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Australia Liveaboards

Australia Liveaboards

MV Spirit of Freedom | Mike Ball | Taka | Tusa

MV Spirit of Freedom - Dive Itineraries

3 DAY COD HOLE & RIBBON REEFS DIVING

Includes return flight from Lizard Island over the reef

Trip Includes
· Transfers to/ from Cairns city accommodation
· Low level reef flight - Lizard Island to Cairns
· Opportunity for 10 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

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 the Cod 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 channel 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 12:00 noon, 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 and sites may vary or the sequence may change in accordance to the weather and the accessibility.

COD HOLE, RIBBON REEFS & CORAL SEA DIVING
7 DAY ITINERARY, MONDAY DEPARTURE

Trip Includes
· Transfers to/ from Cairns city accommodation
· Opportunity for up to 27 dives
· En-suite cabin with daily service
· Chef prepared meals
· Australian wines & soft drinks with evening meals

Special note: The new 7 day itinerary, Monday departure does not return to Cairns for the full 7 days. Flights are not included, and therefore there are no limitations on weight.

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 the Cod 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 and sites 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.

4 DAY CORAL SEA DIVING

Includes one way flight to Lizard Island over the reef

Trip Includes
· Transfers to/ from Cairns city accommodation
· One way reef flight - Cairns to Lizard Island
· Opportunity for up to 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. We request that bags 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, Pixie Pinnacle and Challenger Bay.

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 and sites 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.

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Australia Liveaboards