Live Aboards - Spirit of Freedom - 3 Day Cod Hole & Ribbon Reefs Trip
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. Click here to view a map of the dive locations.
Coral formations vary from beds of huge plate corals to isolated pinnacles sustaining an amazing display of fish life, to walls and channels for the perfect drift dives as well as caves, canyons and shallow coral gardens. Divers can expect to encounter the enormous giant clams, golden gorgonian fans, and clouds of colourful tropical fish, as well as cruising pelagics, moray eels, green turtles, reef sharks and the giant Napoleon Wrasse.
Departure:
Every Monday at 12.00 pm ex Cairns
Itinerary:
Monday: Passengers will 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 you cruise to the Great Barrier Reef to the north of Cairns, for an afternoon orientation dive and a twilight or night dive.
Tuesday: Today you will dive Steve’s Bommie on Ribbon Reef #3. This is an isolated pinnacle that rises from 100feet at its base to around 15feet 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 you may also dive the Clam Gardens, where giant clams up to 3feet across will amaze you. Some of the other favourite sites in this area of the Ribbons include Flare Point and the beautiful Gorgonia Wall.
Wednesday: This morning you will dive the Cod Hole! This is a popular dive site famous for its resident family of large Potato Cod (Groper). There are plenty of great opportunities for photographers at this site. You may also dive Dynamite Pass, possibly as a drift dive, well known as a channel for sharks cruising from the Coral Sea to the Great Barrier Reef. This afternoon you may dive Lighthouse Bommie, where sea snakes are frequently sighted. In the spring months this site is also a Manta Ray cleaning station. Other sites you may visit today include Challenger Bay and Pixie Wall. This evening you cruise into Watson’s Bay or Lizard Island where you 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.
Accommodation:
Please note that all cabins onboard have private ensuites.
1 x Ocean View Deluxe: Very large cabin, with double bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers, 2 bed side tables, TV/DVD, CD stereo
1 x Ocean View: Smaller cabin with double bed, wardrobe, 1 bedside table, TV/VCR, CD stereo
1 x Stateroom: Very spacious cabin with queen bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers, 2 bedside tables, TV/DVD, CD
5 x Double or Twin: Double bed with single over, wardrobe, 1 bedside table
1 x Twin share: Bunk beds with king single under, single over, wardrobe
2 x Quad share: 4 single beds, bunk style, wardrobe
Includes:
Transfers from Cairns accommodation
Low level reef flight from Lizard Island to Cairns
Up to 11 dives
Chef prepared meals
A daily cabin service is provided with all linen including dive deck and bath towels
Optional Extras:
Full gear hire (including dive computer) $120 per person
PADI Advanced course $220
PADI Nitrox Course $220
Nitrox package $75
Cancellation Policy:
20% cancellation fee applies with less than 60 days notice
100% cancellation fee applies with 21 days or less notice
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.
Cost
Rates Valid 01 Jul 2010 To 30 Jun 2011
Per Person
Ocean View Deluxe
Extra Charge* Total Price
$2125
$45 $2170
Ocean View or Stateroom
Extra Charge* Total Price
$1925
$45 $1970
Double or Twin share
Extra Charge* Total Price
$1650
$45 $1695
Quad share
Extra Charge* Total Price
$1350
$45 $1395
*Extra Charge: The additional fee of $45 per person includes a $15 per day Government Environmental Management Charge. This fee is paid onboard direct by passengers to Spirit of Freedom. A pay onboard fuel levy may be applicable at the time of travel.
Rates Valid 01 Jul 2011 To 30 Jun 2012
Per Person
Ocean View Deluxe
Extra Charge* Total Price
$2200
$45 $2245
Ocean View or Stateroom
Extra Charge* Total Price
$2000
$45 $2045
Double or Twin share
Extra Charge* Total Price
$1725
$45 $1770
Quad share
Extra Charge* Total Price
$1425
$45 $1470
*Extra Charge: The additional fee of $45 per person includes a $15 per day Government Environmental Management Charge. This fee is paid onboard direct by passengers to Spirit of Freedom. A pay onboard fuel levy may be applicable at the time of travel.
