Spirit of Freedom
AULSF
ABOUT THIS LIVEABOARD
Spirit of Freedom will take you out aboard their sleek and spacious custom-built vessel for a 4-night and 5-day trip to the northern Great Barrier Reef. Your trip begins Thursday morning at 8.30am, with a low-level flight from Cairns along the coastline and over the reef to Lizard Island, to meet the ‘Spirit of Freedom’ vessel. The first day will see you diving the very top of the Ribbon Reefs, before overnight travel out to Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. Two days is spent diving the spectacular walls of Osprey Reef, an old volcanic atoll lying 220 km off the coast. Renown for its spectacular 1000 meter walls, Osprey Reef also offers massive soft corals, amazing shark action, and exceptional visibility. ‘North Horn’ at the tip of Osprey is a site where grey reef sharks, Silvertips, and the occasional oceanic congregate. Here you can also experience a close encounter with the Spirit of Freedom shark attraction dive. The last day is spent at Ribbon Reef Number 3, or occasionally if the weather permits, Bougainville Reef, to the south of Osprey Reef. Overnight travel on the last night, returns you to Cairns early on Monday morning. Scenic flight, crystal clear waters, delicious food and exceptional service will make this trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
BOAT FEATURES
Boat Specifications
- Beam: 7.1m (24ft)
- Length: 37m (122ft)
- Cruising speed: 11 knots
Boat Fixtures
- Full-service galley, freezer, and refrigerator storage
- 2 x Yanmar 500hp 368 kw diesel engines
- 2 x Cummings 6BTs generators, 90 KVA each
- Electronic stabilizers ensuring maximum sea keeping capability for greatest passenger comfort
Other Features
- 20,000 liters fresh water plus Desalinators (generating up to 9,000 liters per day).
Dive Facilities
- Spacious Dive Deck
- 2 x 4.8m Naiad Tender boats
- Weights, weight belts, 10.5L (65cf) and 12L(80cf) aluminum tanks with K valve/ DIN universal fittings. (Bring a DIN converter for your DIN regulators just in case).
- Freshwater showers are located aft of the dive deck, and deck towels are provided after each dive.
- 2 x Bauer 21 CFM Compressors
- DNAx Nitrox Membrane System
- Dive deck contains individual stations for guests with dry storage above and a storage box underneath.
- Nitrox 32% tanks and fills available - for Nitrox certified divers at an extra cost.
- Camera wash tub, camera table, and air gun.
Boat Amenties
- Dining saloon serving as a meals area, briefing area, theatre room and general meeting place. 42-inch wide screen TV is used for briefings, movies, documentaries, or the trip slideshow.
- Forward lounge – with a marine reference book and DVD library, Flat Screen TV & DVD. Including a camera workstation with 240V power-boards and converters for 110 Volt.
- Partially covered top deck with timber tables, chairs, comfortable lounge seating and sun-lounges.
BOAT SAFETY
- EPIRB Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
- Flares (8 x Red Rocket Parachute; 4 x Orange hand held; 2 x Red Smoke hand held)
- Fire Suppression System (fitted to engine rooms)
- Fire Extinguishers (bridge, galley, saloon, all passenger & crew accommodation areas, engine rooms)
- Fire Blanket (galley)
- Life Jackets (38 x SOLAS PFD Type 1)
- Life Rafts (2 x 16 man; 1 x 6 man)
- Tenders (2 x 4.8m NIAD + 30HP outboard)
- HF Marine Radio
- VHF Marine Radio
- AIS Vessel Tracking system
- Hand held VHF x 4
- General First Aid Kit (Saloon/Dive Deck)
- AMSA Scale D - vessel First Aid kit (includes prescription medications)
- AED - defibrillator
- DAN - Oxygen Resuscitation Delivery System
- Oxygen Cylinders (2 x D Size; 2 x E Size)
- Stretcher
BOAT INCLUSIONS
General Inclusions
12L or 10.5L aluminum dive tank (yoke valves), weights and weight belt. (Please bring a DIN conversion kit for you DIN regulators).
Transfer to and from your Cairns City hotel on the day of embarkation and disembarkation to the vessel departure marina.
Low-level scenic flight – Lizard Island to Cairns/Cairns to Lizard Island (3 & 4-day trips only!) Total luggage weight is limited to 20kg.
Free WiFi (when in range)
Accommodation based on two or more sharing (quad, twin or double) depending on your cabin choice (single use extra).
Deck and cabin towels are provided on board.
En-suite cabin with daily service and air-conditioning.
Local tax - GST (on booking cost only)
All meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner + snacks
Our Exclusive Inclusions
Return transfers from Cairns International airport to your Cairns City hotel. Seat in coach (shuttle bus) transfer on your day of arrival and departure into and out of Cairns.
Complimentary Reef Teach Evening - learn about the Great Barrier Reef and how the reef is a living breathing organism.
Type of Meals
Spirit of Freedom provides their guests four plentiful meals each day, including a continental and cooked breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in-between dive snacks. Using the freshest ingredients, the chefs create healthy gourmet meals - Australian style - to delight the eye, tastebuds, and stomach. Australian wines & soft drinks with evening meals. The vessel can cater to special dietary requirements (within reason), please inform on booking about your requirements, well in advance.
Drinks
Coffee, teas and filtered water are available all day, local wine and soft drink with evening meals only. Alcoholic beverages at extra cost.
BOAT EXCLUSIONS
General Exclusions
Rates and taxes, subject to change - A Fuel Levy may apply at the time of travel
No International or domestic flights are included
No Visas ( responsibility of traveller)
Conditions of Travel and Diver Information form must be completed and returned 30 days before departure. Any medical costs associated are to be covered by the traveller. To participate in scuba diving, passengers must be certified divers and are required to sign a discharge of liability and a medical statement, stating they are fit to dive.
Spirit of Freedom requires non-English speaking passengers to travel with an interpreter. The interpreter must have a good understanding of English and scuba diving, and be able to accurately translate the safety and dive briefings. The interpreter may be a family member, friend or colleague, or a paid professional translator. In all instances, regular rates apply to the translators fare.
Crew gratuities
Any Optional Activities which may include but not limited to: Dive Courses, nitrox fills, any purchases from the Ship Shop
Gear Hire - available for hire as a complete package or individually
Alcohol, soft drinks, clothing, souvenirs, and personal toiletry items are available for an extra cost. The vessels Ship Shop is open for guests on Wednesdays and Sundays. Spirit of Freedom is a fully licensed vessel and bringing your own alcohol on board is not permitted.
Travel and Diving Insurance is for the traveler to organize before travel - Your diving insurance is mandatory, and must cover all of your scuba diving and snorkeling activities, including the costs for recompression chamber treatment and emergency air evacuation. A travel insurance covering you against any unforeseen eventuality is highly recommended.
Taxes and Surcharges
Marine Park Entry Fee - $20 AUD per person. Payable onboard.
Any airport taxes on arrival or departure
VESSEL IMAGES
REVIEWS
Coming Soon
Jun
2019
Departure and Return Date
27/06/2019 - 01/07/2019
Length Of Cruise
4 nights, 5 days
Destination Description
Coral Sea: Osprey Reef & The Ribbon Reefs - The Great Barrier Reef
Diving Description
Choose your own dive buddy or the crew will allocate one for you. Prior to every dive, a comprehensive briefing will be given by the dive supervisor to assist with your navigation and direct you to areas of interest at each site. You may dive with your buddy to your pace and interests with no set limits on depth or style of diving outside of normal safe diving practices. An orientation dive is offered on the first dive, and a safety instructor will be in the water on most or all dives. Guests are welcome to dive with our divemasters and instructors, should they feel more comfortable with this option. 12l ( 80cf) tanks, weights, and weight belts included. Up to two dives on day 1 (including a check-out dive) and 4-5 dives on day 2, 3, and 4. Most dives will be from the main boat, with the reef either below or a short swim away. On a drift dive, you may dive from the dive tender and drift back to the boat. Re-entry via dive ladder: assistance provided. Dive sites will be decided on weather and diving conditions to make the safest environment for the diver. Diver experience recommendation: Advanced Diver certification with minimum 20 ocean dives including 5 dives in the last 12 months. All diving onboard should be within the limits and standards of the training agency that certified you. All dives should be planned no-decompression dives.
Diving Weather Temp
The northern sector of the Great Barrier is a tropical zone with relatively warm temperate winters and high humidity in the summers. Water temperatures range 24C/ 75F in the winter to 29C/ 85F in the summer. Lycra skin to 3mm in the summer (Oct – March) and 5mm in the winter (Apr – Sept).
Diver Level
Advanced Open Water & higher