About the Course
The first two days of the course will be at Pro Dive Cairns' professional Training Centre in Cairns City. The Training Centre features all the modern facilities needed to learn to scuba dive. We also boast Cairns deepest scuba diving training pool. At 4.5 meters in the middle, students get an excellent idea of what diving really feels like with all the equipment. Days 3 , 4 and 5 are spent on the outer reef, onboard Pro Dive Cairns' liveaboard dive vessel, MV Scuba Pro. You will be diving on a choice of sixteen sites exclusive to Pro Dive Cairns - refer to Itinerary Section. Courses start everyday except Sunday. The course includes 4 Openwater Training Dives plus 5 pleasure dives including 1 fully escorted pleasure night dive
Our vessels are 25 metres (80 feet) in length, centrally air-conditioned, light and airy. There are 2 large decks, one for scuba diving and snorkel gear and one strictly for sun tanning and relaxing. These vessels are the only purpose built outer reef dive liveaboards operating in the area. There are a total of 16 Cabins which sleep a maximum of two per cabin and a bathroom for every two cabins. Dinner, the menu changes each trip, however it will be wholesome, hot and of course lots of it. Dessert is served after the night dive. Please advise if you are a vegetarian and we will do our best to make sure we cater for you. Single travellers are accommodated in the twin berth cabins with another diver.
Commences: Cairns 8:30am day 1
Concludes: Cairns 4:00pm day 5
Planning your travel arrangements
You will need to be in Cairns the night before departure.
Check-in and Hotel Transfers
Email up to 48 hours prior to course start date to advise your accommodation, we will then organise a transfer for you.
Fit to Dive
Some medical conditions may prevent you from diving. You will be required to obtain a dive medical certificate if you answer “yes” to any of the questions on the Entry Level Student Diver Medical Declaration form. We recommend you complete a dive medical (if required) before you arrive in Cairns.
Web address for Doctors registered to do Dive Medicals Australia Wide- www.spums.org.au
Web address for Cairns 24hr Medical Center - Can provide Dive Medicals until 8pm - www.thedoctors.com.au
Minimum age to learn to dive
The minimum age in Queensland is 12 years. All students under 18 years of age will be required to provide signed parent or guardian consent form. This form is available at the dive centre.
Children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a parent or adult over the age of 18.
Children between the ages of 12 and 14 years will be trained to dive to a depth of 12 meters and will qualify as Junior Open Water Divers.
What to bring on day one
Please bring along your swimwear, towel, cash for lunch and valid dive medical (if required).
DAY 1 - Academic and Pool Training
08:00 Complimentary Hotel transfer service available from accommodation in Cairns and Northern Beaches up to Palm Cove
08:30 Registration at Pro Dive Cairns Training Centre, 116 Spence Street, Cairns
08:45 Academic Training in the classroom
13:00 Lunch break (Lunch not Included)
14:00 Pool training
17:30 Complimentary Hotel Transfer service available
DAY 2 - Academic and Pool Training
07:30 Complimentary Hotel Transfer service available
08:30 Pool Training
12:30 Equipment preparation for Reef Trip at Dive Shop
13:00 Lunch Break (Lunch not Included)
14:00 Academic Training in the classroom and Final exam
17:45 Complimentary hotel transfer service available
DAY 3 - Diving the Outer Great Barrier Reef
05:45 Complimentary Hotel Transfer service - available from Cairns and Northern Beaches accommodation
06:15 Check-In at Dive Shop, Cnr Grafton and Shields Street, Cairns
07:00 Depart Cairns for 3days 2nights of fantastic diving on the Great Barrier Reef. A light breakfast is served onboard.
11:30 Your first Training Dive in the ocean. Lunch will then be served.
12:45 Lunch is served- hearty soup with an array of fresh salads, cold meats and bread rolls.
14:30 Yours second training dive
18:00 Dinner- the menu changes each trip however it will be wholesome, hot and of course lots of it! Then- time to relax!
DAY 4 - More Great Diving
07:00 Third Training Dive before Breakfast. This will be the deepest training dive for your certification
08:00 Enjoy a hearty breakfast of cereal, fresh fruit, bacon and eggs as well as toast and spreads
10:30 The last Training Dive for your PADI Open Water Certification Course!
12:00 Lunch on the second day is a hot pasta with a variety of fresh salads
15:00 You are now a certified diver! First pleasure dive!
18:00 Dinner- again, the menu changes each trip however it will be wholesome, hot and of course lots of it!
19:00 A guided night dive after dinner. Another great experience!
DAY 5 - More Diving and Return to Cairns
06:30 Your first dive of the day
07:30 A hot breakfast accompanied with fresh fruit salad, cereals and toast
09:00 After breakfast, the vessel moves to its last site of the trip, where you will do your second dive of the day
11:00 Your last dive! When you surface, freshly made sandwiches are served as the vessel heads home to Cairns
16:00 Complimentary Hotel Transfer service available
19:30 Join fellow passengers and crew at a local restaurant for a farewell dinner if you wish (additional cost)
Dive Site Description Click Here
Please note: this itinerary is only a guide and is subject to change without notice & weather conditions.
Flying after Diving
We recommend you give yourself a 24 hour surface interval after your last dive before flying.
Reef Taxes and Levies
There is an additional fee of AU$80 per person, which includes an Environmental Management Charge, as well as a Port Departure Tax and administration costs. This is payable direct at the end of the trip.
Luggage restrictions
We request that you only bring a small bag on board. You can store additional luggage at the retail shop for the duration of the trip (free of charge).
What to bring
Cancellation Policy
Pro Dive Cairns guarantee: the course amount is fully refundable up to the end of the first day of the course. There is no refund for any reason after this time. If you plan to book through a travel agent, you will be subject to their cancellation policies (please check their cancellation policies).
Alcohol Policy
No alcohol is served on this trip. You are welcome to BYO (no bottles please but wine is fine). Alcohol can only be consumed in the evening and Pro Dive Cairns encourages responsible drinking.
You will be required to obtain a dive medical certificate if you answer “yes” to any of the questions on the Entry Level Student Diver Medical Declaration. This must be valid within 90 days of commencing the course and must be done before you start with us.