7 Day Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs & Coral Sea Ocean View Standard ( Thursday Departure )

Tour Details

Operator

Spirit Of Freedom

Destinations

Lizard Island, 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 Cabin contains double bed only.

7 DAY ITINERARY, THURSDAY DEPARTURE - ONLY VALID UNTIL 30/6/2007
Departing: Cairns 08:30am Thursday
Returning: Cairns 11:00am Thursday

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 , where you board Spirit of Freedom . 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 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. 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. Sunday evening we will cruise overnight back to Cairns .

Monday: Arrive Cairns approximately 06:30am . Enjoy breakfast on board, followed by around 4 hours at your leisure in Cairns . Reboard Spirit of Freedom at Trinity Wharf for a 12 noon departure. This afternoon we dive the Great Barrier Reef to the north of Cairns .

Tuesday: Today we may dive the amazing Steve’s Bommie, Clam gardens, Flare Point and the beautiful Gorgonia Wall and other sites on the middle Ribbon Reefs.

Wednesday: This morning we will dive theCod Hole. This is a popular dive site famous for resident family of large Potato Cod. We may also dive Dynamite Pass , Lighthouse Bommie, Challenger Bay , and Pixie Wall . This evening we overnight at Watson’s Bay, Lizard Island .

Thursday: This morning you have the opportunity to go ashore and explore Lizard Island . At 10:00am 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 11:00am , the Spirit of Freedom courtesy coach will transfer back to your Cairns city hotel.

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.

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.