Spirit of Freedom 7 Day - Great Barrier Reef

SPIRIT OF FREEDOM AMAZING DIVE EXPEDITIONS FAMOUS COD HOLE FRIENDLY DIVE CREW GUARANTEED 30 METRES VISABILITY LOUNGE & BAR AREA PRIVATE ENSUITES IN EACH CABIN TWIN SHARE CABIN SPACIOUS SALOON CHEF PREPARED MEALS SPACIOUS LOUNGE AREA

7 Day/ 7 Night Sprit of Freedom will take you on a luxurious adventure to Australia's Coral Sea and the Great Barrier Reef.

Your 7 Day Trip Includes:

• Transfers to/from your Cairns city hotel
• Opportunity for up to 26 dives
• En-suite cabin with daily service
• Chef prepared gourmet meals - Australian style
• Australian wines and soft drinks with evening meals

This trip departs every Monday
Departs Cairns 12:00 noon Monday
Returns Cairns 07:30am Monday

Your 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 we 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 know as a channel for sharks to pass through. See the dive site page for site selection of some of our dive sites on the Ribbon Reefs. 4 to 5 dives will be available each day, including a night dive on the Tuesday. On Wednesday evening overnight at Watson's Bay, Lizard Island, and enjoy a sunset BBQ dinner on the 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 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. Depart in the evening for a 10 hour crossing to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea.

Friday & Saturday: Two days will be spent diving Osprey Reef (weather permitting). Australia's Coral Sea reefs are renown for crystal clear water with visibility ranging 30 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 congregate, and you can experience a close encounter with the Spirit of Freedom shark attraction dive. 4 to 5 dives will be available each day, including a night dive on the Friday. On Saturday night depart Osprey Reef for overnight travel to the Ribbon Reefs.

Sunday: At Ribbon Reefs Number 3, 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 cruise overnight back to Cairns.

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

Vessel Features:

• 11 luxury cabins with ensuites
• Dining saloon
• Lounge/Bar with TV/VCR/DVD
• Sun deck with spa pool
• Expansive dive deck & platform
• Fully airconditioned throughout
• Quality scuba equipment
• Reef Teach Marine Biology presentation

At 37 metres, 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. The Spirit offers smooth and comfortable cruising at 11 knots with electronic stabilisers and silent generators.

The vessel can accommodate 26 passengers in 11 spacious cabins. Cabin options are double, twin, triple and quad share. All cabins are finished in Canadian Oregon timber and have private ensuites and wardrobes. The vessel is fully air-conditioned throughout and each cabin has it's own temperature control for your individual comfort.

The Spirit of Freedom is also equipped with entertainment areas, so the diving is only a part of the experience. 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. Nitrox fills, camera hire, and CD downloading are also available on board.

A multi-talented and professional crew will look after all your 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.

Please Note:

• Full gear rental packages are available including dive computer and torch.
• Recommended Dive Experience Level: PADI Advanced or equivalent and above.
• Adventure Level: Mid range to High level, depending on the winds, swells, and currents.
• An Environmental Management Charge is levied for everyone entering the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area.
• SNORKELLERS: The reefs of the Ribbon Reefs are relatively close to the surface, and with little current, offer excellent snorkelling at most sites. However the (at times) deeper reefs tops and currents of the Coral Sea, make the Coral Sea reefs only suitable for experienced snorkelers and strong swimmers and you may not be able to snorkel at every site. Please note that while you be safe under the watchful eye of the 'look-out' crew, a snorkel buddy may not always be available.
• This itinerary is a sample only and sites may vary or the sequence may change. Access to the Cod Hole and the Coral Sea is tide and weather conditional.

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