3 Day Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs Ocean View Deluxe

Tour Details

Operator

Spirit Of Freedom

Destinations

Great Barrier Reef and Cod Hole

Departs From

Cairns

Tour Description

Sleek, stylish and spacious, the ‘Spirit of Freedom’ is Australia’s most comfortably appointed live-aboard dive vessel and offers the best in dive cruising to the far northern Great Barrier Reef and remote Coral Sea reefs. On board you will enjoy first class chef prepared meals and complimentary wine with your evening meal. Three decks with separate lounge, dining and under cover top deck provide plenty of space for 26 guests, and 11 generous air-conditioned cabins all contain private bathroom.

The Ocean View Deluxe Cabin contains double bed only.

3 DAY ITINERARY, MONDAY DEPARTURE
Departing: Cairns 12:00 noon Monday
Returning: Cairns 11:30 am Thursday

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 theCod 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 c hannel 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 andsites may vary or the sequence may change in accordance to the weather and the accessibility.