great barrier reef tours: spirit of freedom
Spirit of Freedom is a luxury cruise vessel suitable for even the most discerning traveller. The vessel can hold up to 26 passengers in its 11 spacious air-conditioned cabins, which include en suite bathrooms. This 36 metre vessel features electronic stabilisers, wide flat screen TV/DVDs, a comfortable and spacious lounge and dining area, sun decks and luxury accommodation.
Spirit of Freedom travels out to the Ribbon Reefs and the infamous Cod Hole where divers have the chance to experience some of the most diverse reef ecosystems found on the Great Barrier Reef. Choose from 3, 4 and 7 day excursions to the Ribbon Reefs, Coral Sea and the Cod Hole. During your 3 and 4 day trips you will get a bonus scenic flight from Cairns to Lizard Island where you can travel 500 metres above the world’s largest living organism, the Great Barrier Reef, giving you the opportunity to explore this magnificent being from the water and the sky.
Gourmet chefs prepare guests their daily meals and a complimentary glass of wine is served nightly with dinner. There are three entertainment areas on the vessel where passengers can kick back and relax; the dining saloon, lounge bar and sundeck. Visit the on board library and have unlimited usage of the on-site computer with CD burner where you can download your stunning photos.
The staff aboard Spirit of Freedom consist of 10 trained and enthusiastic professionals. All the crew on Spirit of Freedom work together to ensure that passengers have a safe, educational and entertaining time that exceeds all expectations.
3 Day and 3 Night Cod Hole and Ribbon Reef Dive Adventure
Dive the world famous Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs of the Great Barrier Reef where you will encounter giant Potato Cods, clouds of colourful tropical fish, anemones, Moray eels, giant Napoleon Wrasse, and pristine coral gardens. This adventure departs Cairns at 12:00pm on Mondays and returns back to Cairns via a scenic reef flight from Lizard Island at 11:30am on Thursdays. During your dive tour you will have a chance to do 11 separate dives.
On Monday you will be picked up from your Cairns accommodation by a courtesy shuttle and will be taken to Marlin Marina to board the Spirit of Freedom. Before departure you will meet the crew and undergo a simple orientation of the vessel. Enjoy a gourmet lunch as you cruise to the Great Barrier Reef arriving in the first dive spot for an afternoon orientation dive and a twilight or night dive. After dinner just kick back and relax as you cruise on to the Ribbon Reefs.
By Tuesday morning you should be well rested because there are four separate dives to tackle today. At Number 5 Ribbon Reef the first dives will be at Permission Bommie and the Clam Gardens. At these two reefs discover the great size and bounty of these unique clams. In the afternoon you will do a drift dive at ‘High Five’ followed by an evening dive at beautiful Gorgie’s Wall before soldiering on to the northern most tip of the Ribbon Reefs that evening.
Be prepared for an adrenaline rush on Wednesday as you finally reach the infamous Cod Hole made famous by the legendary Potato Cod. The first dive will be at the monolith at Challenger Bay and the Cod Hole. Next it is time to do a drift dive at Dynamite Pass which got its name because of the many sharks who use this channel to pass between the reefs. The last dive of the day is at the Snake Pit where you will see plenty of Olive Sea Snakes squirming through the water. You will then reach Watson’s Bay at Lizard Island where a BBQ dinner will be held on the top deck.
Thursday morning after a satisfying leisurely breakfast explore the beaches and bays at Lizard Island. At 10:30am board the light twin engine aircraft for your scenic flight back to Cairns where you will be shuttled back to your accommodation with a camera full of pictures and many amazing memories and stories to share.
4 Day and 4 Night Coral Sea Adventure
This Coral Sea Adventure with Spirit of Freedom departs Cairns at 8:30am Thursdays and returns at 7:00am on Mondays. This exciting adventure will take you to 16 diverse dive sights and includes a scenic flight overtop of the Great Barrier Reef. Experience a dive at the Cod Hole and travel out 200km to the remote Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. Here you will dive with sharks, mantas and schools of pelagics against sheer walls laced with Gorgonian fans and visibility of 30 — 100 metres.
At 7:30am Thursday morning a courtesy shuttle will collect you from your Cairns accommodation and bring you to the airport. From there you will board a light twin engine aircraft for a scenic flight to Lizard Island. As you discover the Great Barrier Reef from the sky you will be more excited than ever to venture into the deep blue and discover all the magnificent creatures from beneath. After arriving at Lizard Island you will be introduced to the crew and taken on an orientation of the vessel. After the short orientation it is off to Ribbon Reef Number Ten where you are able to do two or three dives on some of the following sites: Cod Hole, Challenger Bay, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Wall and Pixie Pinnacle. After your dives, settle in and get comfortable because it is now an 8 hour journey to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea.
Friday and Saturday are both spent at Osprey Reef. Osprey Reef is packed with so much action two days hardly does it justice. The waters of the Coral Sea are renowned for their transparency and feature visibility of up to 100 metres. Here at Osprey Reef you will see the likes of Gray Whalers, Silvertips, reef sharks, schooling barracuda, trevally, other pelagics and even the odd Hammerhead Shark. Be amazed at the fantastic coral at Osprey Reef that features sheer walls laced with Gorgonians, sea whips, and bright yellow soft corals rising from thousands of feet below.
The itinerary for Sunday and Monday are weather dependable. You will spend Sunday at Ribbon Reef Number 3 diving Steve’s Bommie, The Temple of Doom and Flare Point. If the weather allows, you will also go to Bougainville Reef in the Coral Sea.
On Monday enjoy your last breakfast on board as you return back to Cairns at approximately 6:30am.
7 Day and 7 Night Cod Hole/ Ribbon Reef and Coral Sea Adventure
This is the ultimate diving experience that allows passengers to truly discover the immensity and uniqueness of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. During your 7 days and nights of diving, experience the two diverse eco systems of the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea. Your cruise will include the Ribbon Reefs, the Cod Hole, a chance to explore Lizard Island, Osprey and possibly Bougainville Reef, Coral Sea. This 7 day and 7 night adventure departs Monday mornings at noon and returns the following Monday at 7:00am. During your trip, you will be able to undergo up to 27 dives!
Late Monday morning a courtesy shuttle will pick you up from your Cairns accommodation and take you to Cairns Marlin Marina where you will be introduced to the crew and given an orientation of the vessel. No time is wasted and soon you will be enjoying your lunch while cruising out to the Great Barrier Reef and your first dive location. During the afternoon you will do an orientation dive and a night dive. Then it is time to settle in for some dinner as you cruise north to the Ribbon Reefs.
You will arrive at Ribbon Reef Number Five Tuesday morning where you will get to experience two sites, Permission Bommie and the Clam Gardens. Be amazed at the abundance of giant clams and colourful coral. In the afternoon you’ll head to High Five where you do your first drift dive and then it is an evening dive at Georgie’s Wall. During the night you will sail north to the top of the Ribbon Reefs.
Wednesday morning you will arrive at the Cod Hole, famous for its humongous Potato Cod. You will also get to do a dive at Challenger Bay. If you are game, try a drift dive at Dynamite Pass; a renowned channel the sharks use to pass between the reefs. In the afternoon you will have a dive in the Snake Pit full of Olive Sea Snakes. Next you will arrive at Lizard Island where we will have much anticipated roof top BBQ.
Thursday morning you will have a chance to explore the exclusive Lizard Island but its back on the boat and back out to the reef again before lunch. You will have a chance during the afternoon to do two or three dives on Ribbon Reef Number Ten at Cod Hole, Challenger Bay, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Wall, and Pixie Pinnacle. Next it is an eight hour journey to Osprey Reef.
You will wake up Friday morning to find yourself at Osprey Reef where the waters are clear, giving you up to 100m of visibility in some spots! Both Friday and Saturday are spent diving at Osprey Reef at a multitude of different sites where you will see Grey Whalers, Silvertips, reef sharks, occasional hammerheads, schooling barracuda, trevally, and other pelagics.
On Sunday you will head to Ribbon Reef Number 3 and do three dives at Steve’s Bommie, Temple of Doom, and Flare Point. If weather permits, you will do a fourth dive at Bougainville Reef. After the final dive of the day it is time to settle in for the final descent back to Cairns.
On Monday morning you will enjoy your final breakfast onboard before you reach Cairns at 6:30am. You will have the whole day ahead of you to rest, recover and reflect on the amazing experience you have just experienced.
Whether you try the 3 day, 4 day or 7 day excursion with Spirit of Freedom be prepared to encounter a life changing experience, one that you will remember for a long time. Please ensure that baggage weights don’t exceed 20 kilos and that only soft sided baggage is taken.
On Board TSMV Spirit of Freedom
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Length | 37.0 metres |
| Beam | 7.1 metres |
| Speed | 12 knots |
| Displacement | 250 tonnes |
| Fresh Water | Unlimited |
| Passengers | Maximum 26 |
| Crew | 8 — 10 |
| Extras | Fully Air-conditioned throughout Electronic Stabilizers |
Cabins:
Eleven spacious air-conditioned cabins all contain their own private bathroom and are serviced daily. A range of cabin types is available and the three premium cabin types contain TV/DVD and CD player.
| Cabin Type | Cabin No | Furnishings |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean View Deluxe | 13 | Large cabin, with double bed, wardrobe, writing desk, Bed side tables, TV & DVD player. |
| Ocean View | 12 | Contains double bed, wardrobe, TV & DVD player. |
| Stateroom | 1 | Spacious cabin with queen bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers, bed side tables, TV & DVD player. |
| Double or Twin | 3, 7, 8, 9 | Double bed & single over, wardrobe, bedside table. |
| Double | 4 | Double bed only, wardrobe, bedside table. |
| Twin Share | 2 | Bunk style single beds, wardrobe. |
| Quad Share | 5, 6 | Bunk style single beds, wardrobe. |
The chefs provide first class meals and can cater to specific dietary requirements. Enjoy Australian and international cuisines and four meals a day. Australian wine and soft drinks are complimentary with the evening meal.
As a guest on board Spirit of Freedom you may dive with your buddy to your pace and interests with no set limits on time, depth or style of diving outside of normal safe diving practices. An orientation dive is offered on the first dive, and a safety instructor will be in the water on most dives. Guided dives will be offered on one or two dives each day.
The Spirit of Freedom crew are dedicated professionals who work together as a team to ensure your diving and your time on board is fun, safe, and a first rate memorable experience that surpasses all your expectations.
Enjoy a one way low level flight over the reef between Cairns and Lizard Island on your 3 Day Cod Hole or 4 Day Coral Sea cruise. A spectacular way to begin or end your dive trip! The flight will save you travelling time, allowing more dives and more time in the clear waters of the northern end of the Ribbon Reefs.
Enjoy email and satellite phone communications to anywhere in the world through the new Seawave Satellite system. Create your own personalised account on board or prior to your trip at www.seawave.com and pay just US$5 per minute for international communications.
Entertainment
Wide screen TV Projector unit and DVD movie library. Passengers are also welcome to view their own digital images or videos through the projector.
Computer & CD burner for digital image download. Digital cameras (Sony DCS-P9) and housings available for hire.
Dive Equipment
- 2 x Bauer 21 CFM Compressors
- DNAx Nitrox System
- 65 cf & 88 cf Alloy Tanks
- Suunto Dive Computers / Oceanic Nitrox Computers
- All individual scuba gear items
- 2 x 4.8m Naiad Tender boats
