Spirit of Freedom, Australia

Name: Cod Hole & Ribbon Reef Trip (Cairns - Cairns)
Start: 2026-10-01
End: 2026-10-04
Location: Australia

9.3 Superb

Nitrox available
Free Internet
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Warm Water Showers

from $ 416 / day Check dates

“Amazing experience, the Reef was mind blowing and the team always made us feel safe and secure.”
Ashley M, United States

Highlights

Voted Best Australian Liveaboard
Diving cruises to Great Barrier Reef

M/V Spirit of Freedom is a 37m, state-of-the-art liveaboard, voted Best Australian Liveaboard by readers of Australasia Dive Log in 2015 & 2017. Spirit of Freedom offers year-round, 3, 4, and 7-day diving cruises to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Sea reefs, and special Far Northern expeditions to dive into the truly pristine and remote reefs. Diving amenities onboard MV Spirit of Freedom include a spacious dive deck, individual dry storage, Nitrox, rinse tanks, a small camera table, and freshwater showers. A camera workstation with power boards and converters for 110 volts is also onboard.

Topside, the Spirit of Freedom offers guests 11 cabins with a style and budget for everyone. All cabins have a private bathroom, wardrobe, ample storage, air conditioning, and housekeeping services. Guests will enjoy relaxing on the top deck between dives or in the evening, where it is a great place to unwind with a drink at the end of a day of fantastic diving. The forward lounge is perfect for chilling out and relaxing and has comfortable seating and beanbags. The dining salon has ample seating for all guests and is where a variety of quality healthy meals are available. Dinner is a set menu, and soft drinks, wine, and beer are included with dinner. The Spirit of Freedom must be notified of any special dietary requirements at least 30 days before travel.

The minimum age to travel on the Spirit of Freedom is 16, as the type of dives practiced requires experience. Snorkelers are welcome aboard the Minke Whale Trip (June and July) and the 3-Day Cod Hole trip. Please note that snorkeling can be restricted due to weather, tides, currents, and other environmental conditions, and snorkeling is only permitted on sites deemed safe. Passengers over 65 are required to supply a doctor’s medical statement confirming they are fit to dive.

Book online to reserve your Spirit of Freedom Australia liveaboard diving holiday.

Choose your departure date

Date

Itinerary

Price

Select

10 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,757

Select Cabin available

10 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,339

FULL

13 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,249

FULL

17 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,757

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

17 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,339

FULL

20 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,249

FULL

24 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,757

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

24 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,339

FULL

27 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,249

FULL

01 Oct

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,757

FULL

01 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,339

FULL

04 Oct

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,249

FULL

Included: VAT, Environment Tax, National Park Fees, Hotel Transfer, Local Flights, Alcoholic Drinks at Dinner, Drinking Water, Tea & Coffee, Wine with Dinner, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Snorkel Gear, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, WiFi internet.

Required Extras: Fuel Surcharge (10 AUD / day).

Optional Extras: Gratuities, Alcoholic Beverages, Soft drinks, Nitrox (120-289 AUD), Nitrox Course (295-325 AUD), Private Dive Guide (650-750 AUD), Rental Gear (135-345 AUD), Scuba Diving Courses (375-405 AUD).

Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.

* Extra fees are shown per person.

Pay by bank transfer or online with

Best Price Guaranteed

Boat features

Free Internet
En-Suite bathrooms
Aircon Cabins
Warm Water Showers
Air Conditioned saloon
Sun Deck
Camera Station
Seaview Cabins
Non-Smoking Rooms
Camera room
Custom built for diving
Charging stations
Indoor Saloon
Library
Outdoor Dining
Audio & video entertainment
Observation Deck
BBQ Area
Available for Charter
Local & International Crew
Snorkeling Equipment
Separate Rinse for u/w Camera
Outside Showers
Leisure Deck
Daily housekeeping
Bar

Food & Drinks

Free Wine w/Dinner
Al Fresco Dining
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Free Soft Drinks
Beer available
Full-board Option
Fine Wines Selection
Buffet style
Western Food
Local Food

If you have any specific dietary requirements whilst on-board your cruise, you can add this to your special requests on step 2 of the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.

Diving

Nitrox available
Shaded Diving Area
DIN Adaptors
Rinse Hoses
Dive deck
Tenders for diving
Sidemount Diving

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English.

Gear Rental

Equipment is available for rent on this boat. Please provide your rental needs on the booking form. If the rental gear is not included in the price, you will need to pay for it on board the boat. Show prices

Drawings & Vessel Layouts

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Year built: 1992

Year renovated: 2023

Length: 37 Metres

Deck area: Expansive

Beam: 7.1 Metres

Top speed: 12 Knots

Cruising speed: 8 Knots

Engines: 2 x Rolls Royce C8M 410 249.8kw diesel

Max guests: 24

Number of cabins: 11

Number of bathrooms: 11 + 2 toilets on the dive deck

Tenders: 2 x Naiad RIB tender boats

Water capacity: 22000 Litres

Fuel capacity: 30000 Litres

Freshwater maker: 9000 litres per day

Boat navigation and safety

Radar
Depth Sounder
GPS
Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
E.P.I.R.B. Distress System
Emergency Rafts
Life Vests
Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
Oxygen
First Aid Kits
Fishfinder
Satellite & mobile phones
Bilge pump alarm
Search light
Crew trained in first aid
Emergency flares

Spirit of Freedom Reviews

9.3 Superb

Vessel

8.8
Crew

9.5
Food

9.7
Diving

9.3
Value

9.0

10 Exceptional
Marisa F
United States

Great adventure and dives!
amazing time out on the reef. very comfortable boat with friendly and helpful staff
Recommended for
the sites. everyone was very helpfu. never hungry.
01 Jul, 2026

10 Exceptional
Eric L
United States

Great liveaboard
Great liveaboard. The crew is accommodating and extremely knowledgeable. We had some weather that prevented us from being able to go to Osprey Reef, but the crew did a great job coming up with an itinerary that scratched the adventurous itch for us. Definitely recommend.
Recommended for
Crew is excellent. Guides are knowledgeable. Great vibes.
05 Mar, 2026

10 Exceptional
Alicia R
Spain

Recommended
Highly recommended. Value for money a 10. Everything very well organized, everything dynamic and without any worries but to enjoy
Recommended for
Diving. Crew. Food.
04 Jun, 2026

Translated from Spanish

8.4 Very good
Dan B
United States

Great trip!
Great trip. The boat is a little cramped but overall ok. Crew did a great job getting us out to osprey ahead of bad weather.
Recommended for
Staff. Food. Diving.
23 Mar, 2026

10 Exceptional
Kirk S
United States

Amazing! Would Recommend!
amazing diving in the reef with freedom to do your own dive vs guided the whole time; amazing food for before/after each dive!; friendly and well equipped crew who took poor visibility and were able to find different sites and make it our best dives ever
Recommended for
best dives, food, good crew
07 Jan, 2024

10 Exceptional
Diana M
United States

Education, support, excellent food, superb crew, expert trip management
The crew were very supportive of my skill level. They monitored the weather, water, and tide conditions and made decisions to take best advantage of those conditions. I was astounded by the requirements of the crew - they did everything - cleaning, diving, dishes, tank refills, gear management, and administrative duties - super impressive! The Great Barrier Reef is a lifetime dream and the crew made sure that it was everything I could have dreamed of! They provided education that added to the appreciation of one of the great wonders of our planet and encouraged an attitude of responsibility with love. Amazing experience!!!
Recommended for
Super hardworking crew, amazing food, well chosen dives
21 Oct, 2022

10 Exceptional
Sandra S
Sweden

amazing trip
it was awesome.
Recommended for
diving, meeting people, fealing at home
06 Mar, 2016

10 Exceptional
Kevin C
United States

Great trip!
The trip was fantastic; well worth the money, and we had 11 amazing dives in our brief trip.
Recommended for
Dive sites. Boat staff. Food and drink.
12 Oct, 2024

10 Exceptional
Asli S
Turkey

Wonderful!!!
The humpback whale, sharks, amazing marine life, the crew’s warm and friendly approach, Ben’s delicious meals and the great diving group!
Recommended for
The Crew, The Diving Sites, Spirit of Freedom comfort
12 Sep, 2018

9.6 Exceptional
Claudio K
Switzerland

Highly recommend - absolutely perfect experience
Exceptional Wildlife, Best Night Dive ever, Super Attendive Crew, Amazing Chef who does Magic in the Galley!
Recommended for
Night Dives, Wildlife and the Crew
28 Dec, 2018

320 reviews

9.3 Superb
320 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

10 Exceptional
Steven W
United States

An amazing few days!!!
Flying up the Australian coast at 1500ft in a small plane to Lizard Island to meet the boat was an excellent way to start the week. So beautiful. The boat and crew is awesome. Super comfortable boat with outstanding food! The crew is simply first class, truly professional with your safety and comfort always first in their minds. Incredible dive knowledge and knowledge of the dive sites. Might be the most professionally run live-aboard we've ever been on. Osprey Reef is an amazing spot to dive that few will ever get the chance to visit. We are so lucky to have been.
Recommended for
Crew, dive sites, and destination
01 Mar, 2017

10 Exceptional
Samantha R
United Kingdom

Incredible - don’t miss this!
Flight from cairns into Lizard Island Amazing and varied dives, including night dive Co-ordination of the whole trip, which has to be relatively flexible. Professionalism and care, and great experiences with the crew. Food was also fab - chefs were on it!
Recommended for
Amazing Crew, Incredible diving, unforgettable experience
28 Oct, 2023

9.2 Superb
Alex C
United Kingdom

Doing GBR in style
It was a great trip - I felt that all the staff were genuinely helpful and friendly
Recommended for
The crew were so friendly and very well organised. The diving was great. The food was decent.
19 Sep, 2025

10 Exceptional
Brittany G
United States

Best Part of Our Trip
We loved everything about this trip - the crew was amazing (Michelle the Director was hilarious), the food was great and there was tons of variety (we probably gained 5 lbs), we loved all the other passengers on the boat, our room was very comfortable (we were in a 4 bed shared) and the dive sites were gorgeous.
Recommended for
Diving, Crew & Bonding with the other passengers
05 Dec, 2019

9.6 Exceptional
Kenneth M
United States

wish i had another week.
Captain and Cook were amazing. Diving was good. Always fun to meet new friends on every trip.
Recommended for
Food - Crew - Food
04 Mar, 2018

10 Exceptional
Kareem S
Canada

Only thing better than the food was the diving!
The staff on board took care of absolutely every last detail, whether a cable for charging a phone up to making sure we got everything we could out of every dive we took. The boat itself was super clean and very well prepared. Finally, and most incredible, the food was absolutely amazing. I've eaten in many restaurants on land that couldn't hold a candle to what Chef prepared for us every meal. Definitely recommended!
Recommended for
Amazing dives, excellent food, fantastic staff!
26 Feb, 2020

10 Exceptional
Catherine C
United States

The BEST diving experience; my whole family loved it!
The crew was truly spectacular. They were all very friendly and helpful. The dive sites and the organization of the program was thoughtfully planned out and my family and I always felt very safe which is of upmost importance to us. Truly an unforgettable experience!
Recommended for
The staff were so friendly and helpful. The food was exquisite and the diving was unforgettable!
26 Dec, 2019

8.8 Fabulous
Kevin B
Switzerland

Very good would not have expected it to be so.
The whole week was great. The highlight were the unexpected things, e.g. Manta.
Recommended for
Diversity of the underwater world. Essen. Crew.
27 Dec, 2025

Translated from German

9.6 Exceptional
Sabrina H
United States

An amazing 4 days!
Animals (sharks, fish, cuttlefish, turtles, manta ray...) People - the crew was great (very organized), the dive guests were international, easy going and fun to vacation with!!
Recommended for
Crew, guests, organization
01 Apr, 2020

10 Exceptional
Justin Y
United States

Spirit of Freedom is one of the best dive experience in Cairns
Highlights - STAFF. They went above and beyond in taking care of each diver and ensuring that we have the best experience. They make sure you have a great vacation experience. Super friendly and knows how to have fun - FOOD. Eating 4-5 delicious meals a day. Different cuisines. Will accommodate to your dietary needs. Chef was incredible. - DIVE. They pick the best dive spots in the Great Barrier Reef, considering the weather. They will help you if you need a refresher. They will take great photos for you (although you can bring your own gopro/camera). All the gear is great quality. I can't praise Spirit of Freedom enough for an amazing experience. Here's a video of my trip- https://youtu.be/3pBSBrvAIpo
Recommended for
Friendly Staff who care about your experience. Best dive spots. Amazing food.
30 Apr, 2018

10 Exceptional
Stuart G
United Kingdom

Seriously, not enough stars
The crew. Hands down. I challenge you to find a better one. Professional yet fun and with a great dynamic between them all. They work hard! I stayed on for the three day trip but would have loved to stay longer. Diving was incredible, with a good variation in the dives and spacing for the "must see" stuff, so you could take a break if needed. I've done a bunch of liveaboards and this is the first that I would consider redoing. Thanks to everyone! #terry'sengineroomtour #terryisfamous
Recommended for
The crew, the diving, the food
23 Sep, 2019

9.2 Superb
Dan P
Australia

Fun 4 days on the Great Bariier Reef
I saw my first hammer head shark, the most amount of sea snakes I have ever seen in one spot, the food on board was great and plentiful
Recommended for
The company, amazing dive sights, the professionalism of the crew and high quality equiment
01 Sep, 2016

10 Exceptional
Ximena L
Mexico

Must be one of the greatest liveaboards out there!
Totally recommend this trip!
Recommended for
The crew: Fabulous, really professional and beautiful humans.. The incredible wildlife we saw, good briefs and presentations. How well taken care of we were, along with the great food..
25 Nov, 2024

10 Exceptional
Marie-Pier B
Canada

Amazing
Everything was well organized and the staff was amazing. I had the best time on that trip
Recommended for
The staff, the dives, the food
29 Jan, 2020

9.2 Superb
Gerardo L
Spain

Friendly crew and awesome dive spots
Tight schedule but extremely well organized
Recommended for
Food, crew and installations
26 Sep, 2018

10 Exceptional
Brian J
United States

Absolutely wonderful crew, the food was delicious, and plentiful, the diving was otherworldly!!!
Minke whales, the amount of dives available, the lovely and supportive captain and crew!
Recommended for
Crew, led by Leo, so wonderfully accomplished and accommodating. The dive sight selection and quality was spot on! The food was delicious and plentiful!
28 Jun, 2024

10 Exceptional
Matthew R
United Kingdom

You won’t be disappointed, it’s incredible
Probably the best thing I’ve ever done, the diving was so much fun, the crew and other guests were all on the same level having great conversations over food and between dives. The trip was so good I’m going back on the boat a week after I got off it!
Recommended for
The diving was unbelievable. The crew and hospitality was perfect. The food was incredible and so much of it!.
03 Apr, 2025

9.6 Exceptional
Andrew S
United States

great trip
Excellent. Do this trip for the sharks. Otherwise, I think the St. Johns trip has better overall diving.
Recommended for
hammerheads. shoni. food
17 Jul, 2015

10 Exceptional
Kaitlin R
United States

Awesome experience!
The dives were amazing. So many fish and other creatures to see. The coral was bright and beautiful. An exhausting amount of diving, but the crew was there making every moment great. Highly recommend Spirit of Freedom!
Recommended for
Friendly/helpful crew, amazing dive sites, great food
25 Oct, 2018

9.6 Exceptional
Michelle G
United States

Excellent food, staff and dive crew.food, staff,
Beautiful dive locations in the Great Barrier Reef.
Recommended for
The staff, dive masters, food
21 Aug, 2016