Over the course of the four days onboard the Spirit of Freedom, we had the opportunity to make 14 daytime dives and 1 night dive along sections of the Ribbon Reef in the Coral Sea. Looking at the numbers we… Continue reading

A dive boat is pretty much in constant motion and activity level most of the daylight hours (and sometimes during the nighttime hours). We were not quite prepared for all this but gradually got into the schedule and flow of… Continue reading

We board the Spirit of Freedom for a short trek north to a nearby dive site (Norman Reef) for a couple of afternoon dives to do a gear check, clear out the cobwebs and get into the the rhythm and… Continue reading

8:30 AM: We board the Spirit of Freedom, our live-aboard dive boat that will be our floating home for the next four nights on a dive tour of the northern portion of the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef… Continue reading

Yes – are in Cairns! First order of business after check-in was shower, change and food! Unfortunately we were right in between lunch and dinner service, but the Salt House on the point of the harbor had great small plates,… Continue reading

The flight to Brisbane on Qantas was great and we were actually able to get some real sleep – nice to be able to start the day not looking like one of the walking dead… So to the name drop… Continue reading

OK, so we were not on a ship – but we did cross the equator for the first time. Naval tradition describes that passengers of vessels crossing the equator for the first time are initiated into the court of King… Continue reading

Ready or not the trip is actually here and in motion. Lots of plane travel, 6 hours to LAX, and then the long haul to Brisbane (15 hours) and a relative short hop to Cairns (pronounced Cannes, as we were… Continue reading