Spirit of Freedom, Australia

Name: Cod Hole & Ribbon Reef Trip (Cairns - Cairns)
Start: 2026-07-23
End: 2026-07-26
Location: Australia

9.3 Superb

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

from $ 425 / 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

04 Jun

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,795

FULL

04 Jun

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,410

FULL

07 Jun

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,297

FULL

11 Jun

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,795

FULL

11 Jun

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,410

FULL

14 Jun

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,297

FULL

18 Jun

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,795

FULL

18 Jun

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 4,020

FULL

21 Jun

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,297

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

25 Jun

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,795

FULL

25 Jun

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,410

FULL

28 Jun

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,297

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 per 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

9.8
Diving

9.3
Value

9.0

10 Exceptional
Svetlana K
Japan

Incredible
Absolutely incredible! A well-organized itinerary and a fun crew made this trip an amazing experience. Fascinating dive sites, loads of food, sharks feeding… Definitely worth going for 7 days.
Recommended for
Crew. Dive sites. BBQ.
21 Feb, 2025

10 Exceptional
Melissa F
United States

Memories for a lifetime!
Truly one of the highlights during my trip to Australia. The hospitality, dives, and people are what made the trip so amazing.
Recommended for
Crew. Dive sites. Findarella service.
17 May, 2025

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
Rick M
Canada

Best time EVER
Feeding the Potato Cod and diving with so many talented divers who we have made into far away friendships😊 We had amazing calm seas as well so thanks for that as well😉 Bobbi and Rick🇨🇦
Recommended for
Friendly Knowledgeable Staff,Food was unbelievable and non stop,Diving was amazing 😄
27 Nov, 2017

9.6 Exceptional
Andreas S
Switzerland

Top Experience
Fantastic time at The Barrier Reef and in the Coral See including Osprey and Bougainville Reefs
Recommended for
Comfort. Crew. Service.
17 Oct, 2024

10 Exceptional
Eva P
Germany

Amazing.
Shark feeding. Saw a hammerhead. The food was spectacular. The crew was very professional and they all love their jobs!
Recommended for
Diving, food, crew
03 Jan, 2017

10 Exceptional
Phillip W
United States

Arizonan on the Great barrier reef
Incredibly professional and helpful crew. From top to bottom. The food was amazing, Andreas is incredible cook. The dives were well organized, changes were made as needed due to weather etc to keep us in the water and seeing cool things. The ship was well organized and the concern for safety both on board and well diving was impressive. Incredibly fun group of divers and crew.
Recommended for
professional dive crew. amazing food. well run dives.
26 Jul, 2024

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

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

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

314 reviews

9.3 Superb
314 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

10 Exceptional
Phillip M
United States

The entire experience was extraordinary!
The rich variety of fish- and creature- reef life throughout of trip was striking, especially the dives at Steve's Bommie and Snake Pit, as was the good condition of the reefs. The coral formations at the sites we visited were still relatively vibrant and colorful. And the dive staff were uniformly knowledgeable, friendly and helpful.
Recommended for
The friendly and helpful service of the staff, the critter-finding skills of Rachel and the dive masters, and the excellent food prepared by Rodrigo.
12 Sep, 2016

9.2 Superb
Fabian F
Argentina

Excellent trip through the remote reefs of the Coral Sea
The whole trip was a great experience, from the start with the scenic flight from Cairns to Lizard Island to the return to Cairns. We were very lucky with the weather so we were able to tour the most remote reefs of the Coral Sea (Osprey, Bougainville and even Holmes!). The dives were all excellent, and at Holmes Reef we were able to experience visibility like we had never had on marine dives, with over 70mt of clear vision.The whole operation was very professional and friendly, a special recognition for Fernanda, our usual Dive Master, great.Very good the meals and the comfort of the cabin and the boat in general, perhaps you could consider the provision of towels for the deck instead of everyone having to bring their own. The dive sites, being all so remote, were in perfect condition and the wildlife abundant at all times. We had a great time at all times
Recommended for
The crew. Dives with incredible visibility. Meals.
17 Dec, 2025

Translated from Spanish

9.6 Exceptional
Mark V
Netherlands

One of the best experiences in my life!
I can’t think of anything that wasn’t a 10 out of 10 - truly special experience! Everything is else so well thought through, which makes the entire experience so smooth. Outstanding crew - thanks a lot Owen, Hugo, Ben, Andreas, Michael, Ryan, Elise, Cat, Sarah, Taku and Chinami!!
Recommended for
Amazing dive spots, fantastic crew, delicious food
15 Jan, 2024

9.6 Exceptional
Raian D
Italy

excellent liveaboard in amazing locations
The dive sites are unique. Nothing like I have ever seen before. Visibility over 50m, massive walls and beautiful topography.
Recommended for
dives, crew, safety
31 Jan, 2017

9.2 Superb
Daniel N
Sweden

Extraordinary Dive Expedition to the Far North
I had the pleasure to join on of the few expeditions to the Far North that Spirit of Freedom does each year and it was just extraordinary! The state of the reef and the marine life, the dive sites and the dive guides were all fantastic. Special shout-outs to Nick, Lucy, Michelle and Alice for making diving fun, safe and easy. Between dives Chef prepared fantastic, restaurant quality meals with impressive variety and attention to detail. Along with meeting the great people who signed up for this trip, this was a very memorable liveaboard indeed. I cannot wait to return to explore other itineraries with the Spirit of Freedom crew.
Recommended for
1. Diving 2. Dining 3. People
18 Dec, 2018

10 Exceptional
Keith B
United States

Amazing trip
The coral reefs were incredible, the instructors and crew were very helpful and friendly, and the food was fantastic. This was an incredibly well run program. Everything was impeccable. It far exceeded our expectations!
Recommended for
Dives, food, people
14 Jan, 2018

10 Exceptional
Shane S
Australia

An experience without equal
The professionalism of the crew and the focus and dedication toward diving safely and enjoyably as often as practicable was incredible. Everything was smooth and scheduled and ran with a practiced and perfected precision. The whole experience was a pleasure
Recommended for
The diving, the food and the crew/passengers
16 May, 2023

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
Elizabeth P
United States

Fantastic time!
Our group had a great time on Spirit of Freedom. You start diving the day you get on the boat, which you don't do on every liveaboard. The crew was great and the food was amazing.
Recommended for
Diving, crew, and food
09 Jun, 2023

9.2 Superb
Jun C
China

Super organized and safe trip, crew works so hard! Appreciated!!
We did some really awesome dives on the GBR, could not have picked a better trip (would have wanted to stay longer for the Coral Sea part too though!). The crew is experienced and works super hard to get us to where we can dive safely in these very remote area. The food was amazing, probably ate a bit too much. It's spacious with lots of room to hang out or just chill. Overall a great trip and met some very interesting people!
Recommended for
Safety measures, clean, food
04 Mar, 2018

10 Exceptional
Joshua E
Australia

Absolutely awesome Live aboard
My wife and I had a trip on the Spirit of Freedom. Quite simply it was amazing. We went across two crews- both were brilliant teams who very clearly do a great job. Despite the bad weather the crew found great dive sites and made the trip unforgettable. Very clearly safety was a top priority. Food was absolutely delicious and they accommodated my wife's food requests. Accommodation was comfy. A little noisy down below (it's a running boat) but we always got a decent sleep. The diving on the ribbon reefs was amazing- so much coral and fish life. The night dive was out of this world. Non-diving highlights include the trivia night, engine room tour and the nighttime talks. Really good operation. Hope to come back in the future. Big thank you to the crews.
Recommended for
Diving- great sites and always safe. Food was unbelievable. Staff onboard- Absolutely great people.
15 Apr, 2026

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
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

10 Exceptional
Jennifer V
Canada

A Great Experience For Our First Liveboard
This being our first Liveaboard, we weren’t sure what to expect but boy were we impressed. Our Trip Director James did an amazing job with clear dive briefings and ensured all of our needs and concerns were met. Mish, the Master Reef Guide was great making sure we we got the most out of each dive site and kept things fun and relaxed. Antonia, Jarryd, and Brad kept a close watch on all our dives with safety being top priority. Anne, the “Hostie with the mostie” kept a close eye and made sure we had everything we needed. Chef Giovanni prepared delicious meals and kept the food coming all day long. First mate Carina and 2nd mate Ben worked hard keeping the ship running smoothly and securing each dive site. And last but not least, Captain Tony Oversaw the whole show and brought us back to shore safely smiling all the way. The crew worked together seamlessly making this an experience to remember. Highlights for sure were Cod Hole and the night dive. We highly recommend the Spirit of Freedom. Hope to get the chance to cruise with them again. Marc & Jen Veno Cruise date: February 24-27, 2020
Recommended for
1. Attention to safety. 2. Attentiveness of the crew. 3. Lots of diving.
04 Mar, 2020

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
Tanya S
United States

Amazing Dive Experience
The crew was fantastic (Owen, Grant, Ben, James, Jamie, Ryan, Taku, Cat, Shell, Gabriel and Joost)! From the very beginning everyone impressed my husband and I. Their knowledge and passion for the GBR showed every moment. It is truly the little things that set this live aboard apart. I really appreciated the very informative and enthusiastic dive briefings from James, which made us feel comfortable every dive. The instructors (Kat, Taku, Jamie, Gabriel, Ryan and James) did an amazing job of pointing out fun critters on our dives. If we came back to the boat with questions about what we saw, they were always very helpful and somehow managed to have all the answers. I really enjoyed the added touch of having a little lesson at night by Jamie while we enjoyed our dessert. I am a dive master and have been diving for about 10 years and really learned a lot, especially about the fish behaviors on the reef. I will definitely have more enhanced dives thanks to the information I learned during those talks. While we were told this wasn’t a common occurrence, it was so fun to be in the dining hall and see the amazing photos Taku took of us and the beautiful sea creatures scroll through on the wall while we relaxed and dined. The food prepared by Joost was absolutely delicious! And he did a great job of accommodating my (and others) dietary restrictions. I still cannot believe he managed such phenomenal meals for all of us in that tiny kitchen! I certainly hope to come back again soon, and when I do it will definitely be with Spirit of Freedom!
Recommended for
The crew. Food. Everyone’s passion for the GBR and diving.
06 Apr, 2025

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

9.2 Superb
George C
United States

Great Barrier Reef Trip
The food and crew was exceptional. On the last day of diving, the dive guide found two turtles for me.
Recommended for
Fantastic food, excellent crew, good diving
03 Mar, 2020

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
Sandra B
United Kingdom

An awesome experience
The whole trip was awesome. Loved the trip on the small plane out to Lizard island. The boat was very well run, the crew were very professional, but took the time to get to know everyone. The choice of dive sites was great, especially North Horn where they did the shark feeding dive. The food was fantastic, an amazing chef, we were well looked after! The dive briefings were very good, Jack was very knowledgable and organised the diving well. Safety procedures were the best we've seen. Can't wait to do the trip again!
Recommended for
Amazing diving, fantastic, friendly crew, comfortable cabins
26 Aug, 2015