Minke Whales and Ribbon Reef Trips (June/July) from Cairns
DIVE LEVEL: Our Cairns Minke Whale trip is suitable for snorkellers. No dive experience or certification is required.
DIVES: Between 11-26 dives, depending on trip length and in-water swim time with Minke Whales when located.
Minke Whale Expeditions
A Rare Experience on the Great Barrier Reef
There are few opportunities in a lifetime where you can experience the thrill of sharing the water with a creature as magnificent as a whale. Spirit of Freedom, as an endorsed tourism operator, hold a permit from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to offer a Swimming with Minke Whales activity. We are also a contributor to the ongoing research conducted by the Minke Whale Project, assisting with their multidisciplinary research into dwarf minke whale biology and behaviour.
Dwarf minke whales travel through the Great Barrier Reef each winter during June and July, when divers and snorkellers may have the opportunity to interact with dwarf minke whales in the warm water of the Great Barrier Reef. This is a unique and remarkable encounter as these majestic creatures gracefully approach you as you swim, creating an incredible connection as you gaze into their eyes.
Our Swimming with Minke Whale trips are a modified version of our 3 Night Cod Hole Liveaboard Dive Trip, 4 Night Coral Sea Liveaboard Dive Trip and 7 Night Cod Hole & Coral Sea Liveaboard Dive Trip. We spend plenty of time exploring the amazing dive sites of the remote Ribbon Reef, with an underlying focus at all times to maximise potential in-water encounters with the whales.
Snorkelling and Diving with Whales
Whether you’re snorkelling or scuba diving, you can embark on minke whale excursions. The Ribbon Reefs provide clear winter waters where whales come very close, offering exceptional diving experiences. Safety measures are in place to protect both divers and whales, allowing you to observe the whales up close while giving them the freedom to approach naturally. Most close encounters with the whales occur while snorkelling on the water’s surface.
This trip includes daily cabin service and chef-prepared gourmet meals (see your sample menu for details). Complimentary Australian wine or soft drinks are served with evening meals.
Special Expedition: These tours are strictly seasonal, from June to July, to coincide with the whales’ migration. Swimming with Minke Whales is a strictly controlled activity. Guests must follow crew instructions at all times. The number of dives during each trip is dependent on how much in-water swim time the whales allow.
See the full itinerary below for more details.
Gallery
Rate Information
Our Cairns Minke Whale trip prices are per person in AUD$ and include:
- Chef-prepared meals & snacks, wine and soft drinks are included with the evening meal.
- Tanks, air fills, Nautilus Lifeline and weight belt. Full equipment rental available.
- Daily cabin service.
- Cairns hotel or Airport transfers.
- GST and all reef levies and fees.
3-Night Itinerary
The Spirit of Freedom courtesy bus will pick you up from your Cairns hotel around 10:30am to transfer you to Trinity Wharf. There you will be greeted by the Spirit of Freedom crew, who will give you an orientation of the vessel before departing at 11.30 am.
Enjoy lunch on board while we cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef for an afternoon check-out dive and a twilight or night dive.
After dinner, we cruise north to the Ribbon Reefs and begin our Cairns Minke Whale trip adventure!
These two days are spent diving at the most northern of the Ribbon Reefs, Number 9 & 10 Ribbon Reefs.
Dive sites and sequence may vary depending on the weather conditions, but will always include at least one dive at the Cod Hole, where you encounter a family of massive and very friendly Potato Cod. Other sites may include Wonder-wall, Pixie Pinnacle, Challenger Bay, Two Towers, Lighthouse Bommie, and the Snake Pit, just to name a few.
If the current is right, you may also take a drift dive at Dynamite Pass, well know as a channel for sharks to pass through. Visit our Ribbon Reefs page to learn more about our dive sites on the Ribbon Reefs. 4 to 5 dives will be available each day, including a night dive on the Friday. On Saturday evening we overnight at Watson’s Bay, Lizard Island, and enjoy a sunset BBQ dinner on the top deck.
This morning after breakfast you will disembark and say farewell to Spirit of Freedom. On shore, at Lizard Island, you can take the guided walk from Watson’s Beach to Mary Watson’s cottage over Chinaman’s Ridge and back to the air-strip. Here you will board a light aircraft for your flight back to Cairns. The one-hour flight arrives at Hinterland Aviation, Cairns General Aviation Airport around 11.15 to 11:45 am, where the Spirit of Freedom courtesy coach will meet you for your transfer back to your Cairns city hotel.
4-Night Itinerary
At approximately 7 am, the Spirit of Freedom courtesy coach will transfer you from your Cairns hotel to Hinterland Aviation at Cairns General Aviation Airport. Here you will board a light aircraft for your scenic flight up the coast to Lizard Island and the start of your 4-night liveaboard dive trip.
The Spirit of Freedom crew will greet you on arrival and escort you via tender to the vessel. After an orientation of the vessel, we depart for Ribbon Reef Number 9 & 10. This afternoon we will have the opportunity for two dives at a choice of sites including Challenger Bay, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Gardens, and Pixie Pinnacle.
Its Minke Monday! The number of dives is dependent on how much in-water swim time the whales allow. Dive sites and sequences may vary depending on the weather conditions, but we will maximise opportunities to have in-water time with whales.
One day will be spent diving Osprey Reef (weather permitting). Australia’s Coral Sea reefs are renowned for crystal clear water with visibility ranging from 30 to 100 metres. The landscape is amazing with sheer walls laced with gorgonians, sea whips, and bright yellow soft corals, rising from the ocean floor thousands of feet below. ‘North Horn’ is a dive site at the tip of Osprey is a site where grey reef sharks, silvertips, and the occasional oceanic congregate, and you can experience a close encounter with the Spirit of Freedom shark attraction dive. Four to five dives will be available.
On Tuesday night we will depart Osprey Reef for overnight travel to the Ribbon Reefs.
At Ribbon Reef Number 3 we will dive such sites as the sensational Steve’s Bommie, Temple of Doom, and Flare Point. A second option for this day, in special weather conditions, is to head south from Osprey to Bougainville Reef, known for its unusual underwater landscape or caverns, and its partially submerged wreck.
On Wednesday evening we will cruise overnight back to Cairns.
We arrive back in Cairns at 6:30 am. Enjoy a light breakfast onboard and a group photo opportunity, before being dropped back at your Cairns hotel around 8:00 am.
7-Night Itinerary
The Spirit of Freedom courtesy bus will pick you up from your Cairns hotel around 10:30am to transfer you to Trinity Wharf. There you will be greeted by the Spirit of Freedom crew, who will give you an orientation of the vessel before departing at 11.30 am.
Enjoy lunch on board while we cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef for an afternoon check-out dive and a twilight or night dive.
After dinner, we cruise north to the Ribbon Reefs and begin our Cairns Minke Whale trip adventure!
These two days are spent diving at the most northern of the Ribbon Reefs, Number 9 & 10 Ribbon Reefs.
Dive sites and sequence may vary depending on the weather conditions, but will always include at least one dive at the Cod Hole, where you encounter a family of massive and very friendly Potato Cod. Other sites may include Wonder-wall, Pixie Pinnacle, Challenger Bay, Two Towers, Lighthouse Bommie, and the Snake Pit, just to name a few.
If the current is right, you may also take a drift dive at Dynamite Pass, well know as a channel for sharks to pass through. Visit our Ribbon Reefs page to learn more about our dive sites on the Ribbon Reefs. 4 to 5 dives will be available each day, including a night dive on the Friday. On Saturday evening we overnight at Watson’s Bay, Lizard Island, and enjoy a sunset BBQ dinner on the top deck.
This morning, after breakfast, you will disembark Spirit of Freedom and go on shore to Lizard Island, where you can take the guided walk from Watson’s Beach to Mary Watson’s cottage over Chinaman’s Ridge and back to the airstrip.
The Spirit of Freedom crew will then escort you via tender back to the vessel. After an orientation of the vessel for new guests, we depart for Ribbon Reef Number 9 & 10. This afternoon we will have the opportunity for two dives at a choice of sites including Challenger Bay, Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Gardens, and Pixie Pinnacle.
Its Minke Monday! The number of dives is dependent on how much in-water swim time the whales allow. Dive sites and sequences may vary depending on the weather conditions, but we will maximise opportunities to have in-water time with whales.
One day will be spent diving Osprey Reef (weather permitting). Australia’s Coral Sea reefs are renowned for crystal clear water with visibility ranging from 30 to 100 metres. The landscape is amazing with sheer walls laced with gorgonians, sea whips, and bright yellow soft corals, rising from the ocean floor thousands of feet below. ‘North Horn’ is a dive site at the tip of Osprey is a site where grey reef sharks, silvertips, and the occasional oceanic congregate, and you can experience a close encounter with the Spirit of Freedom shark attraction dive. Four to five dives will be available.
On Tuesday night we will depart Osprey Reef for overnight travel to the Ribbon Reefs.
At Ribbon Reef Number 3 we will dive such sites as the sensational Steve’s Bommie, Temple of Doom, and Flare Point. A second option for this day, in special weather conditions, is to head south from Osprey to Bougainville Reef, known for its unusual underwater landscape or caverns, and its partially submerged wreck.
On Wednesday evening we will cruise overnight back to Cairns.
We arrive back in Cairns at 6:30 am. Enjoy a light breakfast onboard and a group photo opportunity, before being dropped back at your Cairns hotel around 8:00 am.
Trip Map
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Swimming with Minke Whales is a strictly controlled activity. Guests must follow crew instructions at all times. Guests must stay at least 30 meters away from any whale and may not swim toward a whale deliberately. If a whale approaches you during a scuba dive, continue the dive as normal, and hold onto the surface ropes. The whales control the encounter and can decide how close they interact and swim with us.
Every dive begins with a detailed dive briefing. The dive staff are on deck providing surface support including a safety lookout. When available, dive staff may be in-water offering support with photography and critter spotting. Spirit of Freedom does not offer a full guided dive service. Our Safety Divers are assigned to those divers who are at risk or to assist students.
We offer Ocean View Deluxe, Ocean View Standard, Standard Double or Twin share, Quad share and one Stateroom. You can see details of each of these cabins on our guest cabins page.
Please note the Ocean View and Stateroom cabins have just one double/queen size bed and are best suited to couples, or you can take as a sole occupancy arrangement. Please enquire about our sole occupancy rates.
Individual travellers can book a single berth in a Double/Twin share or Quad share cabin. Other travellers will be allocated to share the cabin. Please note that same-gender share cannot always be guaranteed.
Spirit of Freedom provides divers with a mask, snorkel, boots, fins, tanks, weights, and weight belts. We also supply safety equipment including surface marker buoys, whistles, and Nautilus LifeLine Marine GPS. Cyalume sticks and torches will also be provided for night diving.
For more detail on what equipment is available aboard Spirit of Freedom, visit our equipment rental page.