Live aboard Scuba Diving to the Cod Hole and the Coral Sea
The Spirit in Diving

Australia's north eastern town of tropical Cairns is the gateway for two of the world's greatest diving icons, the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. The Great Barrier Reef is a broad chain of 2,900 individual reefs and is the Earth's largest structure built by living organisms, being clearly visible from space. It is an ecosystem of unsurpassed marine diversity and presents the diver with a vision of exquisite natural beauty. Beyond the continental shelf that harbours the GBR, lie the isolated reef systems and crystal clear waters of Australia's Coral Sea. This is home territory for huge schools of pelagic fish and sharks in an undersea world of mountains, pinnacles and sheer walls laced with gorgonian fans and rising from thousands of feet below.

It is to these destinations that the live aboard "Spirit of Freedom" will take you to discover what diving dreams are made of. With 3, 4 and 7 days itineraries and twice-weekly departures from Cairns, you can enjoy some of the worlds best diving almost from your arrival at Cairns International airport.

At 120 feet, the Spirit of Freedom is Australia's largest live-aboard dive vessel. She features three decks of spacious comfort including sun deck with spa, lounge and bar, dining saloon, and huge dive deck. Equipped with electronic stabilisers, silent generators, and fully air-conditioned throughout, the Spirit offers smooth and comfortable cruising.

Be prepared for an amazing range of diving experiences on your 4 day /4 night adventure to Australia's Coral Sea. Your first day will include a couple of orientation dives on the outer reefs of the GBR before travelling out to the oceanic wilderness of the Coral Sea. To the south east, east and north east of Cairns and at least 100km offshore from the Great Barrier Reef, lie Australia's Coral Sea Reefs. Spirit of Freedom will travel to two Coral Sea Reef systems for 3 days of diving which can include South Flinders, Flinders, Dart, East Holmes, West Holmes, Flora, Bougainville, Shark, and Osprey Reefs. Destinations will vary and be selected according to the prevailing weather in order to provide you the best diving, most comfortable conditions and maximum dive time.

A couple of exploratory dives will always be included in this itinerary. Sites will vary from 3,000 ft walls to magical coral gardens to lone sea mounts emerging from the ocean depths. The water is astoundingly clear and the fish life will include whaler sharks, barracuda, big eye trevally and rays as well as the exotic cuttlefish, sea hares and starry morays.

The 3 day/ 3 night dive adventure on board Spirit of Freedom will take you to the famous Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs of the GBR. The 'Ribbons' are a string of 10 coral reefs stretching over 100 miles to the north of Cairns.

Awaiting you are picturesque coral gardens and isolated 'bommies' crowned in delicate corals, anemones, and colourful reef fish. The Cod Hole lies at the top of the Ribbon Reefs, and is home to a family of resident Potato Cod (Groper). These diver friendly fish will amaze you with their sheer size and seeming eagerness to pose for camera.

For those with a little more time, the 7 day itinerary offers a fabulous combination of the two trips - the best of the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea.While the diving may be out of this world, the facilities and service on board Spirit will enhance your liveaboard experience.

Roomy double or twin share cabins, all with private en-suite and individual temperature control, make a comfortable retreat at the end of your day's scuba diving.

 

Delicious chef prepared meals can be enjoyed throughout the day and complimentary Australian wines are offered with dinner.

There is also a comprehensive marine library, VCR/DVD movies, and a fully stocked bar for relaxation after diving. Nitrox fills, camera hire, and CD downloading are also available on board.

 

A multi-talented and professional crew will look after your in and out of water needs on board Spirit of Freedom. The dive team are experienced locals who are only too happy to share their extensive reef knowledge as well as a little 'Aussie' good humour.Spirit of Freedom is owned by Cairns based operators Tusa Dive, who have provided superior day and live-aboard diving experiences since 1986. Commencing in December 2002, world class diving will soon be available on board a world class dive vessel.

 

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DIVING THE
COD HOLE AND RIBBON REEFS
3 DAY ITINERARY, MONDAY DEPARTURE
Departing:   Cairns 12:00 noon Monday
Returning:   Cairns 11:30 am Thursday

TRIP INCLUDES

• Transfers to/ from Cairns city accommodation

• Low level reef flight – Lizard Island to Cairns

• Opportunity for up to 11 dives

• En-suite cabin with daily service

• Chef prepared meals Australian wines & soft drinks with evening meals

 SPECIAL NOTES:

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.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Monday: 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.

Tuesday: 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.

 Wednesday: This morning we will dive theCod Hole. This is a popular dive site famous for it’s 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 c hannel 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.

Thursday: 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 andsites may vary or the sequence may change in accordance to the weather and the accessibility.

4 DAY CORAL SEA ITINERARY
Includes one way flight to Lizard Island over the reef
Departing Cairns08:30am Thursday
Returning Cairns07:00am Monday

TRIP INCLUDES

• Ttransfers to/ from Cairns city accommodation

• One way reef flight – Cairns to Lizard Island

• Opportunity for 16 dives

• En-suite cabin with daily service

• Chef prepared meals

• Australian wines & soft drinks with evening meals

Special note: 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.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Thursday: Courtesy coach transfer from Cairns city hotels to Cairns airport will commence at 07:30am. Your twin-engine light aircraft will depart at 08:30am for your scenic flight over the reef to Lizard Island. Spirit of Freedom crew will greet you on arrival and transfer you to the vessel, where we will depart for the reef.

This afternoon we will have the opportunity for two dives before departing in the late evening for Osprey Reef, in the Coral Sea. The dives may be at sites such as the Cod Hole and Dynamite Pass.

Friday & Saturday: Osprey Reef. Australia’s Coral Sea reefs are renown for crystal clear water with an average visibility in excess of 100 feet. Two days can be spent diving at Osprey Reef, including North Horn, well known for its shark action. You can expect to see grey whalers, silvertips, reef sharks, occasional hammerheads, schooling barracuda, trevally, and other pelagics are common. The landscape is amazing with sheer walls laced with gorgonians, sea whips, and bright yellow soft corals rising from thousands of feet below.

Sunday:
Option 1: Still in the Coral Sea, weather depending we will dive Bougainville Reef.
Option 2: Today we return to the Ribbon Reefs # 3 to 5 to dive the sensational Steve’s Bommie, Temple of Doom, Flare Point, and other sites. In the months of June & July is a great opportunity for further interaction with Minke Whales. After dinner on Sunday evening we will cruise overnight back to Cairns

Monday: Arrive Cairns approximately 06:30am. Breakfast will be served on board and hotel transfer will be arranged for approx 07:30am.

Please note that above itinerary is a sample only andsites may vary or the sequence may change. Access to the Cod Hole and the Coral Sea is weather conditional and while every attempt will be made to keep to the advertised itinerary, the Coral Sea and specific sites on the Great Barrier Reef are not guaranteed

OPTIONS
Full gear rental and dive computer hire
Nitrox fills for Nitrox certified divers
PADI Advanced and Nitro

 

 

 

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SAMPLE ITINERARY
Monday: Board 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 for an afternoon orientation dive and a twilight or night dive
.
Tuesday: Today we may dive the amazing Steve’s Bommie, Clam gardens, Flare Point and the beautiful Gorgonia Wall and other sites on middle Ribbon Reefs.

Wednesday: This morning we will dive theCod Hole. This is a popular dive site famous for it’s resident family of large Potato Cod, (Groper). We may also dive Dynamite Pass, Lighthouse Bommie, Challenger Bay, and Pixie Wall. This evening we overnight at Watson’s Bay on Lizard Island.

Thursday: This morning some of our guests will depart at Lizard Island and some new guests will join us. There will be time for a morning walk on the island. This afternoon we will have the opportunity for two dives at a choice of sites such as the Cod Hole, Pixie Pinnacle and Challenger Bay before departing in the evening for the Coral Sea.

Friday & Saturday: Osprey Reef. Australia’s Coral Sea reefs are renown for crystal clear water with average visibility in excess of 100 feet. Two days can be spent diving at Osprey Reef, including North Horn, well known for its shark action. You can expect to see grey whalers, silvertips, reef sharks, occasional hammerheads, schooling barracuda, trevally, and other pelagics. The landscape is amazing with sheer walls laced with gorgonians, sea whips, and bright yellow soft corals, rising from thousands of feet below.