Divers Den PADI Open Water & Advanced (6 Day 3 Night Liveaboard)

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A six-day dive course with nine training dives and six extra fun dives: two days of pool and theory in Cairns, then four days and three nights on the Great Barrier Reef liveaboard OceanQuest, finishing with both PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water certifications.

Days

6 days, 3 nights on board

Group size

Max 8

Start / finish

Cairns / Cairns

Return

See itinerary for details

Accommodation

3 nights on the liveaboard OceanQuest, air-conditioned cabin with ensuite
Cairns accommodation for the pool days not included

Transport

Liveaboard dive vessel OceanQuest

Meals

All meals on board OceanQuest

Route

Map of Divers Den PADI Open Water & Advanced (6 Day 3 Night Liveaboard)

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Included experiences

Cairns PADI Dive Centre — pool and theory training
Outer Great Barrier Reef — training and fun dives
Night dives — two on the course
OceanQuest — three nights at the reef

Divers Den PADI Open Water & Advanced (6 Day 3 Night Liveaboard)

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

DAY 1: POOL AND THEORY IN CAIRNS

The course starts at 9am at Divers Den's five-star PADI dive centre on Draper Street in Cairns, a dive school since 1974. Meet your instructor, sort the paperwork and start the theory: what pressure does to your body, why you breathe continuously on scuba, and how to plan a safe dive. In the afternoon you get into the pool and learn the gear and the first skills. At 5:15pm there is a tread water test, and you finish at 5:30pm. Lunch is not included on the two pool days, so bring your own or try one of the cafés nearby.

DAY 2: SWIM TEST AND EXAM

A full morning in the pool: you swim your 200 metres, then suit up in wetsuit and full scuba gear for more skills, such as clearing a flooded mask and sharing air with a buddy. In the afternoon you review the theory and sit the multiple-choice exam, which covers nothing you haven't already done. You finish at 5:30pm. Tonight, pack an overnight bag for three nights at sea, with warm clothes and socks for the evenings on deck, and leave anything you won't need to store at the dive centre in the morning.

DAY 3: OUT TO THE REEF ON OCEANQUEST

Pick-up is at 7:30am, then check-in at the dive centre and, at 8:30am, the 90-minute run out to the reef. Your home for three nights is OceanQuest, a three-deck, 35 metre catamaran built for diving, with air-conditioned cabins that each have an ensuite. It moors on the outer reef, at sites on Norman, Saxon and Hastings reefs, where it has more than 14 permanent moorings on the first two alone. On arrival you make your first Open Water training dives, with lunch between them, and a third dive at 3:30pm. Dinner is at 6pm and dessert at 8pm.

Overnight: On board OceanQuest, outer Great Barrier Reef

DAY 4: OPEN WATER CERTIFIED, THEN A NIGHT DIVE

After a hot breakfast at 7:30am you make your fourth and final Open Water training dive, and you are a certified PADI Open Water Diver. Straight away comes your first dive just for pleasure, then lunch. In the afternoon the Advanced course begins with the Peak Performance Buoyancy dive, learning to hover so still that you can stop just above the coral without touching it. At 6:30pm, after dinner, you go in for your first night dive. White-tip reef sharks spend the day resting on the sand under ledges and come out after dark to hunt.

Overnight: On board OceanQuest, outer Great Barrier Reef

DAY 5: DEEP, NAVIGATION AND A SECOND NIGHT DIVE

Today you go deeper. After breakfast comes the deep dive, to 25 to 30 metres, where colours fade and red disappears first, so a red fish looks grey. Then the navigation dive, finding your way back to the boat by compass and by reading the reef. After lunch there is a fun dive or another training dive, depending on your instructor. Between dives, watch for clownfish in their anemones: every one is born male, and the largest in the group turns female. After dinner you make the Advanced course night dive, your second in two nights.

Overnight: On board OceanQuest, outer Great Barrier Reef

DAY 6: LAST DIVES AND BACK TO CAIRNS

Two final dives in the morning, fun dives or your last training dive, and when they are done you hold both the PADI Open Water and the Advanced Open Water certifications, qualifying you to dive to 30 metres. Look for green turtles and the humphead Maori wrasse, which can grow to two metres and live for 30 years. After lunch you pack up and head back across to Cairns, arriving at about 4:30pm. Six days earlier you had never breathed underwater.

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Good to know

Duration: Six days: two days of pool and theory in Cairns, then four days and three nights on the reef.

What is included

All PADI materials
All dive and snorkel equipment, including air fills, and full tuition
3 nights on OceanQuest in an air-conditioned cabin with ensuite
All meals on board
Fresh chilled water, tea and coffee
Two outer reef locations per day

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.