Choose your expedition
Choose your cabin when you book. Minke whale swims run in June and July only.-
Spirit of Freedom
3 night Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs
Departs Cairns Thursdays at 12 noon, back Sunday at about 11:30 am
$2500*
- Up to 10 dives along the Ribbon Reefs, depending on the weather and the minke sightings
- The Cod Hole, tide dependent, and a night at Lizard Island
- A low-level flight back to Cairns over the reef
- Minke whale swims in June and July
- All meals, with wine or soft drinks at dinner
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Spoilsport
Minke whale expeditions: 3, 4 or 7 nights
3 nights from Monday, or 4 and 7 nights from Thursday
$2540*
- Up to 10 dives, but whale swims come first: the dive count depends on the minke sightings
- Dedicated time to find and swim with the whales
- The Ribbon Reefs, the Cod Hole, Steve’s Bommie and more
- Fly one way to or from Lizard Island on the 3- and 4-night trips
- Complimentary orientation dives
- All meals, with wine and soft drinks at dinner
* Prices are per person in Australian dollars (AUD) and can change by date. Your booking shows the price for the date you choose.
Pickup points: Spirit of Freedom Spirit of Freedom cabins Spoilsport cabins
The boats
Spirit of Freedom and Spoilsport
Spirit of Freedom offers daily cabin service, chef-prepared meals and complimentary Australian wine or soft drinks with dinner.
Spoilsport is a 30-metre twin-hull boat built for stability and comfort, with a crew of 11. Its air-conditioned cabins are serviced daily, and there’s a lounge and bar inside and a sun deck up top. Vegetarians get their own menu. For photographers, the dive deck has three camera stations, rinse tubs and charging points, with 110 V and 240 V sockets in the cabins.
- 30 mSpoilsport, twin hull
- 11Spoilsport crew
What you might see
Swimming with minke whales
- WhenJune and July, when dwarf minke whales migrate through the Great Barrier Reef.
- WhereThe Ribbon Reefs in the northern Great Barrier Reef.
- HowMost encounters happen while snorkelling at the surface, where the whales are most active. You spend extensive time exploring remote reef sites too.
- ResponsiblySpirit of Freedom holds a special Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority permit to offer swimming with minke whales, and contributes to the Minke Whale Project. It’s a strictly controlled activity: always follow the crew’s guidance.
The number of dives and whale encounters depends on the whales’ behaviour and how long they choose to stay.
What’s included
- Accommodation on boardIn the cabin you choose, with bed linen, bath and deck towels, and daily cabin service
- All mealsChef-prepared, with wine and soft drinks at dinner
- DivingTanks, weight belt, weights and air fills. Up to 10 dives. On both boats the number of dives depends on the minke sightings, so a set number isn’t guaranteed.
- TransfersCairns city accommodation transfers. On Spoilsport, on your return only.
- Luggage storageExcess luggage can be stored in Cairns
- Wi-fiFree on Spirit of Freedom when in range
Not included
- Flights and accommodationFlights to and from Cairns, and accommodation in Cairns.
- Gear hireExtra. Air, tanks, weight belt and weights are included.
- Nitrox fillsExtra, on all dives.
- Reef levy and fuel surchargeThe Environmental Management Charge and port and admin fees are paid on board. Spoilsport currently charges a fuel surcharge of $20 per person per night; Spirit of Freedom doesn’t currently charge one.
- InsuranceTravel insurance covering diving medical emergencies, and trip cancellation insurance.
- Camera hireNot included on Spoilsport.
- Dive medicalIf you need one.
- ToiletriesBring your own.
Spirit of Freedom: 3 nights
- ThursdayDepart 12 noon
Board at Trinity Wharf from 11:15 am (free transfers from Cairns city hotels). Lunch as you cruise north, then an orientation dive and a twilight or night dive.
- FridayRibbon Reefs
Steve’s Bommie on Ribbon Reef No. 3, a pinnacle rising from 100 feet at its base to around 15 feet from the surface. Maybe the Clam Gardens, Flare Point or Gorgonia Wall.
- SaturdayCod Hole
The Cod Hole and its resident potato cod. Maybe Dynamite Pass, Lighthouse Bommie, Challenger Bay or Pixie Wall. Overnight in Watson’s Bay at Lizard Island.
- SundayFly back
Go ashore on Lizard Island, then a low-level flight back to Cairns at 10:30 am. Arrive about 11:30 am, with a coach to your city hotel.
A sample itinerary: sites and their order change with the weather. The trip departs on Thursdays.
Spoilsport: 3, 4 or 7 nights
- 3 nightsMonday to Thursday
Check in at 7:00 am on Monday and fly one way, low over the Ribbon Reefs, to Lizard Island. Board Spoilsport and start diving that day. Snorkel with the minkes and dive the Ribbon Reefs, and disembark at Trinity Wharf, Cairns, at 8:00 am on Thursday.
- 4 nightsThursday to Monday
Check in with your luggage between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm on Thursday, and board at 6:00 pm. Cruise overnight and start diving on Friday morning. On Monday, fly back from Lizard Island, arriving in Cairns at 11:00 am, with a transfer to your accommodation.
- 7 nightsThursday to Thursday
Check in on Thursday as for the 4-night trip. Dive the Ribbon Reefs in both directions with the minkes, and disembark at Trinity Wharf, Cairns, at 8:00 am the next Thursday.
Other Ribbon Reef sites visited include Dynamite Pass, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Wall, Pixie Pinnacle, Coral Kingdom, Flare Point, Blue Lagoon, Gotham City and Vertical Gardens. Check in for Spoilsport at the operator’s Cairns office; the address is on your booking confirmation.
Requirements
Spirit of Freedom
- Suits snorkellers and competent divers with a good level of fitness.
- Minimum age 16 at departure.
- Over 65: you need a valid dive medical.
- A medical condition or on prescription medication? You need medical clearance before the trip.
- Recommended: Open Water with at least 10 ocean dives, 5 of them in the last 12 months.
- Dives aren’t guided. Buddy teams plan and run their own dives.
Spoilsport
- For snorkellers, novice and advanced divers.
Rusty?
- If your diving is rusty, do a refresher before the trip.
Each trip operator’s own medical and waiver requirements are emailed with your booking confirmation. About dive medicals.
Frequently asked questions
When is minke whale season?
June and July. The swims run only in those months, during the whales’ annual migration.
Where do you see the whales?
On the Ribbon Reefs in the northern Great Barrier Reef.
Do I need to be a diver?
No. Most encounters happen while snorkelling at the surface, and the trips suit snorkellers as well as divers.
How many dives will I get?
It depends on the minke sightings: swimming with the whales takes priority over scuba diving. If diving is what you’re after, a standard liveaboard trip is the better choice.
Am I guaranteed to see a whale?
No. The number of encounters depends on the whales’ behaviour and how long they choose to stay.
Are the dives guided?
Not on Spirit of Freedom: buddy teams plan and conduct their own dives. If you want guided dives, try a reef day trip.
Is alcohol served?
Wine and soft drinks come with dinner. Other drinks are from the ship’s bar at your own cost.
Terms and conditions
- 3 night Cod Hole & Ribbon ReefsRead the terms and conditions
- Minke whale expeditions: 3, 4 or 7 nightsRead the terms and conditions
