Spirit of Freedom Cod Hole & Ribbon Reef 3 Day / 3 Night LiveAboard
Departs most Thursdays at 12pm and includes 11 Dives
June and July Each Year is Minke Whale Season*
Departs: Most Thursdays
Duration: 3 Days / 3 Nights
No. of Dives: 11 Dives
Check in: 11.00am Cairns
Disembark: 10.00am Lizard Island
Min Cert: Open Water Cert
No. of Divers: 26
Cabin Types: Quad, Double/Twin, Stateroom, Ocean View, Deluxe
Ensuites: All cabins have ensuites
Nitrox: Available
Star Rating: 4 Star
Diving Experience: Open Water and Up.
Itinerary
Day 1 – 12.00pm departure. Lunch served while cruising to the outer reef. 2 dives today.
Day 2 – Full day at sea. Divers will have up to 5 dives today including a night dive.
Day 3 – Full day at sea. Up to 4 dives today.
Day 4 – Disembark on Lizard Island for a 10.00am low-level flight back to Cairns (arrive 11.30am).
Note: The scenic flight is a low-level flight and is safe for divers.
About the Cruise
The Ribbon Reefs are a string of 10 coral ramparts of the GREAT BARRIER REEF stretching southward from the Cod Hole. Coral formations vary from beds of huge plate corals to isolated pinnacles sustaining an amazing display of fish life. You will visit walls and channels for the perfect drift dives as well as caves, canyons and shallow coral gardens. The Cod Hole is located 200 km to the north of Cairns and has become famous for it's family of resident Potato Cod (Groper). Each of these huge fish can weigh up to 100 kg and are well accustomed to posing for diver's cameras. Shark dives, Potato Cod feeding, sheer walls laced with massive soft corals, manta-rays, minke whales, and abundant healthy tropical reefs, rich with marine biodiversity are just some of the high-lights you'll experience with Spirit of Freedom diving tours. Snorkellers also welcome on this trip
Spirit of Freedom is a purpose built ocean going liveaboard dive boat. Built for passenger comfort which means stabilisers, large cabins all with ensuites, spacious saloon area for dining and relaxing and covered top side deck. Added to this is the level of onboard services offering all the amenities of a hotel - chef prepared meals, cabins serviced daily, hot towels after each dive, dive tender in the water on all dives and an inwater dive supervisor available most dives. You can choose between bringing your own equipment or full gear hire. All meals and snacks are provided in the package and accommodation ranges from Quad Share to Double, Twin, Stateroom and Ocean View Deluxe. Spirit of Freedom is air-conditioned inside with a spacious sun deck and dive deck.
This is a Fly and Dive Trip with the cruise starting in Cairns and finishing on Lizard Island with a flight back to Cairns, all included in the trip cost. As it is a low-level flight you will have a great Scenic Flight back to Cairns. Due to light aircraft weight restrictions, your total luggage weight is limited to 20 kilograms/ 45 lb per person. All bags must be soft sided. If you have additional luggage that you wish to have stored whilst you are on tour with Spirit of Freedom, we have storage facilities at our office.
Minke Whale Season*
June and July mark the annual Minke Whale Season in Cairns — an incredible time when these gentle giants migrate through the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. During this period, our Spirit of Freedom liveaboard trips operate with special permits that allow us to actively look out for and observe dwarf minke whales in their natural environment. Encounters often happen while diving or snorkelling on the outer reef, giving guests the rare opportunity to experience these curious and graceful creatures up close, in a safe and responsible way.
3 DAY ITINERARY, MONDAY DEPARTURE
Departing: Cairns 12:00 noon Thursday
Returning: Cairns 11:30 am Sunday
Planning your travel arrangements
You will need to be in Cairns the night before departure. Spirit of Freedom recommends arrival into Cairns at least the day prior to your trip, as unforseen flight delays or lost baggage may cause inconvenience or you may even miss the boat. However, if you are flying into Cairns on day of departure, please note that you will need to make your own way to our dive shop or the vessel itself.
Check In & Hotel Transfers
Email info@prodive.com up to 48hrs prior to departure to advise your Hotel Accomodation, we will then organise a transfer for you. Pick ups from Cairns City locations only.
Making your own way - Boarding is from 11.15 -11.30am Thursday morning, for a 12.00 noon departure. The vessel is located at Trinity Wharf at the end of Lake Street. Taxis and coaches can drive up onto the wharf to locate the vessel, which is usually berthed under the clock tower.
Fit to Dive
We recommend you complete a dive medical -if required - before you arrive in Cairns
Web address for Doctors registered to do Dive Medicals Australia Wide- www.spums.org.au
Web address for Cairns 24hr Medical Center - Can provide Dive Medicals until 8pm - www.thedoctors.com.au
Dive Certification
Don’t forget to bring your Dive Certification which must be presented at check- in.
Sample Itinerary:
Thursday- Boarding Spirit of Freedom at 11:15am at Trinity Wharf (complimentary transfers from Cairns city hotels are available) for a 12 noon departure. Lunch will be served on board while we cruise to the Great Barrier Reef to the north of Cairns, for an afternoon orientation dive and a twilight or night dive.
Friday- Today we dive Steve's Bommie, on Ribbon Reef # 3. This is an isolated pinnacle that rises from 100 feet at its base to around 15 feet from the surface. Colourful antheas and a vast array of fish cover this bommie, while big eye trevally and barracuda hang out in the blue. Look for nudibranch and stonefish. Today we may also dive the Clam Gardens, where giant clams up to three feet across will amaze you. Some of our other favourite sites in this area of the Ribbons include Flare Point and the beautiful Gorgonia Wall.
Saturday- This morning we will dive the Cod Hole. This is a popular dive site famous for its resident family of large Potato Cod, (Groper). Good opportunity for photographers. We may also dive Dynamite Pass, possibly as a drift dive, well known as a channel for sharks cruising from the Coral Sea to the Barrier Reef. This afternoon we may dive Lighthouse Bommie, where Golden sea snakes are frequently sighted. In the spring months this site is also a Manta Ray cleaning station. Other sites we may visit today include Challenger Bay and Pixie Wall. This evening we cruise into Watson's Bay on Lizard Island where we will overnight in the lea of the island.
Sunday- This morning, after a leisurely breakfast, you have the opportunity to go ashore and explore Lizard Island. At 10:30am you will board a twin-engine light aircraft at Lizard Island for your low level flight over the reef back to Cairns. Arriving back at Cairns airport at approximately 11:30am, the Spirit of Freedom courtesy coach will meet you for your transfer back to your Cairns city hotel.
Please note that above itinerary is a sample only and sites may vary or the sequence may change in accordance to the weather and the accessibility.
What to bring on board
Personal items and toiletries, swimwear, hat, and sweatshirt in the winter (May - September). Casual attire during the day and smart casual for evening wear. For safety and comfort we encourage no shoes to be worn on board. If you are not sure of your sea legs, we strongly recommend that you take motion sickness tablets on the trip. Kwells and Travel Calm are suitable to use when diving.
Luggage Restrictions
Due to light aircraft weight restrictions, your total luggage weight is limited to 20 kilograms/ 45 lb per person, plus maximum carry-on of 3kg (6.5lbs) or 10kg (22lbs) allowance for professional photo/video housed systems. Excess baggage storage is available in Cairns.
Flying After Diving
We recommend you give yourself a 24 hour surface interval after your last dive before flying.
Reef Taxes and Levies
There is an additional fee which includes Government Management Charge, as well as a Port Departure Tax and administration costs. Payable direct at the end of the trip.
Alcohol Policy
Australian wines and soft drinks are served complimentary with the evening meal. Outside of this time we operate a ships bar with beer, mixed drinks, wine selection. Drinks can be placed on a tab for payment at the end of your trip.
Please note that the PADI Advanced and PADI Nitrox Courses are available in conjunction with this trip. They can be requested at time of booking and are only payable on board.