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 $ 414 / 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

$ 1,745

Select Cabin only 5 spaces left

10 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,315

FULL

13 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,233

Select Cabin only 1 space left

17 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,745

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

17 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,315

FULL

20 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,233

FULL

24 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,745

Select Cabin available

24 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,315

Select Cabin only 1 space left

27 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,233

FULL

01 Oct

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,745

FULL

01 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,315

FULL

04 Oct

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,233

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
hong xuan J
China

I will definitely come back with my friends！
This liveaboard experience was absolutely amazing. The crew demonstrated exceptional professionalism and service, and the entire diving and living experience was absolutely perfect.
Recommended for
The Safety Procedure is perfect！. The briefing for each dive is perfect！. The food of each meal is perfect！.
29 Jun, 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

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
RON T
United States

Absolutely amazing
Feeding the giant cod and dive master Lorenzo brought me to the snake fit Reef and he took few pictures of me under the water. He's such a joy To be around with. All the crews were amazing.
Recommended for
Helpful crews, diving, food, cleanliness
21 Mar, 2017

10 Exceptional
Bill G
United Kingdom

Liveaboard at it’s best!
5 days of great diving on a great boat. The crew were brilliant, the food was delicious, the service was outstanding. Thank you Spirit of Freedom for giving us such a fab time!
Recommended for
The crew, the diving and the fun
06 Oct, 2023

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
Doug M
United States

A wonderful trip. I would highly recommend The Spirit of Freedom.
Fantastic.
Recommended for
The crew were fantastic.. The food was wonderful.. The other divers on the boat made for a wonderful experience..
29 Jul, 2024

10 Exceptional
Swantje B
Germany

Unforgettable experience- simply amazing
Cod Hole dives and night dive. The crew took care of everything so that the trip was relaxing from the first minute onwards.
Recommended for
Great package with maximal number of dives in available time, plus hike, flight
09 May, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Nicholas W
United States

Amazing diving on a comfortable boat with a great crew!
The dives were even better than I expected and the boat was nice. Efficient dive process, great crew who were friendly and fun. Thanks!
Recommended for
1) Dive sites chosen 2) Crew was great/friendly 3) Food was delicious
06 Dec, 2022

10 Exceptional
Caity S
United States

Amazing Experience
This was a great trip - We did the 5 day Coral Sea & Ribbon Reefs Adventure and had a wonderful experience. The crew was amazing, the dive sites were out of this world, and the boat was great (food, bunk etc).
Recommended for
Crew, dives & food!
18 Sep, 2019

320 reviews

9.3 Superb
320 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

9.6 Exceptional
Loredana C
France

Would highly recommend. Really amazing dive sites& crew
Genuinely really lovely crew, great dive briefings, food really was brilliant, lots of variety. Dove equipment was really good too - very high standards. Would highly recommend to book one of the itineraries to go to Osprey reef. But to be aware that it’s all down to weather conditions if you do get to go there, I did and it was genuinely phenomenal. I’ve dived in Galapagos, Maldives, thailand… the shark dive here and night dives are just brilliant.
Recommended for
Crew, diving, food
27 Jul, 2023

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
Heather T
United States

Way beyond expectations!
James and the crew were so professional, friendly and informative. Really felt at home right away in the boat. Dive briefs were thorough and really allowed us to feel at home at each dive site. Equipment was top notch, well organized and the dive procedures kept us all entering and exiting the water quickly and safely. The shark feed dive, the monolith dive and the sheer beauty of the reef were the highlights for me. And Andreas kept us so well fed! Good was plentiful, varied and delicious! And Kat’s education sessions added a special element, bringing us closer to understanding the beautiful sealife surrounding us. This was a life changing trip for my son and I, and we left with life long friends!
Recommended for
The crew, food and dives
07 Dec, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Namrata B
India

Would dive with Spirit of Freedom anyday again!!!
The locations we covered were gorgeous. Even though 15 dives in 4 days may sound strennous the way the dives were organised made it very comfortable for all divers. We had lovely food, comfortable cabins and dive gear etc for rent are in great shape too. Felt very safe at all points in time.
Recommended for
The exotic dive locations, the professional, helpful and friendly crew and the comfort of the liveaboard
14 Feb, 2018

9.2 Superb
chenchiang L
Taiwan

The service is kind and the crew is professional and enthusiastic
The itinerary is perfect, the crew is enthusiastic and professional, and I will sign up for other trips next time
Recommended for
Professional, passionate, safe
28 Mar, 2020

Translated from Chinese

10 Exceptional
Beth G
United States

First Liveaboard Experience
The highlights from our trip were Spike the Cod fish, the Shark Dive, the night dive and seeing the diversity of various nudibrachs, scorpion fish, rock fish and sharks. It truly felt like vacation with the relaxed nature of the dives and having the crew check your gear and place your fins before each dive.
Recommended for
We enjoyed the helpful and kind staff, quality of the dive sites and Michelle our amazing divemaster.
13 Aug, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Marie-Eve G
Canada

Best time ever!
I spent a wonderful trip! The dive sites were fantastic, especially Cod hole. The boat was comfortable, the staff was super friendly but also professional and knowledgeable, the food was incredible. Nothing bad to say about this trip!
Recommended for
Dive sites, staff, food
30 Oct, 2023

9.2 Superb
Jayne S
United States

Very enjoyable
The night dive was spectacular-I'll remember it forever! From the beginning to the end of the trip everything went smoothly. Even when the air conditioning went out and we were forced to come back early the crew handled it smoothly and very well.
Recommended for
The diving, the customers, the crew.
30 Nov, 2019

9.6 Exceptional
Rachel C
United States

Amazing
The dive guides were great and showed us all sorts of wonderful underwater highlights. We especially enjoyed seeing a cuttlefish, moray eel, stingray, pigmy seahorse, and shark!
Recommended for
Diving, food, staff
19 Oct, 2019

10 Exceptional
Faith R
United States

Amazing Diving Experience!
The diving was absolutely amazing. Every crew member went out of their way to make sure it was a great experience.
Recommended for
The Crew, atmosphere, diving.
08 Feb, 2017

10 Exceptional
Dan S
United States

This was my Bucket List trip, it didn't disappoint!
Captain Tony and the Crew were fantastic, the Service couldn't have been better, and the food was amazing! Sean saying, "It's Dive briefing time!" All were so enthusiastic and so helpful!!!!!
Recommended for
The Diving, the Crew and the Food!!
03 Dec, 2023

10 Exceptional
Robert B
Canada

overall amazing experience
The atmosphere of the overall boat was amazing and the wow factors of the Great Barrier Reef!
Recommended for
COD hole, Coral Sea and the Food!
04 Nov, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Ida M
United States

AEPIC TRIP!!
EVERYTHING! The DIVE was phenomenal The CREW and captain outstanding The BOAT FOOD fantastic (gained weight...upss) The ENTIRE EXPERIENCE, unforgettable and a MUST to repeat!!
Recommended for
The DIVE, the CREW, the FOOD
22 Apr, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Helena C
Australia

Absolutely spectacular dive holiday... how I wish I had booked a longer trip !!
The dive locations in the Coral Sea were phenomenal. Certainly some of the best marine life I have seen in thirty years of exploring the oceans. A hammerhead shark cruising past me will certainly never be forgotten. Nor the other sharks species, turtles, cuttlefish, gorgonian fans along with corals and fish of so many varieties. The underwater topography is also spectacular and varied, with wall dives and swim thru's the highlight for me. However it was really the staff that made the trip so memorable, welcoming us from the moment we boarded MV Spirit of Freedom. Diving operations were professionally and smoothly conducted, with our every need met. Freshly prepared meals, great company, fun entertainment and a clean comfortable vessel and cabin will see me returning again soon ..!!
Recommended for
Excellent dive sites, well trained terrific crew that ensured a safe enjoyable trip, and delicious meals and service.
23 Feb, 2024

8.8 Fabulous
Ken C
United States

Incredible diving and crew
Captain Tony, Leo, and the crew were all very receptive to our needs, and were willing to go the extra mile to make the trip a lifetime memory.
Recommended for
Crew. Dive sites were incredible. Organized schedule.
24 Oct, 2025

9.6 Exceptional
Phil D
United States

Sleep, eat, dive, eat, dive, eat, and dive and eat some more.
This was an exceptional experience. Great value for the money in the sense that the boat, crew, food, diving, and the whole experience was top-notch. They delivered exactly as promised, which was sleep, eat and dive.
Recommended for
Crew. Diving. Food.
05 Nov, 2025

10 Exceptional
Newton Celso B
Brazil

It was a dream come true, it exceeded my expectations.
Attention of the team, the language was not an obstacle to perform the diving tasks.Precision in the accomplishment of tasks, the entire team involved in their well-being.Food, cleanliness, organization in my evaluation were perfect.I would return with the greatest pleasure and I recommend it to everyone who wants to participate in this experience .
Recommended for
Team spirit, if surpassed attentive, cleanliness, programming, complete the excellence of the service provided
25 Apr, 2017

Translated from Portuguese

10 Exceptional
Andrea Y
United States

Thank you so much for such a great first liveaboard experience!
The overall experience was very positive, I really cannot emphasize how wonderful the crew was and they worked hard to give us the best experience possible while having fun!
Recommended for
The crew! So friendly and helpful and fun to dive with. The food! So nice to have amazing food waiting for us after dives. The dive locations! The crew did their best to take us to the best locations possible and they were all wonderful..
10 Feb, 2025

10 Exceptional
Susan S
United Kingdom

Great trip to the Barrier Reef with a fantastic crew
The crew were fantastic, well informed; safety was paramount, but done so nicely. The diving was great, with plenty of sharks and well as lots of little fish and corals.
Recommended for
Diving; Food; Company
27 May, 2019

10 Exceptional
Michael W
United States

Spirit of Freedom 3 night/4 day live aboard experience
I appreciate the, the helpfulness of each crew member in assuring our comfort and safety. I appreciated the readiness to be available to answer questions. I appreciated their expertise and knowledge. Not only were the dives great experiences the added value of being educated about the reef and marine life added to the experience.
Recommended for
Friendliness and professionalism of the crew. The absolutely amazing meals. The rich experience of the dive sites.
16 Oct, 2024