Keppel Dive & Water Sports Advanced PADI Open Water Course

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Five more dives with a PADI Instructor on the southern Great Barrier Reef around Great Keppel Island, ending with your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver card. You can start it straight after your Open Water course, and gear hire, study materials and a return ferry are part of the package.

Days

2 days

Group size

Course with a PADI Instructor

Start / finish

Great Keppel Island / Great Keppel Island

Return

See itinerary for details

Transport

Return ferry from Yeppoon included

Meals

No meals are listed as included

Route

Map of Keppel Dive & Water Sports Advanced PADI Open Water Course

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Included experiences

Keppel reefs — Deep Adventure Dive
Keppel reefs — Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive
Your choice — three more Adventure Dives such as photography or buoyancy
Great Keppel Island — log five dives towards your Advanced card

Keppel Dive & Water Sports Advanced PADI Open Water Course

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

GETTING TO GREAT KEPPEL ISLAND

Your course starts with the ferry from Yeppoon (your return ticket is part of the package) to Great Keppel Island, which the Woppaburra people call Wop-pa. It lies 12 km offshore, about half an hour's crossing, and is ringed by white-sand beaches. The ferry runs up onto the sand and you walk along the beach to Keppel Dive's hut at the northern end of Fishermans Beach, the island's main landing. Here you meet your PADI Instructor, collect your hire gear and study materials, and plan which Adventure Dives you'll do.

THE TWO SET DIVES: DEEP AND NAVIGATION

Two of your five dives are fixed. On the Deep Adventure Dive you go below 18 metres, learning to plan your dive, watch your air and recognise how depth affects your body and your thinking. Many people are surprised at how colours fade as red light disappears with depth. On the Underwater Navigation dive you practise with a compass, measure distance by counting kick-cycles and learn to find your way back using reef features and time. The reefs around the Keppel islands, named by James Cook in 1770 after Admiral Augustus Keppel, give you plenty of landmarks to work with.

THREE DIVES OF YOUR CHOOSING

The other three dives are up to you and your instructor. Popular picks are underwater photography, peak performance buoyancy and fish identification, and the southern Great Barrier Reef gives you plenty to identify, from parrotfish and sweetlip to turtles grazing on the reef. Each dive is a taste of a full PADI specialty course, and each one counts towards it if you decide to go further.

YOUR ADVANCED CARD

After two days and five logged dives you finish as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, certified to dive to 30 metres. Courses fit around the ferry timetable, so you can stay on the island or come across for the day.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Keppel Dive's Blue Beach Hut at the northern end of Fishermans Beach on Great Keppel Island, along the sandy path from GKI Hideaway. The island is 12 km off Yeppoon, about 30 minutes by ferry from Keppel Bay Marina or Pier One.
Duration: 2 days, run on scheduled dates about twice a month.
Suits: Divers who already hold the PADI Open Water Diver certification.
Please note: A minimum of 3 divers is needed for a course to run; your dates are confirmed when you book.

What is included

Five Adventure Dives with a PADI Instructor
Gear hire for the whole course
All PADI study materials
One return ferry ticket to Great Keppel Island
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park environmental charge

Not included

Ferry for any extra days (can be arranged at a discount)
Refresher dive, if you haven't dived for more than a year (discounted with this course)
Meals

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

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.

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.

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.

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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 recently finished my Advanced Open Water with Keppel Dive and the booking, transfers and training were all a breeze. The staff were helpful, safe and fun, especially Anton, James, Jen and Hoody.

Eddie O Verified· Travelled 12th October 2026

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