Dive Review of Spirit of Freedom in
Australia/Great Barrier Reef

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Spirit of Freedom, Oct, 2009, by Harvey S. Cohen, NJ, United States ( Sr. Contributor 25 reports with 18 Helpful votes). Report 5232.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Well worth the half-way-around-the-world pilgrimage. A marine biologist passenger said the corals reminded her of the Caribbean 30 years ago. The quality and variety and size were absolutely amazing. Best-managed liveaboard I've seen. Crew is extremely well organized and impressively competent. The ship itself is in excellent shape. Food is amazing. 2 nights were Australian BBQ with steak, lambchops, baramundi, prawns, and kangaroo. Spirit is really, really careful that they don't lose track of a diver (as has happened with other dive operations there). The crew member on bubble watch logs each diver out as they giant-stride off the dive platform. Another crew member goes to each diver returning to the dive deck, logs dive time & max depth, and gets the diver's signature. If a passenger skips a dive, they are logged and must sign. This is the only operation I've ever seen where I'm certain that they know who is and isn't on the boat. The waters around the Ribbon Reefs are calm, but the overnight crossings to/from Osprey Reef/Lizard Island can be rough. Stabilizers eliminate roll, but not pitch. On those 2 nights they recommend passengers take dramamine (provided) and go to bed after dinner-- an excellent idea. All moorings are stable. The boat doesn't swing, and the dive platform pitches very little even in big swells. With a full passenger load, the dive deck is a little crowded but OK. Only the Aquacat is more spacious. There is a wetsuit rinse tub with fresh water for each dive, which every liveaboard should have but few do. The dive showers are barely adequate; they're on the open deck near the dive platform. Aquacat has 2 stall showers on the dive deck that are much better. The shower in each cabin is OK, but a showerhead on a hose and separate controls for temperature and volume would be improvements.
Websites	Spirit of Freedom
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Liveaboards: Aquacat, Nekton, Turks & Caicos Explorer III Land-based: Key Largo, Ft. Lauderdale, Nevis, St. Croix, Gulf of Eilat, New Jersey Atlantic Ocean, Dutch Springs
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy	Seas	calm, choppy
Water Temp	79-81°F / 26-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	40-80 Ft/ 12-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Max depth should not exceed previous dives on that day. Buddy or guide required.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Dedicated rinse sink, compressed air, and assembly table out of dive deck traffic area. Charging stations in dry indoor area.

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Dive Review of Spirit of Freedom in Australia/Great Barrier Reef

Spirit of Freedom, Oct, 2009,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Spirit of Freedom in
Australia/Great Barrier Reef