Spirit of Freedom Liveaboard Trip 3 Night Minke Whale and Ribbon Reef Trip (June/July) | Cairns

For tour meeting point and time, please take the tour vouchers as the final confirmation. The meeting point and time in the tour info are only for reference.

Highlights

• Return city accommodation transfers
• 1 hour Scenic Flight
• Delicious chef-prepared meals
• WiFi
• Tea, Coffee and Water
• Tanks, air fills, weights and weigh belts

There are few opportunities in a lifetime where you can experience the thrill of sharing the water with a creature as magnificent as a whale. Spirit of Freedom, as an endorsed tourism operator, hold a permit from Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to offer a Swimming with Minke Whales activity. We are also a contributor to the ongoing research conducted by the Minke Whale Project, and assist with their multi-disciplinary research into dwarf minke whale biology and behaviour.

During the months of June and July, divers and snorkellers may have the opportunity to interact with dwarf minke whales in the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef. This is a unique and remarkable encounter. Our Swimming with Minke Whale trip is a modified version of our 3 Night Cod Hole Liveaboard Dive Trip. We spend plenty of time exploring the amazing dive sites of the remote Ribbon Reef, with an underlying focus at all times to maximise potential in-water encounters with the whales.

When operating, these tours begin on a Thursday, departing from Cairns and heading north to the rarely visited Ribbon Reefs. Over two and half days you will have the opportunity for up to 11 dives. The number of dives is dependent on how much in-water swim time swimming with Minke Whales as the whales allow. Your last night is spent on board the Spirit of Freedom in the bay at Lizard Island. Enjoy time ashore at Lizard Island the next morning, before boarding your return flight to Cairns. The one-hour flight back will bring you back to Cairns around 12:00pm on Sunday.

See the full itinerary below for more details.

This trip includes daily cabin service and chef-prepared gourmet meals. Complimentary Australian wine or soft drinks are served with evening meals.

Special Expedition: These tours are strictly seasonal, to coincide with the whales’ migration. Swimming with Minke Whales is a strictly controlled activity. Guests must follow crew instructions at all times.

Itinerary

Thursday

The Spirit of Freedom courtesy bus will pick you up from your Cairns hotel around 10:30am to transfer you to Trinity Wharf. There you will be greeted by the Spirit of Freedom crew, who will give you an orientation of the vessel before departing at 11.30 am.

Enjoy lunch on board while we cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef for an afternoon check-out dive and a twilight or night dive.

After dinner, we cruise north to the Ribbon Reefs and begin our Cairns Minke Whale trip adventure!

Friday & Saturday

These two days are spent diving at the most northern of the Ribbon Reefs, Number 9 & 10 Ribbon Reefs.

Dive sites and sequence may vary depending on the weather conditions, but will always include at least one dive at the Cod Hole, where you encounter a family of massive and very friendly Potato Cod. Other sites may include Wonder-wall, Pixie Pinnacle, Challenger Bay, Two Towers, Lighthouse Bommie, and the Snake Pit, just to name a few.

If the current is right, you may also take a drift dive at Dynamite Pass, well know as a channel for sharks to pass through. Visit our Ribbon Reefs page to learn more about our dive sites on the Ribbon Reefs. 4 to 5 dives will be available each day, including a night dive on the Friday. On Saturday evening we overnight at Watson’s Bay, Lizard Island, and enjoy a sunset BBQ dinner on the top deck.

Sunday

This morning after breakfast you will disembark and say farewell to Spirit of Freedom. On shore, at Lizard Island, you can take the guided walk from Watson’s Beach to Mary Watson’s cottage over Chinaman’s Ridge and back to the air-strip. Here you will board a light aircraft for your flight back to Cairns. The one-hour flight arrives at Hinterland Aviation, Cairns General Aviation Airport around 11.15 to 11:45 am, where the Spirit of Freedom courtesy coach will meet you for your transfer back to your Cairns city hotel.

Room Type

Quad Share

Located midships on the lower deck, the quad share cabin containing four single beds, bunk style and is a great options for groups or families as you explore the Great Barrier Reef on your epic dive adventure.

This 9m² cabin has easy access to the main deck and includes a private ensuite bathroom and personal reading lights for each bed.

The cabin is fully air-conditioned and also contains a wardrobe, as well as storage under the bottom two bunks.

Standard Double or Twin Share

Spirit of Freedom has seven standard double or twin share cabins. Five of these cabins contain a double bed with a single bed over the top, bunk style. One cabin contains just a double bed and one cabin has two single beds.

These cabins are all located on the lower deck, with easy access to the main deck and have an average area of 10m² square metres in area.

Fully air-conditioned, the cabins have an ensuite bathroom and also contain a wardrobe, personal reading light and a bedside table.

Please advise your preference for double or twin share when placing your booking. Sole occupancy also available.

The Stateroom

The largest of all cabins onboard the vessel, The Stateroom cabin is located in a private area on the lower deck, close to the dive deck and dining saloon.

Fully air-conditioned, this spacious 12m² cabin contains a queen size bed, a private bathroom, extra shelving, wardrobe, bedside tables and 26″ flat screen TV.

Double or Sole Occupancy only: no twin share option available.

Ocean view Standard

Our Ocean View cabin is located on the top deck with internal stairwell access to the main deck, as well as external access to the top deck and dive deck.

As the name suggests, you will enjoy stunning views from this air conditioned 7.2m² cabin, which contains a double bed, private bathroom, a wardrobe and 26” flat screen TV.

Double or Sole Occupancy only.

Ocean view Deluxe

Located on the top deck with internal stairwell access to the main deck, as well as external access to the top deck and dive deck, the Ocean View Deluxe Cabin boats a 10.5m² area with 3 large windows overlooking the starboard side of the vessel.

A comfy double bed will ensure you are well rest for a full day of diving. The room features bedside tables, wardrobe and 26″ flat screen TV.

The cabin is fully air-conditioned and has its own private bathroom.

Double or Sole occupancy only.

Trip Map