PADI diving course on the Great Barrier Reef
First, if you are short on time and don’t want to do a five-day course but still want the liveaboard experience, this four-day course Great Barrier Reef PADI diving course is the perfect option you.
Instead of classroom theory, this is completed online eLearning in your own time before arriving in Cairns, leaving only one compulsory practical training day at our PADI Dive Centre.
The ocean training dives will take place during our three-day, two-night liveaboard to the Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is the perfect place to learn to dive with its warm waters and great visibility.
Your four-day course consists of the following:
- We will send you login instructions to the online PADI eLearning Open Water Course theory portion after booking. You must complete all modules and quizzes before you can start your practical training in Cairns.
- Spend one day of practical training at the Pro Dive Cairns Training Centre.
- Spend three-days and two-nights on an Outer Great Barrier Reef liveaboard trip.
You will complete your practical training at the Pro Dive Cairns Training Centre. After your day at the training centre, it’s time to head out to The Great Barrier Reef for a three-day, two-night liveaboard adventure to become a certified diver!
How many dives will I do?
You will have the opportunity to complete up to nine dives, with the first four being your training dives.
Finish your training dives successfully, and you will obtain your PADI Open Water Certification. Now you can enjoy five recreational dives, including a night dive guided by your instructor.
While you are onboard, visit many reefs, including Flynn, Thetford, Milln and Pellowe Reef.
A fantastic diversity of marine life, including giant clams, sea turtles, stingrays, reef sharks and spectacular coral formations.
Also, night diving will introduce a whole new dimension of nocturnal sea-life.
This four-day eLearning course offers a convenient, memorable and exciting way to become a certified diver on the magnificent world heritage Great Barrier Reef.
Finally, if you would like to do the theory online? Then upgrade to the 5 days Learn to Dive course when booking. This course includes the extra day in the classroom.
Highlights
3 days and 2 nights learn to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef
Itinerary
Day 1 – Training Centre
- 08:00 Complimentary hotel transfer
Available from Cairns city and Northern Beaches hotels/hostels - 09:00 Check-in
- 09:15 Pool training
- Noon Lunch break
(Lunch not provided) - 13:00 Pool training
- 16:00 Gear up at the Pro Dive Cairns Retail Shop
- 17:00 Complimentary return transfer
 Day 2 – Great Barrier Reef
- 06:00 Complimentary hotel transfer
Available from Cairns city and Northern Beaches hotels/hostels - 06:20 Check in at Pro Dive Cairns retail shop
Corner of Shields & Grafton Streets, Cairns City - 07:00 Depart Cairns for three days & 2 nights on The Great Barrier Reef
Light breakfast served on board - 11:00 Dive 1: training dive
On the Great Barrier Reef - 12:30 Lunch
- 14:30 Dive 2: training dive
- 16:30Â Snorkelling opportunity
- 18:00 Dinner
- 19:45 The night dive
Watch the certified divers participating in the first-night dive of the trip
Day 3 – Great Barrier Reef
- 07:00 Dive 3: training dive
First dive of the day, before breakfast - 09:00Â Breakfast
- 11:15 Dive 4: training dive
This will be the last training dive for Open Water certification - 12:45 Lunch
- 15:15Â Dive 5
First dive as a newly certified scuba diver - 17:45 Dinner
- 19:30 Dive 6: Night dive
Guided night dive experience for all freshly certified divers
Day 4 – Great Barrier Reef
- 06:30 Dive 7
Your first dive of the day – a sunrise dive to enjoy the reef waking up. - 07:30 Breakfast
- 09:00 Dive 8
- 11:00 Dive 9
The last dive of the trip, finished by 1200 noon - Noon Lunch – your last lunch on the Great Barrier Reef before returning to Cairns
- 16:00 Complimentary return transfer
Return transfer to your accommodation - 19:30 Farewell dinner (optional, additional cost)
Join fellow passengers and crew at a local restaurant for a farewell dinner
Included
Included in your course
- 9 Dives
- (4 training dives and five pleasure dives – inc one night dive)
- Padi Gold Open Water Certification
- PADI Open Water manual
- Dive logbook
- 2 Passport photos
Food & drinks (Liveaboard)
- Fully catered, buffet style, freshly prepared meals
- Unlimited coffee, tea and Milo
- A limited range of different dietary requirements can are catered; please enquire with our reservations team for specifics before your trip regarding dietary requirements
- Soft drinks, fruit juice and chocolate bars are available at an additional cost
- bring your own drink bottle to refill with filtered chilled water onboard.
What to bring
Day 1 at the Training Centre
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Marine safe sunscreen
- Money for lunch
- Dive medical if required (ask us if you are not sure)
- Passport or Australian driver’s licence
Day 2, 3, 4 on the Great Barrier Reef
- Clothing and swimwear
- Warm clothes for the evening
- 2 x towels (ocean/shower)
- Sun hat
- Marine safe sunscreen & toiletries
- Seasickness medication
- Shoes are not necessary
- Alcoholic beverages if you would like a drink in the evening
- A limited range of different dietary requirements can be catered for; please enquire with our reservations team for specifics before your trip
- We recommend gluten intolerant or vegan guests bring snacks that don’t require refrigeration
- No bottled water is kept on board; personal drink bottles and filtered chilled water is available
Important Information
Important Information
Queensland, Australia, has some of the strictest scuba diving rules globally and the safest scuba diving record.  We are regulated by the Queensland Government Code of Practice and comply with all regulations, including medical as is the law.
We recommend that all of our passengers complete our dive medical questionnaire before booking as some medical conditions, age and/or medications may prevent you from scuba diving.  It is always our mission to provide our passengers with the very best Great Barrier Reef experience.
We are happy to help you with any questions you may have.  Please contact our office on 07 4037 2700 or email us.
Alternatively, you may like to consult your Doctor for a Dive Medical using the Australian Standard Forms’ AS.4005.1
Flying after Scuba Diving
It would be best if you did not fly or go to altitude for at least 18 hours after a scuba dive for a single no decompression scuba dive. For multiple dives, you should not fly for 24 hours after your last dive.
If Skydiving or Hot Air Ballooning, you must wait 24 hours after your dive.
We recommend waiting a minimum of 24 hours whenever possible.
Dive Course Required Swim
- This dive course requires that you swim 200 metres or snorkel 300 metres and tread water/float for 10 minutes.
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