Cod Hole & Coral Sea Diving - Spirit of Freedom - 7 Day Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs & Coral Sea

Sleek and spacious, the 'Spirit of Freedom' offers the best in live-aboard dive cruising to the Coral Sea and Ribbon Reefs.

This tour begins every Monday from Cairns, and travels 240km along the rarely visited Ribbon Reefs, to the Cod Hole. Along the 'Ribbons' you will encounter clouds of colourful tropical fish, an incredible variety of vibrant healthy corals, giant clams, anemones, huge schools of cruising pelagic fish, and a family of giant potato cod.

Within your 7 days, you will also spend 2 days at Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. An old volcanic atoll lying 220km off the coast, Osprey Reef is renown for its spectacular walls to 1000m, its massive soft corals, shark action, and exceptional visibility. 'North Horn' at the tip of Osprey is a site where grey reef sharks, silvertips, and the occasional oceanic congregate. Here you can also experience a close encounter with the Spirit of Freedom shark attraction dive.

This tour also includes an overnight stay in secluded Watson's Bay and a couple of hours ashore at Lizard Island. Return to Cairns 7 days later on the Monday morning

Monday: The Spirit of Freedom courtesy bus will pick you up from your Cairns hotel around 11:00am to transfer you to Trinity Wharf for boarding. 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 as you cruise to the outer Great Barrier Reef for an afternoon check-out dive, followed by a twilight or night dive. After dinner the vessel cruises overnight, north to the Ribbon Reefs.

Tuesday & Wednesday: The next two days are spent diving at the most northern point 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. Up to 4 to 5 dives will be available each day, including a night dive on the Tuesday. On Wednesday evening the vessel will overnight at Watson's Bay, Lizard Island, and lucky guests will enjoy a sunset BBQ dinner on the vessel's top deck.

Thursday: This morning after breakfast you will have the opportunity to go ashore at Lizard Island. A good chance to stretch you legs on land at this half way point, you can take the guided walk from Watson's Beach to Mary Watson's cottage over Chinaman's Ridge and back to the beach. Around 11.00am we will cruise back to Ribbon Reef Number 10 for two dives at a choice of sites including the Snake Pit, Cod Hole, Challenger Bay, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Wall, and Pixie Pinnacle. If the tide permits we may repeat a dive at the Cod Hole or visit new sites. We depart in the evening for a 10 hour crossing to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea.

Friday & Saturday: The next two days will be spent diving Osprey Reef (weather permitting). Australia's Coral Sea reefs are renown for crystal clear water with visibility ranging from a minimum of 30 metres to 100 metres! The landscape is amazing with sheer walls laced with gorgonians, sea whips and bright yellow soft corals, rising from the ocean floor thousands of feet below. 'North Horn' is a dive site at the tip of Osprey where grey reef sharks, silvertips, and the occasional oceanic shark congregate, here you can experience a close encounter with the Spirit of Freedom 'shark attraction dive'! Up to 4 to 5 dives will be available each day, including a night dive on the Friday. On Saturday night the Spirit of Freedom will depart Osprey Reef for overnight travel to the Ribbon Reefs.

Sunday: At Ribbon Reefs Number 3 you will dive such sites as the sensational Steve's Bommie, Temple of Doom, and Flare Point. A second option for this day, in special weather conditions, is to head south from Opsrey to Bougainville Reef, known for its unusual underwater landscape or caverns, and its partially submerged wreck. On Sunday evening the Spirit of Freedom will cruise overnight back to Cairns.

Monday: Arrive back into Cairns at approximately 06:30am. Enjoy a light breakfast on board and a group photo opportunity before being dropped back to your Cairns City bases accommodation at approximately 08.00am.

• Return coach transfers from Cairns City based accommodation
• Opportunity for up to 27 dives over stunning locations including Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs & Coral Sea
• 7 Days & 7 Nights (6 ½ Dive Days)
• 3 to 4 days on the Northern Ribbon Reefs 
• 2 days at the Coral Sea renown for a minimum of 30 meters visibility all year round
• Time ashore at the remote and beautiful Lizard Island
• All Cabins with ensuite facilities & daily servicing 
• Chef prepared Gourmet meals using fresh, local produce
• Australian wines & soft drinks with evening meals

• Ocean View Deluxe Cabin AU$5960.00 - Includes Government Reef Tax and Fuel Levy 
• Ocean View Standard Cabin AU$5455.00 - Includes Government Reef Tax and Fuel Levy 
• Double Stateroom AU$5455.00 - Includes Government Reef Tax and Fuel Levy 
• Double or Twin Share Cabin AU$4770.00 - Includes Government Reef Tax and Fuel Levy 
• Quad Share Cabin AU$3995.00 - Includes Government Reef Tax and Fuel Levy 

• 1 x Ocean View Deluxe - Very large cabin, with double bed, wardrobe, 2 bed side tables, desk, Flatscreen TV and DVD
• 1 x Ocean View - Smaller cabin with double bed, wardrobe, 1 bedside table, Flatscreen TV and DVD
• 1 x Stateroom - Very spacious cabin with queen bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers, 2 bedside tables, Flatscreen TV and DVD
• 5 x Double or Twin Cabins - Double bed with single over, wardrobe, 1 bedside table
• 1 x Twin Share Cabin - Bunk beds with king single under, single over, wardrobe
• 2 x Quad Share Cabin - 4 single beds, bunk style, wardrobe

Please Note: All cabins onboard have private ensuite bathroom facilities 

• Full Gear Hire - Includes dive computer AU$315.00 per person
• PADI Advanced Dive Course AU$285.00
• PADI Nitrox Course - Includes Course and all subsequent dives on Nitrox AU$280.00
• 7 Day Nitrox Fill Package - Includes all dives on  Nitrox AU$260.00

• Reef Levy - A $20.00 per person per trip Reef Levy applies to all passengers entering the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
• Fuel Levy - With fluctuations in world oil prices it may be necessary to apply a fuel surcharge to your ticket price. As the fuel surcharge may fluctuate pricing may be subject to change. Please contact us within 7 days of your trip date for current fuel surcharges.

• Cancellations made 21 Days or more in advance of travel will incur a 20% cancellation fee
• Cancellations made 21 Days or less prior to travel will incur a 100% cancellation fee 

• Non Diving Passengers recieve a AU$400.00 discount
• Sole Cccupancy - Please double the per person cabin rates and deduct AU$150.00 per day 
• Ocean View Cabins and Stateroom Cabins contain a Double bed only and rates are based on Double occupancy

All passengers are strongly advised to purchase a comprehensive Travel Insurance policy that includes

• Trip Cancellation insurance, and
• Evacuation & Medical cover for Scuba Diving.

Please be aware that Scuba Diving and in-water activities are not covered by all Travel Insurance companies. Please read the wording of your policy carefully.

NOTE: In a Medical Emergency any evacuation, vessel relocation or medical expenses are the financial responsibility of that diver.