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 $ 420 / 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

$ 1,769

Select Cabin available

10 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,362

FULL

13 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,265

FULL

17 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,769

Select Cabin only 4 spaces left

17 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,362

FULL

20 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,265

Select Cabin only 1 space left

24 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,769

Select Cabin only 1 space left

24 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,362

FULL

27 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,265

FULL

01 Oct

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,769

FULL

01 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,362

FULL

04 Oct

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,265

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

8.0 Very good
Ioana H
Romania

good choice
canins were comfy and food was great. chef took great care with my dietary needs
Recommended for
Interesting divesites. Only cruise going put even with cyclone. biggest coral ever.
26 Jul, 2026

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
Alice T
United Kingdom

Had a fantastic time on Spirit of Freedom!
Great
Recommended for
The food, the organisation of the crew, the variations of types of dives
27 Oct, 2015

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
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
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
Kerri H
United Kingdom

A childhood dream realised.
Impressively well run ship with enthusiastic, switched on crew. Little things like warm towels, kit taken care of, delicious food, made it a fantastic liveaboard. Highly highly recommend. Don't miss out on the night dive!
Recommended for
Fantastic diving, comfortable ship, proficient crew.
25 Oct, 2018

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

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

323 reviews

9.3 Superb
323 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

9.2 Superb
Matthew S
United States

Fun and memorable diving experience
3/5 dives a day, including two night dives across the trip. The crew was great and useful. The food was always amazing and provided lactose-free options. Other guests were fun and happy. The quad cabin was a bit tight when full.
Recommended for
The crew was fun and helpful. The food was great, and they catered to multiple requirements. The diving was easy and memorable.
16 Feb, 2026

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
Brian K
United States

The crew was amazing, the food spectacular and amazing dives
Finding a cuttle fish, and seeing the crew generally happy for me. Meeting amazing people Food OMG the food
Recommended for
The crew , food, dives
27 Feb, 2020

10 Exceptional
Lisa K
United States

Highly recommend and a fabulous trip!
This was our first liveabaord and it was fantastic! The crew made us always feel safe when diving with great briefings and the ease of gearing up to dive made it super easy. Great dive equipment that is well maintained. Nice cabin accommodations and plenty of room to relax. The food was amazing as the chefs truly outdid themselves. Even with the stormy weather the dive crew always found safe places for us to dive. The trip director was fabulous! Enjoyed the after dinner ocean talks, learned a lot!
Recommended for
Professional friendly attentive crew. Great and abundant food. Well organized and ease of diving.
18 Feb, 2025

10 Exceptional
william B
Australia

Unforgettable Four Day Coral Sea Liveaboard
We just returned to Cairns after an incredible four day/four night excursion to the Coral Sea and Osprey Reef with Spirit of Freedom. These four days were the highlight of our entire month in Australia. We completed 15 dives over the course of four days and saw a variety of sea life ranging from hoards of sharks down to the tiniest nudibranchs and everything in between. Visibility was easily over 30meters in most spots. The captain and crew of the Spirit of Freedom were the best! They made everyone feel right at home and delivered top notch service throughout the trip. All of the rental dive gear was in tip top shape and the accommodations were very comfortable, to say the least. Last but not least, the food! The food and beverage throughout the trip were amazing! You will certainly not go hungry on this trip! Highly recommend and can't wait to get back to visit again!
Recommended for
The Amazing Diving! The Outstanding Crew! The Delicious Food!
16 Apr, 2018

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
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
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

9.2 Superb
Adrian K
Australia

The overall experience was great
Definitely the cuttlefish and sharks, the accomodation was great too, the food was plentiful and tasty
Recommended for
Diving the wall,diving with Cuttlefish& getting back out to the outer reef
12 Oct, 2017

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

9.2 Superb
Peter M
Australia

Brilliant all round experience, and I have experienced 10 different boats.
Working backwards - The real highlight of the trip were the 4 dives on the last diving day at Bougainville reef with clear water, amazing drift dives, and big schools of palegics and reef sharks. Osprey reef with the shark feed at North Horn and soft coral dives came in second followed closely with the 2 night dives where the small fish fed on plankton and the giant trevally, reef sharks etc feasted on the small fish. Amazing action. We were very lucky to have calm seas for the 8 days and a brilliant crew.
Recommended for
Food, all diving services, outstanding crew
08 Apr, 2019

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

10 Exceptional
Caroline W
United States

Exceeded My Expectations!
The Cod Hole dive was extremely cool, as those fish are big, dopey, and gentle. Sola is an amazing guide, pointing out tiny creatures that most divers would miss. Simon whipped up one amazing meal after another. Angus kept our safety first, but also snuck in a generous helping of humor and fun.
Recommended for
Safety-conscious crew, excellent food, tons of diving
27 Mar, 2017

10 Exceptional
cedric C
Belgium

Great
Greeaaaaat! The crew was awesome. Rachel, Amy, Tamir, the wonderful cook Cassey, everybody was so helpful and we had a really great time. The food was really delicious and I had no issue at all with my allergies. The crowd on the boat was really pleasant, we had a very good time above the water too. The dive sites were just great, the coral was beautiful, the sharks were numerous, the passing hammer shark was unbelievable :-) Thanks to all of you! :-)
Recommended for
no stress, best rest between dives, friendlyness, excellent food
27 Jan, 2016

8.8 Fabulous
Amy M
Australia

Our first liveaboard
The whole experience was outstanding. Definitely recommend this to others
Recommended for
Great diving, fantastic crew, delicious food
29 Jan, 2020

9.2 Superb
Steven C
United States

Great Crew and Diving
I really enjoyed the diving on remote reefs. No crowds. The crew was very helpful and put safety first and foremost.
Recommended for
Crew. Food. Safety.
13 Dec, 2024

9.6 Exceptional
Auguste H
France

A wonderful trip
The diving spots at the Osprey reef and the Bougainville reef were particularly awesome. Underwater landscape were magic with a beautiful fauna, huge walls, colorful corals, tunnels in the reefs to explore and the deep blue of the ocean with a long range visibility that I never experienced before.
Recommended for
Diving spots, the crew and the food
12 Sep, 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

8.4 Very good
Ashley M
United States

Top notch
Amazing experience, the Reef was mind blowing and the team always made us feel safe and secure.
Recommended for
Dive sites. Crew was incredible. Fun activities in evening.
28 Jul, 2025

10 Exceptional
Diego H
Brazil

The best vacation!
The crew was amazing! They were all so polite and so ready to help us in anyway. The dive instructors were also really good. They were careful and worry about safety. The food was amazing (special thanks to our chef Simon!), and it is impossible to get hungry, there food all the time! And the accomodation and common spaces of the vessel are also excellent! This was the best vacation!!
Recommended for
The crew, the dives and the vessel
12 Jan, 2018