Spirit of Freedom: "It is now the sort of Ok, but not great Barrier Reef", Oct, 2015,by Lydia S Segal MD, VA, US (![]() |
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No photos available at this time | |||
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best): |
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Accommodations | ![]() |
Food | ![]() |
Service and Attitude | ![]() |
Environmental Sensitivity | ![]() |
Dive Operation | ![]() |
Shore Diving | N/A |
Snorkeling | N/A | ||
Overall Rating |
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Value for $$ | ![]() |
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Beginners | ![]() |
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Advanced | ![]() |
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Comments |
Two adult divers took a week long trip on the S.o.F. In early October. For more experienced divers, it would be wise to go elsewhere. The reef, though called Great barrier, is lacking in fish and critters and the reef has been hurt by recent typhoons. It should be renamed the sort of good barrier reef. It is a good introduction to liveaboards for relatively new divers only. The crew is great, especially the lead dive guide Jack, and the cook who is also a great fish id person. The diving; the boat is large, and though it handles the numbers well, there are a lot of divers and they do no adequately spread then out in the water. Dive times are 60 min. Water temp 77. If you have adequate experience you can dive without a dive guide. There is a curved staircase to get from the dive staging area to the platform for your giant stride. The ladder is good. There were some dives with no current and others with a fair amount. All the crew was helpful. The boat accommodations.. Rooms nice, higher end. The food quite good and more than filling. If you decide to do this trip, be clear you may not make it out to Osprey island, as it is a far motor out and the weather may not cooperate. We did not make it. Also would not do the seven day, but the half week option. On the turnaround day most of the day was wasted doing passenger loading and unloading and not diving for those of us on the full trip. |
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Websites | Spirit of Freedom | ||
Reporter and Travel |
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Dive Experience | 501-1000 dives | ||
Where else diving | Indonesia, PNG, Maldives, Philippines, Bonaire, Roatan, Belize | ||
Closest Airport | Cairnes | Getting There | No problens, flew Air New Zealand from the US |
Dive Conditions |
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Weather | windy | Seas | choppy, surge |
Water Temp | 76-77°F / 24-25°C | Wetsuit Thickness | 5 |
Water Visibility | 25- Ft/ 8- M | ||
Dive Policy |
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Dive own profile | ? | ||
Enforced diving restrictions | 60 min, dive with a buddy or dive guide, no deco | ||
Liveaboard? | yes | Nitrox Available? | yes |
What I Saw |
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Sharks | 1 or 2 | Mantas | None |
Dolphins | None | Whale Sharks | None |
Turtles | 1 or 2 | Whales | None |
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best): |
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Corals | ![]() |
Tropical Fish | ![]() |
Small Critters | ![]() |
Large Fish | ![]() |
Large Pelagics | ![]() |
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Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best): |
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Subject Matter | ![]() |
Boat Facilities | ![]() |
Overall rating for UWP's | ![]() |
Shore Facilities | N/A |
UW Photo Comments | There was more than adequate place to clean, store and charge all camera and associated toys. |
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