Spirit of Freedom – 4 Night Swim with Dwarf Minke Whale Ribbon Reefs & Coral Sea (Premium Vessel)
About your Minke Whale Adventure
Ribbon Reefs & Coral Sea – 2026 Minke Whale Season (June/July)
Every winter, dwarf minke whales migrate through the Ribbon Reefs, offering one of the world’s only natural, in-water encounters with these curious and gentle creatures. Unlike other whale experiences, minkes often choose to approach swimmers—circling, gliding past, and returning again—creating an unforgettable, low-impact wildlife interaction found nowhere else on Earth.
Highlights
- Liveaboard adventure combining both Minke Whale experience and diving at the Ribbon Reefs
- In water interaction with Minke Whales
- Deep dives up to 30 metres
- Amazing visibility, coral formations & marine life
- Amazing dive crew and dive service
Dive Level: The Cairns Minke Whale trip is suitable for snorkellers. No dive experience or certification is required.
Departs: Cairns 7 am Sunday Pick up from Cairns Accommodation to fly to Lizard Island
Returns: Cairns 6:30am with an 8am drop off at the hotel
Certified Divers: Up to 15 dives, with focus on in-water swim time with Minke Whales when located.
Inclusions
- Transfers to/from your Cairns city hotel
- Lizard Island to Cairns scenic flight
- Opportunity for up to 15 dives for certified divers and as much in-water swim time with the whales as we can manage.
- En suite cabin with daily service
- Chef-prepared gourmet meals
- Australian wines & soft drinks with evening meals
Extras
- 3 Day Nitrox package – includes all dives on nitrox $180
- PADI Advanced Course $335
- PADI Nitrox Course – includes course and all subsequent dives on Nitrox $325
- Full Gear Hire $205
Full Itinerary
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.
Monday
Its Minke Monday! The number of dives is dependent on how much in-water swim time the whales allow. Dive sites and sequences may vary depending on the weather conditions, but we will maximise opportunities to have in-water time with whales.
Tuesday
One day 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.
On Tuesday night you will depart Osprey Reef for overnight travel to the Ribbon Reefs.
Wednesday
Thursday
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.
FAQ
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