Divers Den Scuba Refresher

Map View Full Details Reviews

If it has been a while since your last dive, spend a morning in Divers Den's heated pool in Cairns with a PADI instructor, getting used to the gear and running through your skills again before you head out to the Great Barrier Reef.

Days

3 hours

Group size

Max 10

Start / finish

Divers Den dive centre, Draper Street, Cairns / same place
Same place, around midday

Return

Same place, around midday

Transport

Meet at the dive centre on Draper Street

Meals

No meals are listed as included

Route

View map

Included experiences

Heated pool — get used to the scuba gear again
Skills practice — run through your core skills with a PADI professional
Reef ready — prepare for a Great Barrier Reef dive trip

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

MORNING: CHECK IN ON DRAPER STREET

Your refresher starts at 9am at the Divers Den training centre on Draper Street in Cairns, a city founded in 1876 and named after William Wellington Cairns, then Governor of Queensland. Divers Den has trained divers here since 1974. Before you get wet you fill in the medical questionnaire every diver completes, and your instructor looks over your certification card and logbook to see how long it has been and how much diving you have done. If you learned with another agency, have your level and rough dive count ready. It takes a few minutes, then you head for the pool.

IN THE POOL

The pool is covered and heated, and built for dive training, so the water is calm and the depth is easy. You join the Open Water students on the last day of their course, with a PADI professional supervising. First comes the gear: putting the regulator, jacket and tank together again, checking each other's set-up and getting the weights right. Then you run back through the core skills from your course, such as clearing a flooded mask, finding a lost regulator and hovering neutrally buoyant. Nobody rushes you. You repeat each skill until it feels natural, which is the whole point of the morning.

MIDDAY: READY FOR THE REEF

By about noon you are done, with your confidence back and your skills fresh. That matters, because the outer Great Barrier Reef, more than 2,300 km long and World Heritage-listed since 1981, is about 90 minutes from Cairns by boat, and you will want to spend your time there watching the fish, not the gauges. Many divers book the refresher the day before a reef trip. The same Draper Street centre is where Divers Den's reef day trips and OceanQuest liveaboard stays check in, so you will already know the way.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Divers Den dive centre, 319 Draper Street, Cairns.
Departure time: 9am, finishing at midday. Session dates vary and are confirmed when you book.
Duration: 3 hours.
Suits: Certified divers who have not dived for a while. You need an Open Water certificate.
Please note: Every diver fills in a medical questionnaire. If you are 45 or over, or answer yes to any question, you need a further dive medical. If you are certified with an agency other than PADI, have your agency, level and approximate number of dives ready. Tell the instructor if you wear contact lenses.

What to bring

Your Open Water certification card
Your logbook

What is included

Pool session with a PADI professional
Dive equipment: regulator with dive computer, BCD, mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, tank and weights

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Reviews

5.0

Based on 1 review

Verified from

Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.

How we collect and publish reviews

Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.

Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.

Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.

(5/5)

I did the refresher course a year after my Open Water, and it set me up well for the liveaboard afterwards. KK, Skye and Sol were fantastic guides, and it was nice to have a guided dive option. Pack warm layers as the cabins get cold at night.

Graciella Llagas Verified· Travelled 22nd July 2026

Read original ↗

Region

Date