Experience the Cod Hole - Dive and Fly Scuba Dive Trip - up to 11 dives and 3 Days on board (#10)

Cairns and Great Barrier Reef Tours » Experience the Cod Hole - Dive and Fly Scuba Dive Trip - up to 11 dives and 3 Days on board (#10)

Type: Tours in Cairns - Scuba Diving and Snorkelling Overnight Trips

Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs - Experience the best of the Great Barrier Reef on this 3 night dive adventure. This liveaboard reef tour departing from Cairns will take you to the famous Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs where the diving is some of the best you will see anywhere in the world. You’ll cruise there from Cairns heading north and return south with a low level scenic flight from Lizard Island over the reef back to Cairns.

As a scuba diver, you 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. As a snorkeller, you'll get to experience a large variety of coral reefs and tropical fish at some of the very best Great Barrier Reef locations.

Departure Dates: Embarks-Monday 12 noon. Includes a bus transfer from your hotel to the boat. Disembarks-Thursday 11.30am – Cairns airport. (courtesy city hotel transfers).

How to book: A 25% deposit payment is required at the time of booking and the remaining balance is due at least 30 days prior to departure. This trip is very popular and should be booked as far in advance as is possible. Bookings made within 30 days of the travel date must be paid in full.

Reef and Boat Information: 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.

At 37 metres in length, this is one of Australia's largest live aboard dive vessels, and features electronic stabilisers, wide screen TV/ DVD, comfortable lounge areas, sun decks, and spacious cabins with en-suite bathrooms.

Itinerary Summary:

3 nights – 11 dives

Location: Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs.

Embarks: Monday 12 noon. Includes a bus transfer from your hotel to the boat.

Disembarks: Thursday 11am – Cairns airport. (courtesy city hotel transfers)

Cabin Types:

4 Share: 4 single beds, bunk style, wardrobe, with bathroom

Double or Twin: Double bed with single over, wardrobe, 1 bedside table, with bathroom

Stateroom: Very spacious cabin with queen bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers, 2 bedside tables, TV/DVD, CD, with bathroom

Ocean View: Smaller cabin with double bed, wardrobe, 1 bedside table, TV/VCR, CD stereo, with bathroom

Ocean View Deluxe: Very large cabin, with double bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers, 2 bed side tables, TV/DVD, CD stereo, with bathroom

Single Occupancy Cabin…Double the twin or double share rates, then deduct $250 if you prefer sole occupancy.

Non-Divers………… Deduct $100 off trip costs unless utilising diving services.

Extra Charges:

Full gear hire (including dive computer) - $120
PADI Advanced & PADI Nitrox Courses - $265
Nitrox - $10 per fill, or $75 for all dives
Fuel Levy* $30 (subject to change)
Environmental Management Charge* $15/trip
Dive insurance* $16 for 30 day period

* indicates compulsory

Tour Itinerary:

Monday: Your courtesy bus will pick you up from your Cairns hotel around 11:00am to transfer you to Trinity Wharf, where you will board the vessel. You will be greeted by the crew, who will give you an orientation of the vessel before a 12 noon departure. 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.

Tuesday & Wednesday: 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. See the dive site page for site selection of some of our dive sites on the Ribbon Reefs. 4 to 5 dives will be available each day, including a night dive on the Tuesday. On Wednesday evening we overnight at Watson's Bay on Lizard Island and enjoy a sunset BBQ dinner on the top deck.

Thursday: 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 twin-engine light aircraft for your low level flight over the reef and / or along the coast back to Cairns. The one hour flight arrives at Hinterland Aviation, Cairns General Aviation Airport around 11.15 to 11:30am, where your courtesy coach will meet you for your transfer back to your Cairns city hotel.

Features & Inclusions

Transfers to/ from Cairns city accommodation
Low level reef flight - Lizard Island to Cairns
Opportunity for up to 11 amazing dives
En-suite cabin with daily service
Chef prepared meals
Australian wines & soft drinks with evening meals

Rates and Tariffs

2016-17 Season

1^st Apr 2016 to 31^st Mar 2017

Ocean View Deluxe Cabin - includes all levies

$2520.00 per person

Ocean View Standard Cabin - includes all levies

$2320.00 per person

Stateroom - includes all levies

$2320.00 per person

Double/Twin Share Cabin - includes all levies

$2020.00 per person

Quad Share Cabin - includes all levies

$1720.00 per person

* Booking terms and conditions may apply, please details below.

Booking Information

How to book: A 25% deposit payment is required at the time of booking and the remaining balance is due at least 30 days prior to departure. This trip is very popular and should be booked as far in advance as is possible. Bookings made within 30 days of the travel date must be paid in full.

Itinerary Summary:
3 nights – 11 dives
Location: Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs.
Embarks: Monday 12 noon. Includes a bus transfer from your hotel to the boat.
Disembarks: Thursday 11am – Cairns airport. (courtesy city hotel transfers)

Booking Policy

Important Information
Insufficient dive qualifications and/or some medical conditions may prevent you from diving. Prior to diving, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire regarding your diving qualifications, experience & current fitness to dive. Should you answer yes to any of the medical question asked you will be required to consult a doctor to acquire a written medical clearance to dive prior to your dive trip. If you are unsure about a specific medical condition please check with your doctor or with us prior to making your reservation.
Due to light aircraft weight restrictions, your total luggage weight is limited to 20 kilograms/ 45 lb per person. We request that bags be soft sided.

A 20% cancellation fee applies if you cancel. Travel insurance is recommended.
A 100% cancellation fee applies with 21 days or less prior to the departure date.

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