Dive Review of Spirit of Freedom in
Australia/The Great Detached Reef

Other dive reports on Spirit of Freedom

Other Australia reports
Subscriber Content Preview
Active subscribers go here

Spirit of Freedom: "The far Northerns", Nov, 2017, by Mark A Mintz, FL, US ( 1 report). Report 10052.
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	The Great Detached Reef is located on the very far northern eastern coast of Australia and just below Papua Nuigini. Access is limited to a finite period of time due weather issues. The last time we tried to go in 2007 we were chased out by a Cyclone cat 3 and left prematurely. This time, the weather was unusually windy but diveable. Unlike the reports from 2016 that the Great Barrier Reef showed signs of doom and gloom on the reef systems due to coral bleaching, there was very little to none seen this far north. The stag horn was extremely healthy and the fish life was in good shape. There was a noticeable reduction in the number of large fish in this area. That being said there was abundant amount to photograph. Well worth the trip. As to the ship and crew. The ship accomadations haven’t noticibly changed much since last on it 2005. The staff and and crew though were outstanding with their efforts and ability to get us safely in and out of the water with as much as 4 day dives and night dive depending on are itinerary.
Websites	Spirit of Freedom
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Tropical Pacific, Atlantic, and Caribbean You name it. I’ve probably been there or near there
Closest Airport	Cairns/ Lockhart River	Getting There	Via Los Angeles, use Virgin Australia since they do not harass you regarding carry-on luggage as Quantas has done to me on previous flights that I took with Quantas. Only sort of problem is changing from international to domestic terminal in Brisbane is a 15 min ride and is out of security. One could avoid that hassle by using Flights directly to Cairns. There is limited number of carriers from the US. Can use Philippine air via Manila to Cairns but a longer route.
Dive Conditions
Weather	windy	Seas	choppy
Water Temp	78-81°F / 26-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	30-70 Ft/ 9-21 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Nitrox limitions. We were diving 32% at 1.4 with a 111 ft max depth. Never went below 85ft due to there was more to see and photograph above this level.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	1 or 2	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	There were over 15 photographers with serious big rig housings. The staff turned the forward salon into a cozy tight quartered but duable camera room. They went out of their way to accomodate us!!!

Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here

Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 187 dive reviews of Australia and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

Other dive reports on Spirit of Freedom

All Australia Dive Reviews and Reports
Diving Guide to Australia
Diving Reviews for All Dive Destinations

Featured Links from Our Sponsors
Interested in becoming a sponsor?

Reef & Rainforest, Let our experience be your guide -- Reef and Rainforest

Reef & Rainforest is an agency for travelers that scuba dive. See the Great Barrier Reef, Cod Hole, kangaroos, outback, leafy seadragons. Let us plan your adventure to Australia.

Want to assemble your own collection of Australia reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

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.

Undercurrent Home

Page computed and displayed in 0.12 seconds

Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email. And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent
Get a free monthly email and a sample issue!

Dive Review of Spirit of Freedom in Australia/The Great Detached Reef

Spirit of Freedom: "The far Northerns", Nov, 2017,

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/The Great Detached Reef