3 Day Cod Hole Info

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

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

This tour begins every Monday from Cairns, and travels along the rarely visited Ribbon Reefs, finishing 240 km to the north at the world famous Cod Hole.

Over two and half days you will have the opportunity for up to 11 dives and 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.

Your last night is spent on board the 'Spirit' in the bay at Lizard Island. Enjoy time ashore at Lizard Island the next morning, before boarding your return flight to Cairns.

The one-hour, low-level scenic flight back will arrive in Cairns around 11:30am on Thursday.

What makes it Great?

• Largest live-aboard dive vessel
• Huge dive deck
• Scenic flight from Lizard Island
• Chef prepared meals
• Complimentary Australian wines
• Ensuite cabins with daily service
• Nitrox Diving

Departures:

• Departs: Cairns Monday 12:00pm
• Returns: Cairns Thursday 11:30am
• The vessel is located at Trinity Wharf at the end of Lake Street, Cairns. Taxis and coaches can drive up onto the wharf to locate the vessel, which is usually berthed under the clock tower.

Trip Inclusions:

• Transfers from Cairns City accommodation
• Low-level flight over the reef from Lizard Island to Cairns
• Opportunity for up to 11 dives for Certified Divers. Tanks & weight belts provided
• Chef prepared meals, Australian wine and soft drinks included with evening dinner 
• Ensuite Cabin with daily service
• Reef Teach marine biology presentation
• Reef tax
• Towels (swimming and bath towels) provided, hairdryers

Vessel Features:

• Spirit of Freedom is able to accommodate 26 passengers in 11 spacious cabins with a minimum of 10 crew
• Sun deck with sun lounges on the top deck
• Three decks of spacious comfort
• Lounge area with coffee machine, resource library, flat screen TV & DVD
• Fully stocked bar & dining saloon

Cabin Features:

• Ensuite Cabin with daily service
• 26” flat screen TV & DVD player
• Fully air-conditioned 
• Private bathroom
• Wardrobe and under bed storage

Ocean View Standard Cabin:
Located on the top deck with internal stairwell access to the main deck, as well as external access to the top deck and dive deck.
It is 5.2 square metres in area (not including bathroom, an additional 2 sq. mtrs). Double Bed.

Additionally Ocean View Cabin is a spacious 8.5 square metres in area

State Room:
Located in a private area on the lower deck, close to the dive deck and dining saloon. It is a spacious 9.2 square metres in area (not including bathroom, an additional 2.8 sq. mtrs) and contains a queen size bed, extra shelving, bed side tables.

Standard Double or Twin Share Cabins:
Spirit of Freedom has six standard double or twin share cabins. Five of these cabins contain a double bed with a single bed over the top, bunk style, however one cabin contains just a double bed, so be sure to advise your preference for double or twin share when placing your booking. These cabins are located on the lower deck, with easy access to the main deck. They are an average 7.2 square metres in area, (not including bathroom, an additional 1.8 sq. mtrs) and have bed side tables.

Quad Share:
Spirit of Freedom has two quad share cabins, each containing four single beds, bunk style. These cabins are located mid ships on the lower deck, with easy access to the main deck. They are each 7.2 square metres in area, (not including bathroom, an additional 1.8 sq. mtrs

Extra Costs:

• Scuba gear hire: By piece or by full equipment package: BCD, regulator with dive computer, wrist mount dive computer, wetsuits, torch and cylume sticks, and mask snorkel fins. Rental Cameras and Underwater housings are also available.
• Nitrox fills
• Any course taken on board
• Drinks outside of the evening meal time
• Any souvenirs purchased

ITINERARY:

Monday:
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 you cruise to the outer Great Barrier Reef for an afternoon check-out dive and a twilight or night dive. After dinner cruise north to the Ribbon Reefs.

Tuesday & Wednesday:
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. 4 to 5 dives will be available each day, including a night dive on the Tuesday. On Wednesday evening overnight at Watson's Bay on Lizard Island and enjoy a sunset BBQ dinner on the top deck.

Thursday:
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 twin-engine light aircraft for your low level flight over the reef and / or along the coast back to Cairns. The one hour flight arrives at Hinterland Aviation, Cairns General Aviation Airport around 11.15 to 11:30am, where the Spirit of Freedom courtesy coach will meet you for your transfer back to your Cairns city hotel.

NOTES:

• SNORKELLERS: The reefs of the Ribbon Reefs are relatively close to the surface, and with little current, offer excellent snorkelling at most sites. Experienced snorkelers are most welcome to join this tour and a $100 discount off the advertised diver rate will apply. Please note that while you be safe under the watchful eye of the 'look-out' crew, a snorkel buddy may not always be available.
• LUGGAGE: Due to light aircraft restrictions, your total weight of your luggage is limited to 20 kilograms/ 45 lb per person, including your dive gear and carry on luggage.
• Recommended Dive Experience Level: Open Water Diver to Experienced.
• PHONE & EMAIL ACCESS: While on board Spirit of Freedom you can enjoy intermittent phone and email access, when in range along certain sectors of the Ribbon Reefs. While at the Coral Sea, and also the regions of the Ribbon Reefs that are out of range, they can only rely on satellite phone and fax communications.
• FLYING AFTER DIVING: Spirit of Freedom recommends a minimum wait of 24 hours before flying after multiple dives. The last dive of the trip will generally be around 5:00pm the day before returning to Cairns. 24 hours is a guideline only and for maximum safety give yourself as long as possible. Please be aware that skydiving or a trip to Kuranda or the Atherton tablelands will include going to altitude. Please Note - Individual airlines have their own policies (24 to 48 hour minimum), and you should check with your air carrier.

What to Bring:

• Personal items and toiletries, swimwear, hat, and sweatshirt in the winter (May - September).
• Casual attire during the day and smart casual for evening wear. For safety and comfort we encourage no shoes to be worn on board.
• Certification card for Certified Divers

GOOD NEWS! All payments made to Travstar do not incur a credit card surcharge.

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Spirit of Freedom

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