Trip Report - Spirit of Freedom

[Aquapro Dive Services]

September and October are excellent months to go as the seas tend to be much calmer then and as we are coming into summer season the winds often chage to northerlies which can give glassy conditions. Smooth sailing.

Also not quite into the monsoonal summer yet so air temp is nice and warm and seas warming but not still too hot.

Heres link to air and sea condiditons in Sept (bottom of the page)

Cairns Discount Dive Trip Locations

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Cairns Discount Dive Trips - Australia Diving - Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

 

[OnTheSpot]

Hi Suzzy,

I agree with Aquapro - September is an excellent time to join Spirit of Freedom.

Right now the stateroom cabin is available for Monday departure on the seven night trip on either 20 or 27 September.

Good luck with your plans.

 

[Suzzy]

Thanks for all the information!!

I'm now booked on so counting down the months and days to september!!

 

[MA]

And i've just booked for my third trip with SOF on sep 30th. Woohoo!

 

[pcdownunder]

19 July 2010 (from an Osprey Reef trip 05 July 2010)
Just a quick agreement with all good things said in this section about the Spirit of Freedom (SOF): totally first class operation in all important departments. A special tip of the hat to one of the SOF captains, Tony Hazell.
Tony has an outstanding command of maritime safety knowledge and skill and is the consummate professional skipper, being as genuinely friendly and personable as he is an excellent seaman. His crew clearly admire, respect and emulate his affable confidence and love for his work. He's obviously a guy doing what he does because it's a calling to him, not just another paycheck.
Of all the great things about my diving experience on SOF (and there were many, including unbelievable, up close time with Dwarf Minke Whales), Tony Hazell is in a league of his own.
Thanks, Tony, for making a great dive experience on SOF into a genuinely unique experience.
Written by Bruce Kahn (Townsville, QLD)

 

[Lissenung]

Ah, fond memories of a long-ago trip on Spirit of Freedom. I have to go back again one day. Maybe next year's Minke whale season?

 

[lyricnz]

I just got off the SoF (my first liveaboard), and it was kick-ass! Lots of diving, nice warm water (even in winter!), lots of cool stuff to see. I wonder if it has ruined me for diving in cold and dark Melbourne

 

[gorgy]

Thanks for all that information, looks like a trip will be planned.

 

[Suzzy]

Not too long now before my trip... quick question on wetuit... what did most of u use while diving there.

I'm a local Sydney diver and use a 7/5 semi but still freeze to death! Was going to bring my 7/5 but is that abit of an overkill?? (I was thinking that I'd be doing up to 3-4 dives a day so I will prob get cold towards the end of the dive)

 

[OnTheSpot]

Hi Suzzy,

September should see the water temperature start to warm up but will probably hover around 23 - 25 degrees.

Rental wetsuits are 5mm full length.

I rely on a layer of blubber under my wetsuit to keep warm but I dont think you have a enough time to get yourself one of these

Have a wonderful trip.