Spirit of Freedom, Australia

Great trip full of fun!

We had traveled with the Ocean Quest (another Divers Den liveaboard), but there was NO comparison to the Spirit of Freedom. From the moment we arrived, they took good care of us, and we loved every minute of it. Day one included many safety briefings. We were given and shown how to use satellite transponders as a safety beacon. On dive one, skills were assessed, including manual BCD inflation as well as SMB inflation. We were told that we would dive without guidance, but solo safety divers (in bright yellow shirts) were in the water directing the way back to the boat and pointing out creatures of interest. Guided dives were offered at night, but you could continue “the spirit of freedom” to take the dive where you wanted with your buddy team. You always checked in and signed after a dive, whether you went or not. Roll call happened often and always occurred before the boat moved. We had Captain Owen, who made great decisions to hit the right dive spots at the right times. On board, the staff was all beyond amazing. Some standouts not listed below are Grant, Jarryd, Ryan, Shell, Brittany, and Fernanda, who were all fun, personable, and kind! The boat had a color printer, and a picture of all crew and guests was posted in the hallway, which really helped us learn everyone’s name. I was often greeted by name by all crew members, which really makes you feel warm and welcomed. Maddie was our cruise director, and she was fantastic. She made sure everyone was well informed. Dive briefings were presented on the TV or large color posters and had great detail, even when the boat changed plans. All of the staff worked as a team. They would help with ANYTHING! As you approached the dive deck with your BCD on, they would put your fins on your feet for you. They always checked that your air was on, looked at your pressure gauge, and added some air to your BCD. They also always had someone on the second deck on lookout. Another example of a very safety-conscious, procedural boat that worked as a team! Jamie was our Master Reef Guide—which is a super cool Australian-funded project. He has so much knowledge and extra insight, professionally presented in nightly presentations. I learned so much and had a blast diving the next day looking for things he had presented. Taku took absolutely beautiful and amazing photos of the trip. These made everyone feel SO special when he would put them onto the big screen TV in the dining room! It was fun to see yourself and fellow divers each day. At the end, he was so kind to AirDrop them to everyone for free! He was such a kind and talented photographer who was sure to capture amazing memories for all. The last night of the trip, they did a team trivia night. This was tons of interactive fun, and some of the crew joined in, adding to the joy. Rosie, the chef, is beyond amazing in what she can do! Our boat was very international, and she made all of us VERY happy. She had accommodations for all eating needs and ended EVERY day with an amazing dessert too! There is also a great coffee machine that provided everything from cappuccino to hot water for tea. All of our dives ended back at the main boat. 95% of our dives left from the main boat too. They have two small boats, and one was always in the water in case of emergency. These have no ladder to get in or out of—just sliding over the edge. As a side note, this liveaboard provided reef-safe sunscreen on the sundeck but only provided soap in the shower (no shampoo). Just one to note so you travel prepared. We just grabbed some extras from our hotel before we left Cairns. Also, be prepared to climb a ladder for the steep “stairs” to your room and to get back onto the boat at the dive platform.

Recommended for

The Location. The Crew. The food.

11 Aug, 2025