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

Spirit of Freedom, May, 2012,

by Greg & Robin Webster, CA, US ( 1 report). Report 6544.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling 5 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Spirit of Freedom was top notch. This was our first experience with a liveaboard dive vessel. We have a 42' Hunter sailboat that we dive off all the time here in California so we are used to high quality. Captain Tony, of Spirit of Freedom, had worked his way up from dive master of 20+ years to now Captain. He and his crew were very professional on every level. The diving conditions weren't perfect due to weather but we made the best of it. The Cod feed in the Coral Sea was breathtaking. Cod up to 5 feet long. But the most spectacular experience was the SHARK FEEDING!!! We were 10 feet away from a shark feeding of fresh tuna heads! All catch on video. Some 25+ sharks in total, up to 7 feet long. Saw a giant manta during one of our dives. There were up to 4-5 dives available per day. The food was outstanding as were the accommodations. We also celebrated my 50th birthday while on board. The chef asked what he could make me for my b-day dessert and I requested pecan pie which he made without hesitation. It was the best... Almost as good as Grandma's! Greg and I hope to return one day.
Websites Spirit of Freedom   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Grand Cayman, Mexico, Hawaii, Catalina
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, rainy, cloudy Seas choppy
Water Temp 76-78°F / 24-26°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 15-30 M / 49-98 Ft

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Only restriction was "safety first". Other than that, the name of the vessel speaks volumes "Spirit of Freedom"
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins None Whale Sharks 1 or 2
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 5 stars
Large Pelagics 5 stars

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities 5 stars
UW Photo Comments The vessel was very accommodating for UWP. The staff was very helpful in setup and general care of underwater camera's. Separate fresh water tub for rinsing. There is a dedicated computer for guests to upload or download pictures. It even gets better than this... One of the dive masters noticed our camera wasn't secured with a lanyard so he gave us one from his personal stash. How thoughtful was that!
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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