Product Name:

Spirit of Freedom: 3-Day/3-Night: Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs

Spirit of Freedom Liveaboard Dive Boat in Cairns Australia

Magnificent Diving the Northern Ribbon Reefs from Cairns. Steve's Bommie, The Code Hole, Challenger Bay and Pixie Pinnacle! Bright Colorful Diving! Giant Potato Cod, Flowery Cod, Spine Cheek Anemonefish, Lionfish, Pygmy Sea Horse, Reef Sharks, Red Bass, Nudibranchs, Lacey Scorpionfish, Ghost Pipefish and much more!

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$2,080.00

All Prices in Australian Dollars.

Camera Special

Cairns Underwater Camera Hire Service

*FREE UNDERWATER CAMERA HIRE

Book this trip with us, you must spend over $550.00 AUD to receive our 1 x Free Cairns Underwater Camera Hire. Only when you book online thru our website. You must come into our Cairns Esplanade Shop to pick up the camera the day before departure day before 5:30 pm. You also need to supply your own SD Card. Reserve your camera today!


*Not valid for any tours visiting the islands. Fine white sand damages the seals on the cameras and makes them leak!

 

Please Remember there is no other way to collect our cameras! All passengers must come into our shop the day before departure day before 5:30 pm.

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Can't decide? We have personally been on every Cairns reef and diving trip. We can help you choose the best tour, to suit your experience and budget.

Product Name:

Spirit of Freedom: 3-Day/3-Night: Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs

Tour Type: 3 Day / 3 Night Trip | Operates: Thursdays | Departs: Cairns 12:00 noon Thursday | Returns: Cairns 12:00 noon Sunday | Transfers: Yes, Cairns city included

HIGHLIGHTS:

Magnificent Diving the Northern Ribbon Reefs from Cairns. Steve's Bommie, The Code Hole, Challenger Bay and Pixie Pinnacle! Bright Colorful Diving! Giant Potato Cod, Flowery Cod, Spine Cheek Anemonefish, Lionfish, Pygmy Sea Horse, Reef Sharks, Red Bass, Nudibranchs, Lacey Scorpionfish, Ghost Pipefish and much more!

AVAILABLE ON THIS TOUR:
Certified Scuba Diving: Yes, Open Water or Advanced Required All Snorkel Gear: Yes, Snorkel, Fins, Mask and Life Jackets
Meals: Yes, Hot & Cold Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner! Guided Dives: No, But there will be instructors in the water on every dive. The crew give fantastic dive briefings!
Hot Showers and Toilets: All Cabins Have Private Bathrooms Full Dive Gear Available: Yes, Extra Cost See Price List
Underwater Photographer Friendly: Yes, Camera Bucket and Camera Area Available Outer Reef: Yes, Ribbon Reefs and Code Hole

Spirit of Freedom 3 Day / 3 Night: Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs Adventure (Departs Thursdays)

The Cod Hole is a ‘must-see’ for any certified diver! It frequently ranks on international dive lists as one of the best places in the world to scuba dive and you are guaranteed many memorable moments during this 3 day / 3 night Cod Hole & Ribbon Reef Spirit of Freedom trip from Cairns.

The Cod Hole is located on the Great Barrier Reef’s far northern Ribbon Reefs, which are 120km north of Cairns. The Ribbon Reefs are a scuba divers paradise: sheltered, relatively shallow tropical waters, absolutely teeming with colourful marine life of all shapes and sizes. To visit, you must book a liveaboard trip to maximise your experience. Spirit of Freedom is a luxurious, 37m monohull providing five-star trips to the Ribbon Reef and Cod Hole.

Customer service is outstanding, with the crew helping with everything, from putting on and taking off your fins and defogging your mask before every dive. The meals are delicious and plentiful, the boat spacious and comfortable. Spirit of Freedom has three levels of air-conditioned interior, featuring a dining and lounge saloon, a large dive deck and exterior sun deck. Cabins are serviced daily and come in a range of options (quad share, double/twin, stateroom and ocean view deluxe) each with their own ensuite, allowing you to tailor your trip to your needs and budget.

  • The minimum age for traveling passengers is 16 years old.
  • All traveling passengers over 65 years old will need to obtain a dive medical certificate prior to departure. The certificate must be less than 12 months old on the date of departure.

This exciting liveaboard tour is suitable for snorkelers and divers (for more information on these activities, please see tabs below) but is recommended for certified scuba divers. The tour price includes Cairns city hotel transfers, 3 nights of accommodation, chef-prepared meals bed linen, and towel. Also includes a scenic, low-level flight from Lizard Island to Cairns. Full dive gear can be hired for an extra cost (See price list below). Crew to guest ratio is 10:26. Trip departs Cairns Thursday and returns to Cairns on Sundays.

Prices:

All prices in Australian Dollars.
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CHOOSE OPTIONINCLUDESDIVESPRICETAXESTOTAL
ROOM TYPE:
Adult Ocean View Deluxe (Minimum Two People)Certified Diver15$3130.00-$3130.00
Adult Ocean View Standard (Minimum Two People)Certified Diver15$2800.00-$2800.00
Adult StateroomCertified Diver15$2800.00-$2800.00
Adult Double/TwinCertified Diver15$2470.00-$2470.00
Adult Quad ShareCertified Diver15$2140.00-$2140.00
PADI DIVE COURSES:
PADI Advanced CourseDive Course- $285.00-$285.00
PADI Nitrox CourseDive Course-$280.00-$280.00
EXTRAS:
Nitrox Tank FillsNitrox Fills-$110.00-$110.00
Full Dive Gear HireDive Gear-$135.00-$135.00

Itinerary:

Thursday: The Spirit of Freedom courtesy bus will pick you up from your Cairns hotel around 11:00am to transfer you to Trinity Wharf, where you will board the vessel. You will be greeted by the Spirit of Freedom crew, who will give you an orientation of the vessel before a 12 noon departure. Enjoy lunch on board while we cruise to the outer Great Barrier Reef for an afternoon check-out dive and a twilight or night dive. After dinner we cruise north to the Ribbon Reefs.

Friday & Saturday: These two days are spent diving at the most northern of the Ribbon Reefs, Number 9 & 10 Ribbon Reefs. Dive sites and sequence may vary depending on the weather conditions, but will always include at least one dive at the Cod Hole, where you encounter a family of massive and very friendly Potato Cod. Other sites may include Wonder-wall, Pixie Pinnacle, Challenger Bay, Two Towers, Lighthouse Bommie, and the Snake Pit, just to name a few. If the current is right, you may also take a drift dive at Dynamite Pass, well-known as a channel for sharks to pass through. View our Spirit of Freedom trip review. Four to five dives will be available each day, including a night dive on the Friday. On Saturday evening we overnight at Watson’s Bay on Lizard Island and enjoy a sunset BBQ dinner on the top deck.

Sunday: This morning after breakfast you will disembark and say farewell to Spirit of Freedom. On shore at Lizard Island you can take the guided walk from Watson’s Beach to Mary Watson’s cottage over Chinaman’s Ridge and back to the air-strip. Here you will board a light aircraft for your flight back to Cairns. The one hour flight arrives at Hinterland Aviation, Cairns General Aviation Airport around 11.15 to 11:45am, where the Spirit of Freedom courtesy coach will meet you for your transfer back to your Cairns city hotel.

Diving:

This trip is recommended to certified divers only. Open Water certification is a minimum requirement and there is no solo diving on Spirit of Freedom. Any divers travelling on their own will be paired up with someone else onboard of similar experience / skill levels. Most of the diving is unguided, however, Spirit of Freedom dive crew are in the water on every dive and can provide assistance if required.

Diving equipment is not included in the tour price. You are welcome to bring your own (some weight restrictions apply, ask us for more information) or hire it on the boat ($135 for 3 day full equipment rental). Other extras include Nitrox and the choice to participate in some dive courses (PADI Advanced or Nitrox).

The dive service aboard Spirit of Freedom is excellent. The crew will help you to take on and off your fins for each dive, as well as defogging your mask. There are cold / hot freshwater showers on the dive deck and hot, fresh towels available after every dive.

Certified divers can enjoy up to 11 dives on this trip: you do not have to do all of the dives, do as many or as few as you like. Dive safety is considered paramount and there is no reverse profiling. Comprehensive dive site briefings are provided before every dive. In regards to depth, divers should dive to their experience levels or certification. There are no set limits on dive time: although divers must return to the boat with a minimum of 50 bar of air left in their tanks.

Certified divers will be required to show evidence of their certification: through current dive licenses and log books. All divers will be required to sign a Waiver Release and Indemnity Deed onboard the boat. You will also be required to complete dive medical paperwork onboard.

  • Diver experience recommendation: Open Water certification with minimum 10 ocean dives, including 5 dives in the last 12 months.
  • Buddy teams are responsible for planning and conducting their own dives. Spirit of Freedom does not offer a full guided dive service.
  • Less experience or reduced physical fitness may result in your diving being limited, due to the environmental conditions and remote location of dive sites. We recommend a Scuba Diver Refresher course prior to your trip.
  • Diver Health: If you have a medical condition or are currently taking prescription medication, you will need a medical clearance.

Snorkeling:

Spirit of Freedom is really a dive boat, however, snorkelers and non-diving partners are more than welcome to join their diving partners on the Cod Hole trip. There are lots of things for you to enjoy, from the extensive selection of onboard books and DVDs, to the sun lounges on the sun deck and the air-conditioned lounge. Experienced snorkelers are welcome to explore the Ribbon Reef sites, but please note that these are open water sites and water depth and conditions (waves and current) may vary. Discounts apply for snorkelers: contact us for more information on prices.

Customer Reviews:

Customer Tour Reviews & Feedback

Customer reviews are written by our customers using our 1 x FREE Digital Underwater Camer Hire Service.

Great trip and fantastic support from Cairns Dive Adventure
By: Peter McClure Schooling reef Fish
Staff Service - 5 out of 5
Reef Quality - 4 out of 5
Vaue For Money - 4 out of 5
Overall Rating - 5 out of 5

Travelled on: 17/01/2018

This is the second booking I have made with Cairns Dive Adventures and have only praise for Clint and this booking agency. After making recommendations and excellent fast communication to book us on Spirit of Freedom, Clint came back into the office at 5:30 on a Saturday afternoon to hand over a camera and give us the heads up on the way to get some…


Wonderful trip to beautiful reef on a modern luxurious boat
By: Peter McClure Soft corals and diver
Staff Service - 5 out of 5
Reef Quality - 5 out of 5
Vaue For Money - 5 out of 5
Overall Rating - 5 out of 5

Travelled on: 11/12/2016

Very friendly and professional booking and service through Cains Dive Adventures. Very safe and attentive crew on Spirit of Freedom. Dive equipment modern and well maintained. Food plentiful and top class. Great fun interacting with like-minded people of multiple age groups from all over the world. Diving was great. Excellent information sessions before every dive, and guides in the water to assist as required. Weather…


3 Day Code Hole and Ribbon Reefs
By: Micahel Petrovski
Staff Service - 5 out of 5
Reef Quality - 5 out of 5
Vaue For Money - 5 out of 5
Overall Rating - 5 out of 5

Travelled on: 16/09/2013

Really good diving, very friendly staff, excellent food. Highly recommend them.


Breathtaking, fabulous first dive experience.
By: Gemma Packer
Staff Service - 5 out of 5
Reef Quality - 5 out of 5
Vaue For Money - 5 out of 5
Overall Rating - 5 out of 5

Travelled on: 12/08/2013

I contacted Cairns Dive adventures not sure what to do as I was such a new and in-experienced diver and I was recommended this trip and I am very thankful, I don’t think I could have chosen a better company myself. Excellent Staff, couldn’t fault them at all, I did 11 dives in total including my first night dive and I loved it. I honestly…


Full Reviews:

Cairns Dive Adventures Trip Reviews

Are you looking at me?

Spirit of Freedom – 3 Day Diving Review

Spirit of Freedom is a professional operator committed to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef and delivering their guests a luxurious, first class experience in paradise. The boat is spacious and comfortable. The dive deck, equipment, briefings and crew are modern, friendly and informative. They even help you put on and take off your...

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All prices in Australian Dollars.
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Tour Notes:

Remember to try any form of scuba diving everyone needs to be medically fit with no asthma and not be taking any prescription medication. PADI recommends allowing up to 24 hours after diving before flying in an airplane. Some tour operators have a no refund policy for any dives not completed for whatever reason. Please note the art of freediving is not permitted on any of the day boats or liveaboard dive boats from Cairns & Port Douglas. With the high instances of (shallow water blackout) companies do not allow this for safety reasons.

Do you have Medical Issues:

Please note if you have any medical issues you will need to go see your local GP where you live and get them to write you a letter on the practice letterhead signed and dated by your doctor that you are “Fit to dive” If you have one of these letters then all dive companies in Cairns will take you diving. Please note these letters are only valid for three months from their date of issue.

Room Type Description:
Ocean View Deluxe: 1 x Cabin, Top Deck, Ocean Views, 1 x Large Double Bed.
Ocean View Standard: 1 x Cabin, Top Deck, Ocean Views, 1 x Double Bed.
Stateroom: 1 x Cabin, Lower Deck, Port Holes, 1 x Queen Bed.
Double/Twin Room: 6 x Cabins, Lower Deck, TWIN Beds or 1 Double Bed.
Quad (4) Share Room: 2 x Cabins, 4 x Single Bunk Beds.


Schedule: Departs Cairns on Thursdays | Returns to Cairns on Sundays.

Inclusions: Cairns accommodation, transfers (Cairns City), All chef-prepared meals, All Dives.

Guided Dives: All dives are unguided, this gives you the freedom to dive and explore the ribbon reefs and coral sea in your own buddy pairs. The dive crew will be in the water on all dives and if you are a little nervous talk to the crew about tagging along with them.

  • Diver experience recommendation: Open Water certification with a minimum of 10 ocean dives, including 5 dives in the last 12 months.
  • The minimum age for traveling passengers is 16 years old.
  • All traveling passengers over 65 years old will need to obtain a dive medical certificate prior to departure. The certificate must be less than 12 months old on the date of departure.
  • Buddy teams are responsible for planning and conducting their own dives. Spirit of Freedom does not offer a full guided dive service.
  • Less experience or reduced physical fitness may result in your diving being limited, due to the environmental conditions and remote location of dive sites. We recommend a Scuba Diver Refresher course prior to your trip.
  • Diver Health: If you have a medical condition or are currently taking prescription medication, you will need a medical clearance.

Special

FREE UNDERWATER CAMERA HIRE*

Cairns Underwater Camera Hire Service

Spend over $550.00 AUD on your Great Barrier Reef tour with us and receive the latest Digital Underwater Camera Hire. Take amazing High-Resolution images and 1080 HD Video. Only when you book online thru our website. 

Not available for any tours to the Islands as fine white sand damages the seals on the cameras and makes them leak!

You need to come into our shop located on the Cairns Esplanade the day before departure to pick up the camera before 5:30 pm. You also need to supply your own SD Camera Card and drop the camera off back at our shop before 5:30pm.

 

Please Remember there is no other way to collect our cameras! All passengers must come into our shop the day before departure day before 5:30 pm.