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 $ 415 / 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

$ 1,750

Select Cabin available

10 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,325

FULL

13 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,240

FULL

17 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,750

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

17 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,325

FULL

20 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,240

FULL

24 Sep

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,750

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

24 Sep

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,325

FULL

27 Sep

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,240

FULL

01 Oct

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 1,750

FULL

01 Oct

8 Days / 7 Nights

$ 3,325

FULL

04 Oct

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 2,240

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
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
Peter F
Australia

Wow... just wow
The crew were exceptional, the diving was amazing, the knowledge and experience of the guides were second to none and the meals were seriously 5 star, wow... just wow, a must for any diver
Recommended for
The diving, the crew and the food
25 Mar, 2020

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
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
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
Jacqueline C
United Kingdom

Fantastic
Diving Osprey and Bourgonville reefs. Everything was excellent, well organised, good fun, good kit. Would definitely recommend to anyone!
Recommended for
Exceptional service from all the crew. Wonderful food. Lots of space on board.
01 Mar, 2024

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
Chun Yu Gary T
Hong Kong

Perfect ship and crew!
perfect ;)
Recommended for
1. The crew 2. The food 3. Dive site selections
06 Nov, 2015

320 reviews

9.3 Superb
320 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

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

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

9.6 Exceptional
Andrea S
United States

EPIC trip and I would recommend Spirit of Freedom to all my diving friends.
First live-aboard experience. ;-) Could not have asked for a better experience. From day 1, very organized with the luggage, the daily schedule and communicated very well with all of their expectations. The team worked together flawlessly for us to have a great time. They had systems in place and had the tanks re-filled almost as fast as we boarded the boat. Safety was high priority on their list and it showed through being clear with expectations and double-counting people after a dive. My favorite thing was having fins put on at the bottom of the steps - made me smile. Diving was great - luckily the weather was wonderful and we were one of the lucky ones to complete the trip without any changes or accommodations due to weather! So basically, the trip is eat, dive, eat, dive, rest, eat, dive, eat, dive, rest. It was a picture perfect week to say the least.
Recommended for
The STAFF was Phenomenal - very friendly and very knowledgeable. The FOOD - both chefs that we had on board were AMAZING - and they even catered to dietary needs which was a real plus. May sound silly - but not having to touch fins - Loved our "Prince Charming" at the bottom of the third step.
14 Jan, 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
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

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
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
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

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

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

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

10 Exceptional
Lauren P
United States

Great 3-day trip
We had a great time on the Spirit of Freedom! The boat is super nice, with plenty of room to relax on the sundeck or in the forward lounge. The food was delicious, and you are fed 5 times a day, so you'll never go hungry. The crew was very helpful, knowledgeable, and efficient which made all of our dives go so smoothly. We visited so many awesome dive sites and saw amazing marine life-- can't recommend enough!
Recommended for
Great crew that was very helpful, friendly, and informative. Amazing dive sites with lots of coral and fish. Delicious food!.
17 Mar, 2025

10 Exceptional
Kendra K
United States

Great First time on a Liveaboard with amazing diving and staff
This was our first experience with a liveaboard, and we had a blast! The staff gave us detailed dive site briefings and were attentive at ensuring we were properly equipped. We enjoyed great meals which gave us energy for the dives. The sites we visited were gorgeous from soft coral walls to vibrant shallow reefs. Definitely a memorable trip. This set the standard for a liveaboard.
Recommended for
Dive Sites, Food, Staff
02 Nov, 2023

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
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

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

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

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

9.6 Exceptional
Jan N
Netherlands

Live event! liveAboard Spirit of Freedom
All dives were splendid!
Recommended for
Dive locations, Overal safety, Quality food
25 Feb, 2020

10 Exceptional
Christian B
Belgium

Unique. Witnessed great teamwork from the young crew.
Seeing a fantastic crew at work with drive, professionalism and customer care.
Recommended for
Pace, Food & quality of vessel
01 Apr, 2018