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5 Day PRO DIVE Learn to Scuba Dive Course

Frequently Asked Questions

Equipment

Can I hire a camera

There are no camera hire available onboard. However you can hire a camera from Calypso Productions in Cairns

What Brand of hire gear do you have onboard?
  • Technisub stratus full foot fins
  • Tusa Liberator Masks
  • Aqualung Wave BCDs
  • Aqualung Calypso regs with compass and Suunto Zoop computers
  • 5mm Neptune ¾ leg, long arm wetsuits
  • 3mm Neptune/Aqualung hoods (seasonal)
  • dive light: Aqualung lumen HD or Princeton Tec Torrent LED

Accurate as if 6 September 2018

Marine animals

What will I see diving on The Great Barrier Reef?

A lot! Whether you are a diver or a snorkeller, you will be amazed by what the Great Barrier Reef has to offer. There are up to 1500 species of fish, 350 different corals, 400 species of molluscs and 10,000 species of sponges.

What about attacks from barracuda, sharks, eels and giant squid?

Bee stings kill more people than do sharks - but shark attacks make better movies. (Just how cool would Leonardo have looked if he'd been fighting off a bumblebee in The Beach?)

In reality, there are no aquatic animals that routinely attack humans, unless you provoke them by poking them, sticking your hand into their home, or getting too close to one with territorial instincts.
As part of your certification lessons, you'll learn some common-sense precautions. Most of these, however, are more for the protection of sea creatures than of you. You pose a much larger threat to them than they do to you. (Compare, for example, the number of humans who will eat squid sushi today, versus the number of squid who munch on human sushi - ever!)   

Source: http://www.gay-dive.com/faq-scuba.htm

Are there sharks on the Great Barrier Reef?

Yes, there are sharks in every ocean. A variety of sharks inhabit the Great Barrier Reef. What we most commonly encounter are smaller species which pose no threat to divers or snorkellers. The shark that Australia is infamous for, the Great White Shark, does not exist in Far North Queensland.

Other

What do I bring on the boat?

You will need to take along a towel, preferably 2. We suggest taking 2 towels along - 1 for when you get out of the water and 1 for showering at night.
Certification card & log book or other proof of experience.
Swimwear.
Comfortable, casual clothing for 3 days.
Warm clothes for the evening and pyjamas.
Toiletries i.e. toothbrush, soap, sunscreen etc.
Please do not bring sleeping bags, bulky luggage, large amounts of money as the account you incur on the boat will be paid direct to the Pro Dive retail shop at the end of the trip.

What is Reef Tax?
An additional fee of $85 per person is payable direct to PRO DIVE Cairns. This fee includes $16.50 Government Environmental Management Charge as well as a Port Departure Tax and administration and Fuel levy.
Can I fly my drone while onboard?

Your can use a Drone while on the 3 day trip with permission of the skipper.

What do I do with my extra luggage?
PRO DIVE Cairns can store any additional luggage you may have at their retail shop for your trip duration.
Be aware there is limited space on the boat.
Can you smoke on the boat?

Yiu can smoke on the top deck, usually at towards to end of the boat but it depends on the winds.

Can you pick me up from my accommodation?
Yes PRO DIVE Cairns can provide complimentary transfers from your Cairns & Northern Beaches accommodation, as far as Palm Cove.
Please Note;
Port Douglas & Kuranda transfers are not available.
Please be aware we don't pick up from Residential houses also.

If a friend / partner is a certified diver or non diver, can they come on the same trip with me while Im on the course?
Yes - your friend / partner will be buddied up with another certified diver onboard while you complete your 4 training dives. After that you will have the opportunity to complete 5 pleasure dives together.
There is plenty of time throughout the whole trip to snorkel and socialise with a non diver if you are traveling with someone who doesnt dive/snorkel.

Travel

I have a seafood and peanut allegies, can you cater for me?

We can cater for people with Peanut and Seafood allegies.No prepared meals include nuts and one dish uses a sauce with seafood ingridents, but an alternative sauce is provided. Please ensure on check to let the staff know of any allegies.

How safe is diving the Great Barrier Reef?

The Queensland dive industry has the best safety statistics of any diving destination worldwide. Dive operators are required to comply with strict government workplace health and safety standards.

What is the best time of year to dive in Tropical North Queensland

The warm waters of Tropical North Queensland are ideal for year round diving.
Water temperature can vary from 22' to 28' Celsius (75' to 85'F).

Summer (Dec-Feb)
Overall great marine life activity with plenty to see
Visibility - Excellent
Water temperature 29?C (85?F)
Generally calm sea conditions
Low to moderate rain - generally at night

Autumn (Mar-May)
Overall great marine life activity with plenty to see
Visibility - Good
Water temperature 25-27?C (80?F)
Calm to moderate sea conditions
Potential moderate rain

Winter (Jun-Aug)
Minke Whales & Humpback Whales
Visibility - Good
Water temperature 22-24?C (70?F)
Moderate sea conditions
Low rainfall

Spring (Sep-Nov)
Humpback Whales & Coral Spawning (Nov)
Visibility - Excellent
Water temperature 25-27?C (80?F)
Generally calm sea conditions
Low rain fall

Dive Training

English is not my first language, can I do my course in a different language?

We have learn to dive courses in German on Tuesdays and Fridays, and Chinese on Thursdays ensure that you receive the best service at Pro Dive Cairns.

PADI offer a wide variety of languages in their manuals. Pro Dive Cairns is able to offer PADI manuals in languages such as Japanese, Italian, French, Dutch, Danish, Swedish and Spanish. Given 7 days notice, and pending availability on the language, Pro Dive may be able to order it.

But, this is not guaranteed.

Please note in your booking if you require a manual/class in a language other than English

What do I bring to my pool and theory sessions?

Please bring swimwear, a towel, a dive medical if required, a valid form of ID, and lunch money.

Should I do the 5 day Learn to Dive Course or the 4 day eLearning Dive Course?

Our 5 Day PADI Open Water Diver course is the most popular option due to the overall experience of completing the course with the same group of students and instructors.

The 4-Day eLearning course is ideal for those customers who have time constraints as it allows them to complete the theory work online before arriving at their destination, reducing the time spent in the pool by one day.

How many people will be in my class?

Under RTSA standards, the student to instructor ratio never exceeds 8:1, but Pro Dive usually achieves 6:1 or better.

Diving

What depths will I be diving to?

The Great Barrier Reef is not a deep dive destination. Depths in our dive sites range from 10-25 metres (30-80 feet), with the best diving generally occurring between 10 and 15 metres (30-50 feet). This means there are some amazing sites that stay shallow enough for all certified divers to enjoy, regardless of how advanced your diving certifications may be.

Medical

Diving with Diabetes

Please note the following restrictions for divers with diabetes at Pro Dive Cairns. Diabetic divers must have an up to date dive medical from a doctor stating that they are fit to dive with their medical condition. Following guidelines set out by the South Pacific Underwater Medical Society (SPUMS), diabetic divers are limited to 2 dives per day and must use a minimum surface interval of 2 hours between dives.

For more information please see the Forms for Diabetics on our website:

http://www.prodivecairns.com.au/SPUMS-Medical%20-4th%20editio-2011.pdf

http://www.prodivecairns.com.au/Suggested-assesment-for-divers-with-Diabetes-2016.pdf

After reviewing these documents please click the link below, complete and sign the document and bring a printed copy with you for your trip with us.

http://www.prodivecairns.com.au/Statement-regarding-diabetes-and-diving-2016.pdf

lease note the following restrictions for divers with diabetes at Pro Dive Cairns. Diabetic divers must have an up to date dive medical from a doctor stating that they are fit to dive with their medical condition. Following guidelines set out by the South Pacific Underwater Medical Society (SPUMS), diabetic divers are limited to 2 dives per day and must use a minimum surface interval of 2 hours between dives.

For more information please see the Forms for Diabetics on our website:

 

http://www.prodivecairns.com.au/SPUMS-Medical%20-4th%20editio-2011.pdf

http://www.prodivecairns.com.au/Suggested-assesment-for-divers-with-Diabetes-2016.pdf

After reviewing these documents please click the link below, complete and sign the document and bring a printed copy with you for your trip with us.

http://www.prodivecairns.com.au/Statement-regarding-diabetes-and-diving-2016.pd

Where can I do the dive medical?
  • It is recommended to have the medical completed prior to starting your open water course.
  • You can complete your dive medical overseas, however it MUST clearly state it has been done in accordance with Australian Standards (AS4005-1). Please note that your medical must be done to this exact standard otherwise it will not be accepted.
  • Some medical conditions that can preclude you from diving include heart disease, asthma, diabetes and epilepsy
What happens if I fail my Medical?
In most instances, you will be refunded in full.  Please note specific medical conditions.

Liveaboard

Dietary Requirements
We do our best to cater for dietary requirements, but are operating with limited facilities available. We try and provide as much variety as possible within the confines of what we have onboard
 

During the trip, we serve buffet style meals with plenty of fresh fruit and salads. There is gluten free bread and pasta available, as well as soy milk. The cook will be happy to speak with you once onboard about your diet to accommodate you as best as possible. 

 
If you are vegan or gluten free we recommend bringing your own snacks which don't need to be refrigerated as refrigerator space is at a premium on the boat.

*All Prices are Per Person and Prices may vary depending on Start Dates and options.

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