water.
Waking up to being in the middle of the big blue sea. No land in sight. Epic diving coming your way. Make sure you don’t miss the early morning dive, it’s a great time to be in the water. 4 day dives and 1 night dive today.
. Start the day with a stunning sunrise over the Coral Sea, followed by a quick coffee and a light continental breakfast – and then – we’re straight into dive time! While you’re in the water the hospitality team are busy getting a hearty cooked breakfast ready for your return – also known as second breakfast. The exact dive schedule and locations vary based on conditions, but Mondays usually roll like this: Wake – Eat – Dive – Eat – Dive – Lunch – Dive – Afternoon Tea – Dive – Dinner – Night Dive – Dessert. Keep in mind that once you have an alcoholic drink, you won’t be able to dive again until the next day. If you’re planning to join the night dive, skip the beer or wine at dinner.
Last full day on Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. You can do up to 4 day dives today – no night dives.
Exploring some more of Osprey Reef’s amazing dive sites. For those who love sharks, this is the place to see them! Grey reef sharks, silvertips, hammerheads and more.
Day 3 runs pretty much the same as day 2. Sleeping, eating, diving and repeating. Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea offers amazing diving in a true oceanic wilderness. Undersea mountains, wall drop offs to 1,000m and visibility that varies from 30 to 100 metres. It doesn’t get old and there’s sharks for days. Make the most of the dives and after you retire for the night, Spirit of Freedom makes its return to the Ribbon Reefs.
The far northern Ribbon Reefs are a part of the Great Barrier Reef and have some stunning dive sites, including Steve’s Bommie. Enjoy exploring all they have to offer.
The far northern Ribbon Reefs are a part of the Great Barrier Reef and have some stunning dive sites, including Steve’s Bommie. Enjoy exploring all they have to offer.
Day 4 sees you back on the Ribbon Reefs for a glorious end to your Osprey Reef and Coral Sea Cairns liveaboard dive trip. Spirit of Freedom has dive sites across the Ribbon Reefs and will choose the best ones to maximise your experience, at the time of travel. Throughout the day, you will be tracking south back towards Cairns, and while you sleep, Spirit of Freedom completes the journey.
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).
You’ll 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 4 night Spirit of Freedom Cairns liveaboard trip takes you to remote dive locations on the Great Barrier Reef’s far northern Ribbon Reefs and 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 the Osprey Reef and Coral sea trip are fantastic.
Spirit of Freedom is a dive liveaboard boat. The destinations on the 4 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 4 night Osprey Reef and Coral Sea 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 Osprey Reef and the Coral Sea are very remote and as such, safety and experience are paramount.
The 4 night Spirit of Freedom Cairns liveaboard dive trip is amazing! You’re in remote locations with 1,000m wall drop offs and visibility that varies from 30 to 100m. It’s vast and wild, home to sharks, tuna, barracuda, schools of pelagic fish and rare creatures that inhabit the deep waters, including nautilus and scorpionfish.
You can do up to 15 dives on a 4 night Spirit of Freedom Cairns liveaboard dive trip, which includes 14 day dives and 1 night dive. 2 dives on day 1, 5 dives on day 2 – including 1 night dive – 4 dives on days 3 and day 4. No diving on day 5. 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.
The answer to this depends on the age of your children: the minimum passenger age on Spirit of Freedom is 16 years old. If your children are aged 16 years and over – and have Advanced Dive certification with the required number of dives – then ‘yes’ this trip is suitable for families, and you will make some epic diving memories! However, if they are younger, then no – it is not suitable for families – but there are other Cairns liveaboard dive trips which might suit your family.
The food on Spirit of Freedom is consistently excellent, with fresh meals prepared daily. The ever changing menu is designed for both taste and sustenance, to fuel the tanks of hungry divers. Guests enjoy two breakfasts—one before and one after the first dive—along with lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and dessert. Dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice at booking. Fresh fruit is always available for snacks, ensuring you stay fueled throughout your adventure.
Spirit of Freedom takes a maximum of 24 guests and a minimum of 12 crew on their Cairns liveaboard dive trips. All guest cabins are air conditioned and have their own private bathroom.
Yes. Non-diving friends and/or partners can come with you on a Spirit of Freedom Cairns liveaboard dive trip, but please note the reef sites are chosen to meet the needs of certified scuba divers. There will be limited options for them to do anything while the boat is at Osprey Reef, except relax and enjoy the onboard facilities. There will be the opportunity for snorkelling at some of the Ribbon Reef sites.
There are lots of inclusions in the 4 night Spirit of Freedom Cairns liveaboard dive trip, such as: your cabin accommodation, linen and cabin towel, plus 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. 15 scuba dives included – 14 day dives and 1 night dive – 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 scenic flight from Cairns to Lizard Island and all boat and tender transfers.
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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