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Liveaboard
Dive Trips
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Live
aboard Scuba Diving to the Cod Hole and the Coral Sea
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
TRIP INCLUDES
SPECIAL NOTES: Due to light aircraft weight
restrictions, your total luggage weight is limited to
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 TRIP INCLUDES
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: 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
RIBBON
REEFS, COD
HOLE & CORAL
SEA SPECIAL NOTE: 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. 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 sites such as the sensational Steve’s Bommie, Temple of Doom, and Flare Point. 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
CORAL
SEA & COD
HOLE, & RIBBON REEFS
SPECIAL NOTE:
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 , where you board Spirit of Freedom . 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 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. The landscape is amazing with sheer walls laced with gorgonians, sea whips, and bright yellow soft corals rising from thousands of feet below. Sunday: Monday: Arrive Cairns approximately 06:30am . Enjoy breakfast on board, followed by around 4 hours at your leisure in Cairns . Reboard Spirit of Freedom at Trinity Wharf for a 12 noon departure. This afternoon we dive the Great Barrier Reef to the north of Cairns . Tuesday: Today we may dive the amazing Steve’s Bommie, Clam gardens, Flare Point and the beautiful Gorgonia Wall and other sites on the middle Ribbon Reefs. Wednesday: This morning we will dive theCod Hole. This is a popular dive site famous for resident family of large Potato Cod. We may also dive Dynamite Pass , Lighthouse Bommie, Challenger Bay , and Pixie Wall . This evening we overnight at Watson’s Bay, Lizard Island . Thursday: This morning you have the opportunity to go ashore and explore Lizard Island . At 10:00am 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 11:00am , the Spirit of Freedom courtesy coach will transfer back to your Cairns city hotel. 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.
CANCELLATIONS
Cairns
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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.
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. 
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. 
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.
Spirit of Freedom | Mike Ball Dive Expeditions | Taka Dive | Nimrod III | Prodive