---
type: "Article"
title: "Spirit of Freedom – Dive Cruise off the Great Barrier Reef, Australia"
description: "The Spirit of Freedom live-aboard dive cruise ship offers three day excursions out of Cairns, Queensland, to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The return to Cairns is by small airplane, thus conveniently offering more time at the reef."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/australia/queensland/spirit-of-freedom-liveaboard-dive-cruise-off-the-great-barrier-reef-australia"
author: "Walter Schaerer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 4
tags: ["Animals", "Cruise", "Diving", "Nature", "Rainforest", "Queensland"]
entities:
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/queensland"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/australia"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/wildlife-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/scuba-diving"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/nature-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/air-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/excursion-tips"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T13:14:37+00:00 }
verified:
  - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2010-12-02T00:08:20+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: spirit-of-freedom-liveaboard-dive-cruise-off-the-great-barrier-reef-australia.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Walter Schaerer"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:14:37+00:00
---

# Spirit of Freedom – Dive Cruise off the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

> The Spirit of Freedom is a liveaboard dive cruise vessel operating three-day excursions from Cairns, Queensland, to the Great Barrier Reef, returning passengers to Cairns by small plane for a scenic aerial finale.

## Destination
Great Barrier Reef, departing from Cairns marina, Queensland, Australia, with turnaround at Lizard Island.

## Getting there
Guests are picked up from their Cairns hotel and depart by boat from the Cairns marina; the return trip from Lizard Island is by Hinterland Aviation Cessna (up to 13 passengers), arriving back in Cairns just before noon on day three.

## When to go
Article does not specify a recommended season.

## Why visit
Intense diving at attractive Great Barrier Reef sites, professional crew and well-equipped dive deck, and a scenic low-level return flight over the Daintree River, Cape Tribulation and Cooktown rainforest.

## What to see
- **Great Barrier Reef dive sites** — Multiple dives across three days at varied reef locations near Lizard Island.
- **Night dive near Lizard Island** — Included on the second day as part of a packed five-dive schedule.
- **Aerial views over Cooktown and Daintree** — Low-level return flight passes over rainforest around Cooktown, Cape Tribulation and the Daintree River.

## What to do
- **Liveaboard diving** — Three-day itinerary includes a check dive, shallow dives, five dives on day two, and a night dive.
- **Hike on Lizard Island** — An easy morning hike on Lizard Island leads to the small airstrip for the return flight.

## Good to know
Top-deck cabins are described as fairly luxurious with large windows and DVD/TV; lower deck has cabins with two, three or four beds. Complimentary sunscreen is provided on the sun deck.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Spirit-of-Freedom-Dive-Vessel.jpg"
    caption: "Spirit of Freedom"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Moraine-Diving-Great-Barrier-Reef.jpg"
    caption: "Moraine"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Spirit-of-Freedom-Diving-Plattform-Cairns.jpg"
    caption: "Dive deck"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Spirit-of-Freedom-Lizard-Island.jpg"
    caption: "Spirit of Freedom as seen from Lizard Island"
```