4 Day Coral Sea & Ribbon Reef Trip (Dive Adventure)

About your 4 Night Liveaboard Dive Trip – Coral Sea and Ribbon Reefs Adventure

Spirit of Freedom is big on luxury, dive service and dive experience. Based in Cairns, this specialised liveaboard dive vessel provides trips to the Ribbon Reefs, with its world-famous Cod Hole, and Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. Your 4 night adventure departs Lizard mid-morning to the remote location in the Coral Sea. You will spend two days diving a variety of Osprey’s spectacular sites, renowned for spectacular 1,000 metre walls, massive soft corals, amazing shark action and exceptional visibility. The vessel itself is all about luxury. It has 11 guest cabins with various styles, configurations and prices. There are lots of comfortable, spacious common areas and the dive deck is open plan and well maintained. These trips are suitable for certified Advanced scuba divers only. The Ribbon Reefs are accessible for those with Open Water certification, while Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea is for divers with Advanced certification.  The vessel visits several sites during all trips, providing an outstanding dive experience.

Highlights

• Liveaboard diving trips to the Coral Sea
• Deep dives up to 40 metres
• Shark Feed
• Amazing visibility, coral formations & marine life
• Amazing dive crew and dive service
• Low flying scenic flight to Lizard Island over the Great Barrier Reef

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Diving Details

Spirit of Freedom will impress with its dive crew, service and locations. As mentioned this trip to the Coral Sea is suitable for Advanced certified divers only. There’s the option to extend your diving qualifications with an on-board course (i.e. Advanced / Nitrox Course).  Coral Sea dive depth is limited only by your air consumption and experience levels. The ocean floor drops away to 1,000m and some dive sites don’t start until 20m below the surface. Dive conditions can sometimes be challenging in the Coral Sea, with strong currents. Visibility is amazing, often over 50m. Certified divers must dive in buddy pairs. Bring your own or have one allocated to you. There is no solo diving. You will need to bring your dive certification card.

Departs Cairns 8.30am – Sunday

Returns Cairns 8.00am Thursday

DIVES: Up to 15 (including 1 night dive)

Spirit of Freedom – The Vessel

At 37 metres, Spirit is one of Australia’s largest liveaboard dive vessels, with onboard facilities to satisfy the most discerning dive traveller.   Electronic stabilisers ensure the smoothest cruising, while the comfortable furnishings and polished timber interior, give you the feeling of being on a luxury private yacht. Passenger entertainment areas include a sun deck, lounge/ bar and huge dining saloon with widescreen TV/DVD system.  There is also a large fully equipped dive deck with Nitrox and photo facilities.  11 roomy cabins all feature private bathrooms and are serviced daily.

Cabin Details:

Ocean View Deluxe

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, the Ocean View Deluxe Cabin boats a 10.5m² area with 3 large windows overlooking the starboard side of the vessel.  The room features bedside tables, wardrobe and 26″ flat screen TV plus Ensuite.

Ocean View Standard – Ocean View cabin is 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. Double or Sole Occupancy Available.

Stateroom – The largest of all cabins onboard the vessel, The Stateroom cabin is located in a private area on the lower deck, close to the dive deck and dining saloon. Double or Sole Occupancy Available.

Standard Double or Twin Share – There are seven standard double or twin share cabins. Five of these cabins contain a double bed with a single bed over the top, bunk style. One cabin contains just a double bed and one cabin has two single beds.  These cabins are all located on the lower deck, with easy access to the main deck. Sole Occupancy is also available.

Quad Share – Located midships on the lower deck, the quad share cabin containing four single beds, bunk style and is a great options for groups or families.

Number of passengers:

24 maximum

What to bring:

Dive Certification Card (Minimum Open Water Level – Hat & Sunscreen – Warm clothing for evenings – Money for bar and other on-board purchases – Soft luggage

Courses Available:

PADI Advanced Course and PADI Nitrox Course

Special Note:

• Due to light aircraft weight restrictions, your total luggage weight is limited to 20kg/45lb per person. All bags must be soft sided.
• Prices are per person and include all applicable fees, taxes and levies.
• Snorkeller ($200 Discount on Cabin Price listed)

Prices are all listed per person and valid between 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025

Sunday

At approximately 7 am, the Spirit of Freedom courtesy coach will transfer you from your Cairns hotel to Hinterland Aviation at Cairns General Aviation Airport. Here you will board a light aircraft for your scenic flight up the coast to Lizard Island and the start of your 4-night liveaboard dive trip.

The Spirit of Freedom crew will greet you on arrival and escort you via tender to the vessel. After an orientation of the vessel, we depart for Ribbon Reef Number 9 & 10. This afternoon we will have the opportunity for two dives at a choice of sites including Challenger Bay, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Gardens, and Pixie Pinnacle. We depart in the evening for a 10-hour crossing to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. Check out our Coral Sea dive sites.

Monday and Tuesday

Two days will be spent diving Osprey Reef (weather permitting). Australia’s Coral Sea reefs are renowned for crystal clear water with visibility ranging from 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 is a site 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. Four to five dives will be available each day, including a night dive on Monday.

On Tuesday night we will depart Osprey Reef for overnight travel to the Ribbon Reefs.

Wednesday 

At Ribbon Reef Number 3 we will 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 Osprey to Bougainville Reef, known for its unusual underwater landscape or caverns, and its partially submerged wreck.

On Wednesday evening we will cruise overnight back to Cairns.

Thursday

You will arrive back in Cairns at 6:30 am. Enjoy a light breakfast onboard and a group photo opportunity, before being dropped back at your Cairns hotel around 8:00 am.

Coral Sea Diver Safety

• This liveaboard dive trip is not suitable for snorkellers.
• Diver experience recommendation: Advanced Diver certification with a minimum of 20 ocean dives, including 5 dives in the last 12 months.
• Guests must be 16 years of age or over at the date of departure.
• Guests over the age of 65 are required to supply a valid dive medical.
• Buddy teams are responsible for planning and conducting their own dives as we do not offer a full guided dive service. For guided dives, we recommend a Great Barrier Reef Day Trip.
• Ocean diving is a fun but strenuous activity – reduced physical fitness or limited scuba diving experience may limit your ability to participate fully. Safety is our number one priority. If in doubt, we recommend a Scuba Diver Refresher course prior to your trip.
• Diver Health: If you have a medical condition or are currently taking prescription medication, you will need medical clearance before joining a liveaboard dive trip. Please contact us for guidance.