Basic Cod Hole and Ribbon reefs informations
Cruise length: 3 days / 3 nights / about 15 dives
Preference guest structure: dive cruise is non-diver/snorkeler friendly
Min. Experience: Beginner divers
Minimum dives: No minimum logged dives required
Depart Liveaboard port: Cairns
Return Liveaboard port: Cairns
Nitrox: Free Nitrox available
Group discounts for 4 or more guests: Available
Liveaboard operator: Spirit of Freedom Liveaboard
By Spirit of Freedom Liveaboard recommended accommodations:
44  | Waters Edge Apartment Cairns
161 - 235 USD/nightDistance to port: 1.1km Booking.com |
Important: It is not safe to take flight back home within first 18-24 hours after diving! We also suggest to arrive one day earlier (in case of connected flight delays or baggage lost). |
Basic Cod Hole and Ribbon reefs informations
Cruise length: 3 days / 3 nights / about 15 dives
Preference guest structure: dive cruise is non-diver/snorkeler friendly
Min. Experience: Beginner divers
Minimum dives: No minimum logged dives required
Depart Liveaboard port: Cairns
Return Liveaboard port: Cairns
Nitrox: Free Nitrox available
Group discounts for 4 or more guests: Available
Liveaboard operator: Spirit of Freedom Liveaboard
Dive cruise highlights
Cod Hole and Ribbon reefs highlights
- Sleek and spacious, the ‘Spirit of Freedom’ offers the best in live-aboard dive cruising to the Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs. This tour begins every Monday from Cairns, and travels along the rarely visited Ribbon Reefs, finishing 240 km to the north at the world famous Cod Hole. Over two and half days you will have the opportunity for up to 11 dives and encounter clouds of colourful tropical fish, an incredible variety of vibrant healthy corals, giant clams, anemones, huge schools of cruising pelagic fish, and a family of giant potato cod. Your last night is spent on board the ‘Spirit’ in the bay at Lizard Island. Enjoy time ashore at Lizard Island the next morning, before boarding your return flight to Cairns. The one-hour, low-level scenic flight back will arrive in Cairns around 11:45am on Thursday.
Languages spoken: Dutch, English, French and Japanese
Facilities and services: Nitrox: paid and Rental equipment
Kreuzfahrtbeschreibung in am Deutsch
Reiseroute
Tag 1
Tag 2
Tag 3
Descrizione della crociera in Italiano
Itinerario
Giorno 1
Giorno 2
Giorno 3
Descripción del crucero en Español
Itinerario
Día 1
Día 2
Día 3
Description de la croisière en Français
Itinéraire
Jour 1
Jour 2
Jour 3
Liveaboard dive cruise Cod Hole and Ribbon reefs,
Select Check-in, Check-out and guests number to get full listing! |
Images from featured dive sites included in Cod Hole and Ribbon reefs dive cruise
- Photo Gallery

Dive depth: 10 - 25m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Reef and Wall
Dwarf-hawkfish (Coral-hawkfish, falco hawkfish)
Max. length: 7cmFound at depth: 4 - 46m, usually 10 - 20m

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Drift and Reef
Potato cod (Potato bass, potato grouper, black-spotted rock-cod)
Length: 100 - 200cmMax. weight: 110kgFound at depth: 10 - 400m

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Drift and Reef
Potato cod (Potato bass, potato grouper, black-spotted rock-cod)
Length: 100 - 200cmMax. weight: 110kgFound at depth: 10 - 400m

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Drift and Reef
Potato cod (Potato bass, potato grouper, black-spotted rock-cod)
Length: 100 - 200cmMax. weight: 110kgFound at depth: 10 - 400m

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Drift and Reef
Potato cod (Potato bass, potato grouper, black-spotted rock-cod)
Length: 100 - 200cmMax. weight: 110kgFound at depth: 10 - 400m

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Drift and Reef
Potato cod (Potato bass, potato grouper, black-spotted rock-cod)
Length: 100 - 200cmMax. weight: 110kgFound at depth: 10 - 400m

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Drift and Reef
Potato cod (Potato bass, potato grouper, black-spotted rock-cod)
Length: 100 - 200cmMax. weight: 110kgFound at depth: 10 - 400m

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Drift and Reef
Potato cod (Potato bass, potato grouper, black-spotted rock-cod)
Length: 100 - 200cmMax. weight: 110kgFound at depth: 10 - 400m

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Drift and Reef
Potato cod (Potato bass, potato grouper, black-spotted rock-cod)
Length: 100 - 200cmMax. weight: 110kgFound at depth: 10 - 400m

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Drift and Reef
Potato cod (Potato bass, potato grouper, black-spotted rock-cod)
Length: 100 - 200cmMax. weight: 110kgFound at depth: 10 - 400m

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Drift and Reef
Camouflage grouper (Blue-tailed cod, camouflage cod, camouflage rock-cod, flowery grouper, marble grouper, marbled cod, small-toothed cod, small-toothed rock-cod, small-tooth grouper, smooth-flowery rock-cod, snout-spot grouper, snout-spot rock-cod)
Length: 80 - 90cmFound at depth: 1 - 46m

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Drift, Reef and Wall
Green sea turtle (Pacific green turtle, Green turtle, Black-Sea turtle)
Max. length: 150cmWeight: 68 - 190kg, max. reported weight: 395kg

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Drift, Reef and Wall
Green sea turtle (Pacific green turtle, Green turtle, Black-Sea turtle)
Max. length: 150cmWeight: 68 - 190kg, max. reported weight: 395kg

Dive depth: 15 - 40m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Exploratory, Reef and Wall
Lacy scorpionfish (Merlet‘s scorpionfish, weedy scorpionfish)
Max. length: 25cmFound at depth: 5 - 30m

Dive depth: 5 - 35m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: none - slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Exploratory and Reef
Zebra turkeyfish (Zebra lionfish, zebra butterfly-cod, many-spotted butterfly-cod, dwarf-lionfish)
Max. length: 25cmFound at depth: 3 - 80m, usually 3 - 60m

Dive depth: 5 - 30m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Night dive and Reef
Red lionfish (Common lionfish, lionfish, butterfly-cod, ornate butterfly-cod, scorpion volitans, scorpion-cod, scorpionfish, zebrafish, turkeyfish)
Max. length: 38cmFound at depth: 2 - 55m

Dive depth: 3 - 30m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Exploratory, Reef and Wall
Map puffer (Map blaasop, scribbled pufferfish, scribbled toadfish)
Max. length: 65cmFound at depth: 1 - 30m, usually 4 - 30m

Dive depth: 10 - 40m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Reef and Wall
Humphead wrasse (Māori wrasse, Napoleon wrasse, Napoleon fish, giant maori wrasse, giant wrasse, mameng, merer, double-headed Maori wrasse, double-headed parrot-fish)
Length: 0.6 - 2.29mMax. weight: 191kgFound at depth: 1 - 100m, usually 2 - 60m

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Drift, Reef and Wall
Blue-spotted stingray (Kuhl‘s stingray, spotted stingray)
Length: 50 - 70cmFound at depth: 1 - 170m, usually 3 - 90m

Dive depth: 15 - 40m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Exploratory, Reef and Wall
Lacy scorpionfish (Merlet‘s scorpionfish, weedy scorpionfish)
Max. length: 25cmFound at depth: 5 - 30m

Dive depth: 10 - 40m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Reef and Wall
Lacy scorpionfish (Merlet‘s scorpionfish, weedy scorpionfish)
Max. length: 25cmFound at depth: 5 - 30m

Dive depth: 10 - 40m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Reef and Wall
Lacy scorpionfish (Merlet‘s scorpionfish, weedy scorpionfish)
Max. length: 25cmFound at depth: 5 - 30m

Dive depth: 10 - 40m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Reef and Wall
Barrier reef anemonefish (Clown fish, brown anemonefish, guarded anemone fish, two-banded anemonefish)
Max. length: 9cmWeight: 0.027kgFound at depth: 25m

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Drift, Reef and Wall
Australian black-tip shark (Black-tip shark, black-tip whaler, Tilston’s whaler shark, Whitley’s black-tip shark)
Length: 150 - 180cm, max. reported length: 200cmMax. weight: 52kgFound at depth: 3 - 150m, max. reported depth: 150m, usually 3 - 50m

Dive depth: 5 - 35m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: none - slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Exploratory and Reef
Black-cheek moray eel (Masked moray)
Max. length: 100cmFound at depth: 4 - 40m, usually 8 - 20m

Dive depth: 5 - 35m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: none - slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Exploratory and Reef
Valentinni‘s sharpnose puffer (Saddled puffer fish, black-saddled toby)
Length: 4 - 5cmFound at depth: 1 - 55m

Dive depth: 5 - 30m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Night dive and Reef
Potato cod (Potato bass, potato grouper, black-spotted rock-cod)
Length: 100 - 200cmMax. weight: 110kgFound at depth: 10 - 400m

Dive depth: 5 - 30m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Night dive and Reef
White-tip reef shark
Length: 110 - 160cm, max. reported length: 213cmFound at depth: 1 - 330m, max. reported depth: 330m, usually 8 - 40m

Dive depth: 5 - 30m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Night dive and Reef
Red-toothed triggerfish (Niger trigger, blue triggerfish)
Length: 30 - 50cmFound at depth: 1 - 40m, usually 5 - 35m

Dive depth: 10 - 30m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Ambience, Exploratory and Reef
Loggerhead sea turtle
Length: 80 - 100cm, max. reported length: 122cmWeight: 75 - 160kg, max. reported weight: 227kgFound at depth: 0m

Dive depth: 5 - 20m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Exploratory and Reef
Epaulette shark (Blind shark, itar shark)
Length: 70 - 90cm, max. reported length: 107cmFound at depth: 1 - 50m

Dive depth: 5 - 20m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Exploratory and Reef
Giant moray (Java moray eel, black-pearl moray, tropical moray eel)
Max. length: 3mWeight: 30kgFound at depth: 1 - 50m

Dive depth: 5 - 20m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Exploratory and Reef
Giant moray (Java moray eel, black-pearl moray, tropical moray eel)
Max. length: 3mWeight: 30kgFound at depth: 1 - 50m

Dive depth: 10 - 30m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Ambience, Exploratory and Reef
Yellow-banded sweetlips (Goldman‘s sweetlips, diagonal-banded sweetlips, lined blubber-lips, lined sweetlips, many-lined sweetlips, oblique-banded sweetlips, silver-banded sweetlips)
Max. length: 72cmFound at depth: 1 - 35m

Dive depth: 3 - 30m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Exploratory, Reef and Wall
Loggerhead sea turtle
Length: 80 - 100cm, max. reported length: 122cmWeight: 75 - 160kg, max. reported weight: 227kgFound at depth: 0m

Dive depth: 3 - 30m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Exploratory, Reef and Wall
Giant moray (Java moray eel, black-pearl moray, tropical moray eel)
Max. length: 3mWeight: 30kgFound at depth: 1 - 50m

Dive depth: 5 - 30m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Night dive and Reef
Turkey moray (Guinea-fowl moray, white-mouth moray, turkey moray)
Length: 80 - 120cmFound at depth: 1 - 55m, usually 1 - 36m

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Drift, Reef and Wall
Yellow-banded sweetlips (Goldman‘s sweetlips, diagonal-banded sweetlips, lined blubber-lips, lined sweetlips, many-lined sweetlips, oblique-banded sweetlips, silver-banded sweetlips)
Max. length: 72cmFound at depth: 1 - 35m

Dive depth: 5 - 20m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Exploratory and Reef
Green sea turtle (Pacific green turtle, Green turtle, Black-Sea turtle)
Max. length: 150cmWeight: 68 - 190kg, max. reported weight: 395kg

Dive depth: 10 - 30m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Ambience, Exploratory and Reef
Chinese trumpetfish (Pacific trumpetfish, flutemouth, painted flutemouth, spiny-back trumpetfish, stickfish, trumpetfish)
Length: 60 - 80cmFound at depth: 1 - 120m, usually 3 - 120m

Dive depth: 10 - 25m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Reef and Wall
Orange clownfish (Eastern clown anemonefish, Eastern clownfish, black-finned clownfish, clown anemonefish, clownfish, orange anemonefish)
Max. length: 11cmFound at depth: 1 - 15m

Dive depth: 10 - 30m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Ambience, Exploratory and Reef
Barrier reef anemonefish (Clown fish, brown anemonefish, guarded anemone fish, two-banded anemonefish)
Max. length: 9cmWeight: 0.027kgFound at depth: 25m

Dive depth: 10 - 30m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Ambience, Exploratory and Reef
Blue-spotted pufferfish
Max. length: 80cmFound at depth: 2 - 25m

Dive depth: 9 - 19m Visibility: 10 - 30m Current: slightKnots Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃ Dive type: Big fish, Drift and Reef
Potato cod (Potato bass, potato grouper, black-spotted rock-cod)
Length: 100 - 200cmMax. weight: 110kgFound at depth: 10 - 400m
Cabins
Select dive cruise and dive cruise depart date, to get listing of available cabins!
Deluxe Double Cabin
Deluxe Double Cabin
8.5m2
Air conditioning with control in cabin
Ensuite bathroom
FREE WiFi
You can stay in cabin by yourself (surcharge 0%)
Cabin facilities/amenties: Non-smoking cabin, Desk, Wardrobe/closet and Sea view.
Master Double Cabin
Master Double Cabin
9.2m2
Air conditioning with control in cabin
Ensuite bathroom
FREE WiFi
You can stay in cabin by yourself (surcharge 65%)
Cabin facilities/amenties: Non-smoking cabin, Wardrobe/closet.
Ocean view Standard
Ocean view Standard
3.9m2
Air conditioning with control in cabin
Ensuite bathroom with shower
FREE WiFi
You can stay in cabin by yourself (surcharge 0%)
Cabin facilities/amenties: Non-smoking cabin, Bathroom with shower, Slippers and Sea view.
Quadruple Cabin
Quadruple Cabin
7.2m2
Air conditioning with control in cabin
Heating
FREE WiFi
You can share cabin with other divers
Cabin facilities/amenties: Non-smoking cabin, Shared bathroom, Bathroom with shower, Hair dryer, Free toiletries, Heating, Desk, Radio/CD/Hifi and Sea view.
Standard Double or Twin Cabin
Standard Double or Twin Cabin
7.2m2
Air conditioning with control in cabin
Ensuite bathroom
FREE WiFi
You can share cabin with another diver, or stay by yourself (surcharge 65%)
Cabin facilities/amenties: Non-smoking cabin, Wardrobe/closet.
Boat
boat technical data
Material: Aluminium
Build: 1992
Renovated: 2019
Lenght: 37 m
Width: 7.1 m
Cruising speed: 8 knots
Freshwater maker: 9000 lt/day
Water capacity: 22000 litter
Cabins: 18
Gusest: 40
Boat features and services
Air conditioned cabinsAir conditioned saloonAudio & video entertainmentBarCamera StationCharging stationCustom built for divingEn-Suite bathroomsFree internetIndoor saloonLibraryNon-diver (snorkeler) friendlyOutdoor diningPhotography station240V/110V recharge facilitiesSeparate rinse for u/w camerarinse hosesShaded dive deckSun deckTenders for divingTV in cabinsWarm water showersWi-Fi (paid)Food & Drinks
Buffet styleBeerFine CuisineLocal foodSelection of winesSnacks all dayVegetarian optionsWestern foodBoat navigation and safety
Bilge pump alarmDepth sounderE.P.I.R.B. distress systemEmergency Oxygen KitEmergency raftsFire alarmFire extinguishersFirst aid kitCrew trained in first aidFishfinderGPSLife vestsRadarRadio VHF/DSC/SSBSatellite & mobile phonesSearch lightEquipment rental
Item | Day | Week | 4 days | Extra day |
---|
Snorkel gear (mask and fins) | 7USD | 22USD | 18USD | 7USD |
Computer | 22USD | 73USD | 44USD | 7USD |
Dive light | 7USD | 22USD | 15USD | 6USD |
Included \ NOT Included \ Extra Charge
No dive equipment included in the price!
Full dive equipment for the whole dive-cruise duration: 183 USD
FREE NITROX is available!
Included
Included:
- Airport transfer
- To/from nearby hotel transfer
- All meals and snacks
- Soft drinks
- Australian wines & soft drinks with evening meals
NOT Included
NOT Included:
Extra Charge
Extra Charge:
A $50 per person Marine Park Levy, Lizard Island Porterage, & Port fee applies.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Small print
SNORKELERS. Snorkeling on Spirit of Freedom is in waters which are exposed and not ‘calm sheltered waters’. Our itinerary is to suit Scuba Diving and you may not be able to snorkel at every site. There are opportunities to snorkel as the reef top of the Ribbon Reefs are relatively close to the surface. Most of our guests are scuba divers, however experienced snorkelers with a good level of fitness are welcome to join this tour. Please note that a snorkel buddy may not always be available, you may be required to snorkel alone and to wear our flotation equipment. You will be safe under the watchful eye of the 'look-out' crew.
LUGGAGE: Due to light aircraft restrictions, your total weight of your luggage is limited to 20 kilograms/ 45 lb per person, including your dive gear and carry on luggage.
Ribbon Reef Diver Safety:
Suitable for Snorkellers to Advanced Divers
Diver experience recommendation: Open Water certification with minimum 10 ocean dives including 5 dives in the last 12 months
Less experience may result in limited diving due to environmental conditions. 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 a medical clearance. For further details refer to our Diver Information form or contact our Reservations team.
Itinerary
This itinerary is a sample only and featured dive sites may vary or the sequence may change.
Day 1
The Spirit of Freedom courtesy bus will pick you up from your Cairns hotel around 11:00am to transfer you to Trinity Wharf, where you will board the vessel. You will be greeted by the Spirit of Freedom crew, who will give you an orientation of the vessel before a 12 noon departure. Enjoy lunch on board while we cruise to the outer Great Barrier Reef for an afternoon check-out dive and a twilight or night dive. After dinner we cruise north to the Ribbon Reefs.
Featured dive sites - Day 1
Flare Point – Ribbon Reefs featured dive site
Beginner divers
Boat dive
Dive depth: 10 - 30m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Current: slight
Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃
Dive type: Ambience, Exploratory and Reef
Flare Point offers a relaxing site at which to conclude your trip aboard the ‘Spirit of Freedom’. A beautiful sloping reef wall to explore, and scattered with deeper outlying bommies to discover. Flare Point offers classic images of unspoiled coral reef abundant with marine life and covered in a diverse range of brightly coloured tropical fish.
Dynamite Pass - Ribbon Reefs featured dive site
Beginner divers
Boat dive
Dive depth: 9 - 19m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Current: slight
Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃
Dive type: Drift, Reef and Wall
Get the tides right and you are in for a thrilling drift dive along the reef wall of Cormorant Reef. Sit back, enjoy the ride and let Dynamite Pass blow your mind as a plethora of marine life passes right in front of your eyes.
Day 2
These two days are spent diving at the most northern of the Ribbon Reefs, Number 9 & 10 Ribbon Reefs. Dive sites and sequence may vary depending on the weather conditions, but will always include at least one dive at the Cod Hole, where you encounter a family of massive and very friendly Potato Cod. Other sites may include Wonder-wall, Pixie Pinnacle, Challenger Bay, Two Towers, Lighthouse Bommie, and the Snake Pit, just to name a few. If the current is right, you may also take a drift dive at Dynamite Pass, well know as a channel for sharks to pass through. See the dive site page for site selection of some of our dive sites on the Ribbon Reefs. 4 to 5 dives will be available each day, including a night dive on the Tuesday. On Wednesday evening we overnight at Watson’s Bay on Lizard Island and enjoy a sunset BBQ dinner on the top deck.
Featured dive sites - Day 2
The Cod Hole - Ribbon Reefs featured dive site
Beginner divers
Boat dive
Dive depth: 9 - 19m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Current: slight
Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃
Dive type: Big fish, Drift and Reef
The world famous Cod Hole is home to numerous Potato Cod. These huge fish are quite used to divers, offering the chance to get up close and personal, and are quite willing to pose for a photo whilst visiting one of the many cleaning stations.
Steve's Bommie – Ribbon Reefs featured dive site
Beginner divers
Boat dive
Dive depth: 5 - 35m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Current: none - slight
Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃
Dive type: Exploratory and Reef
Steve’s Bommie never fails to impress even the most discerning diver. There is not a better way to spend a Sunday morning. Rising up from thirty-five metres to its apex at around five metres. All you need to do is open your eyes to be astounded by the sheer quantity of schooling fish and the pristine condition of the corals. Look a little closer and you will find more of the reef’s masters of camoflage including Stonefish, Leafy Scorpionfish and Wobbegong Sharks. Located at twenty-two metres is a marble plaque commemorating the site’s namesake – ‘Steve’.
Steve's Bommie – Ribbon Reefs marine life
Fish: Great barracuda,
Grey reef shark,
Big-eye trevally,
White-tip reef shark,
Tasselled wobbegong,
Leaf scorpionfish,
Clown anemonefish,
Orange clownfish,
Black-cheek moray eel,
Zebra turkeyfish,
Valentinni‘s sharpnose puffer,
Barrier reef anemonefish,
Blue-striped pipefish,
Schultz‘s pipefish,
Messmate pipefishChallenger Bay – Ribbon Reefs featured dive site
Beginner divers
Boat dive
Dive depth: 5 - 30m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Current: slight
Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃
Dive type: Big fish, Night dive and Reef
Challenger Bay has an amazing variety of marine life and is a great dive – day or night. The site has a sandy bottom, scattered with bommies, sloping up from thirty metres to meet the reef platform at about five metres. Huge schools of Batfish and Sweetlips are commonly seen, along with pelagic fish like Mackeral, Tuna and Barracuda. Night dives at this sight also provide divers with the opportunity to see some of the reefs nocturnal inhabitants as the octopus come out of hiding and moray eels swim freely throughout the reef. The Giant Trevally come out to hunt and steal the show at night, accompanying divers for the duration of the dive.
Pixie Pinnacle – Ribbon Reefs featured dive site
Beginner divers
Boat dive
Dive depth: 10 - 25m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Current: slight
Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃
Dive type: Reef and Wall
Pixie Pinnacle is a small isolated bommie rising from thirty metres to just below the surface allowing divers to view a cross-section of reef environments. An abundance of schooling fish allows divers the awe-inspiring experience of being in amongst them. This bommie is also littered with many hidden creatures waiting to be discovered by those with the patience to look – a macro photographer’s dream. This pinnacle can get strong currents on certain tides.
Wonderland – Ribbon Reefs featured dive site
Experienced/advance divers
Boat dive
Dive depth: 15 - 40m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Current: slight
Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃
Dive type: Exploratory, Reef and Wall
A large coral mound growing out of depths approaching forty metres, ridges and channels leading off into the blue surrounding Wonderland. Exploring the wall or gardens that form this structure will lead to divers being met by pristine coral growth on all sides and a widely varied range of marine life.
Two Towers – Ribbon Reefs featured dive site
Beginner divers
Boat dive
Dive depth: 5 - 20m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Current: slight
Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃
Dive type: Exploratory and Reef
Two bommies rise in tandem from the sandy seabed at twenty-five metres up to approximately five metres. A deeper coral ridge running down one side serves as a cleaning station at various times of the year. Weave your way between these impressive pinnacles and you are likely to be approached by the inquisitive sea snakes that are this site’s local residents. The isolation of these bommies has led to many critters establishing homes amongst the patches of rumble on the weatherside. Whilst conversely, come around to the other side and you will be amazed by the quantity of life sheltering behind these two structures.
Vertical Gardens – Ribbon Reefs featured dive site
Beginner divers
Boat dive
Dive depth: 10 - 40m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Current: slight
Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃
Dive type: Reef and Wall
When the winds shift from the prevailing South-east around to the North-west for a short window around October/November, we are lucky enough to visit this gem. A reef wall descending to forty metres comes in to form as sheltered recess for divers to explore. The picturesque wall is covered with undulating soft corals swaying with the movement of the water. Nudibranch enthusiasts will be blown away.
Pixie Gardens – Ribbon Reefs featured dive site
Beginner divers
Boat dive
Dive depth: 10 - 25m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Current: slight
Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃
Dive type: Exploratory, Reef and Wall
This dive site begins as a gentle reef slope with scattered coral outcrops progressing into an impressive wall as you proceed north. This site is home to a widely varied cross-section of marine inhabitants. Whether exploring the sandy fields of garden eels, looking amongst the coral outcrops, or gliding along the reef wall, there is something for everyone.
Lighthouse Bommie – Ribbon Reefs featured dive site
Beginner divers
Boat dive
Dive depth: 5 - 30m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Current: slight
Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃
Dive type: Big fish and Reef
An isolated pinnacle in deep water, Lighthouse Bommie rises from about thirty metres at the base ascending to five metres – the perfect location for an impressive safety stop. The Lighthouse Bommie attracts schools of Trevally, Barracuda, and Fusilliers. A resident turtle is home on most dives and baths in the attention of photographers. This pinnacle abounds with hidden macro treasures for those with a keen eye. During June and July Lighthouse Bommie becomes a popular playground for the very inquisitive Dwarf Minke Whales as they pass through the area on their southward migration.
Day 3
Featured dive sites - Day 3
Flare Point – Ribbon Reefs featured dive site
Beginner divers
Boat dive
Dive depth: 10 - 30m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Current: slight
Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃
Dive type: Ambience, Exploratory and Reef
Flare Point offers a relaxing site at which to conclude your trip aboard the ‘Spirit of Freedom’. A beautiful sloping reef wall to explore, and scattered with deeper outlying bommies to discover. Flare Point offers classic images of unspoiled coral reef abundant with marine life and covered in a diverse range of brightly coloured tropical fish.
Joanie's Joy – Ribbon Reefs featured dive site
Beginner divers
Boat dive
Dive depth: 3 - 30m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Current: slight
Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃
Dive type: Exploratory, Reef and Wall
Joanie’s Joy is a wall dive with a number of scattered bommies ranging in depth from thirty metres up to three metres.
Lighthouse Bommie – Ribbon Reefs featured dive site
Beginner divers
Boat dive
Dive depth: 5 - 30m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Current: slight
Water temperature: 23.8 - 29.4℃
Dive type: Big fish and Reef
An isolated pinnacle in deep water, Lighthouse Bommie rises from about thirty metres at the base ascending to five metres – the perfect location for an impressive safety stop. The Lighthouse Bommie attracts schools of Trevally, Barracuda, and Fusilliers. A resident turtle is home on most dives and baths in the attention of photographers. This pinnacle abounds with hidden macro treasures for those with a keen eye. During June and July Lighthouse Bommie becomes a popular playground for the very inquisitive Dwarf Minke Whales as they pass through the area on their southward migration.
By Spirit of Freedom Liveaboard recommended accommodations:
44  | Waters Edge Apartment Cairns
161 - 235 USD/nightDistance to port: 1.1km Booking.com |
Important: It is not safe to take flight back home within first 18-24 hours after diving! We also suggest to arrive one day earlier (in case of connected flight delays or baggage lost). |