4 Day/ 3 Night Cod Hole Liveaboard dive trip
Departs every Monday
at 12.00 noon.
Returns every Thursday
at 12.00 noon (Flight).
- We are glad to offer 5% off the RRP
prices for all bookings on-line.
- This full 5% discount will be given at the time of booking. Discounted
prices shown on our booking form.
- A deposit is required at the time of
booking, with the balance paid 30 days prior to departure.
- Please check availability with us before
booking
The 4 day/ 3 night (3 diving days)
dive adventure on board Spirit of Freedom will take you
to the famous Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs of the GBR. The 'Ribbons' are
a string of 10 coral reefs stretching over 100 miles to the north of Cairns.
Awaiting you are picturesque coral gardens and isolated 'bommies' crowned
in delicate corals, anemones, and colourful reef fish.
The Cod Hole lies at the top of the Ribbon Reefs, and
is home to a family of resident Potato Cod (Groper). These diver friendly
fish will amaze you with their sheer size and seeming eagerness to pose
for camera.
Coral formations vary from beds of huge plate corals
to isolated pinnacles sustaining an amazing display of fish life, to walls
and channels for the perfect drift dives as well as caves, canyons and
shallow coral gardens. Divers can expect to encounter the enormous
giant clams, golden gorgonian fans, and clouds of colourful tropical
fish, as well as cruising pelagics, moray eels, green turtles, reef sharks
and the giant Napoleon Wrasse
Dives on the outer Great Barrier Reef
Dives at the world famous 'Cod Hole' - home to a family
of giant potato cod
Dives on the remarkable chain of 'Ribbon Reefs' with
varied topography featuring coves with expansive beds of plate corals
to isolated pinnacles - home to clouds of colourful tropical fish.
Experience wonderful coral gardens displaying an abundance
of both hard & soft corals supporting a wealth of fish & invertebrate
life.
- The 'Ribbons' are a photographers dream.
- Average depth of dive sites is 25m-30m (80'-120')
- Most dive sites have coral to within 2m (6') of the surface making
it ideal for snorkelling as well as scuba diving.
- Average visibility on this section of the GBR is 15m-20m (45'-70')
The waters are generally sheltered; although some current
may be experienced at dive sites situated close to the narrow 'passes'
between reefs on certain tides.
- We are glad to offer 5% off the RRP
prices for all bookings on-line. These are shown on our booking
form.
- A deposit is required at the time of
booking, with the balance paid 30 days prior to departure.
- Please check availability with us before
booking
Sample Itinerary
- Monday. Boarding Spirit of Freedom at 11:15am at
Trinity Wharf (complimentary transfers from Cairns city hotels are available)
for a 12 noon departure. Lunch will be served on board while we cruise
to the Great Barrier Reef to the north of Cairns, for an afternoon orientation
dive and a twilight or night dive
- Tuesday. Today we dive Steve’s Bommie, on Ribbon
Reef # 3. This is an isolated pinnacle that rises from 100 feet at its
base to around 15 feet from the surface. Colourful antheas and a vast
array of fish cover this bommie, while big eye trevally and barracuda
hang out in the blue. Look for nudibranch and stonefish. Today we may
also dive the Clam Gardens, where giant clams up to three feet across
will amaze you. Some of our other favourite sites in this area of the
Ribbons include Flare Point and the beautiful Gorgonia Wall.
- Wednesday. This morning we will dive the Cod Hole.
This is a popular dive site famous for it’s resident family of
large Potato Cod, (Groper). Good opportunity for photographers. We may
also dive Dynamite Pass, possibly as a drift dive, well known as a channel
for sharks cruising from the Coral Sea to the Barrier Reef. This afternoon
we may dive Lighthouse Bommie, where Golden sea snakes are frequently
sighted. In the spring months this site is also a Manta Ray cleaning
station. Other sites we may visit today include Challenger Bay and Pixie
Wall. This evening we cruise into Watson’s Bay on Lizard Island
where we will overnight in the lea of the island.
- Thursday. This morning, after a leisurely breakfast,
you have the opportunity to go ashore and explore Lizard Island. At
10:30am you will board a twin-engine light aircraft at Lizard Island
for your low level flight over the reef back to Cairns. Arriving back
at Cairns airport at approximately 12:00 noon, the Spirit of Freedom
courtesy coach will meet you for your transfer back to your Cairns city
hotel
Please note that above itinerary is a sample only and
sites may vary or the sequence may change. Access to the Cod Hole and
the Coral Sea is weather conditional and while every attempt will be made
to keep to the advertised itinerary, the Coral Sea and specific sites
on the Great Barrier Reef are not guaranteed.
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