4-Day PADI Open Water Dive Course - Learn to Dive on the Great Barrier Reef
Overview
Available languages
96 hours
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Take the opportunity to learn to dive while you’re in Cairns! With classes limited to eight participants, led by professional and friendly instructors, you’ll learn to dive and earn an internationally recognized PADI certification on your 4-day PADI Open Water dive course. Hotel transfers are included each day, and your course is gradual and safe. Learn basic scuba skills in the classroom, a pool, and confined water dives, then explore the Great Barrier Reef on open-water dives. Once you have successfully completed your course, you’ll be a qualified PADI diver!
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
In our commitment to the safety of our guests, divers over 45 years for PADI dive courses must have a medical clearance with a physician the confirms they are Fit To Dive. This can be provided by your own GP before your course start date.
Diving within 24 hours before your flight is not permitted. All participants will be required to complete a health/medication questionnaire prior to diving. Please be aware that certain medical conditions (e.g. asthma, heart disease, diabetes) and ANY prescription medications will require a letter or email from a doctor clearing you to dive. The clearance must state your full name, the doctor's name and practice and the clearance to dive for the specific medication/condition. If you have a certain medical condition or are taking prescription medication, please review the operators Certified Diver Medical Questionnaire prior to your course start date.
Students must be able to complete a basic swimming and floating test to complete this course.
Please bring sunscreen, hat, change of clothes, swimsuit and a towel and cash or credit card for on board payment/purchases (fares, soft drink, chocolates, underwater camera, T-shirts)
Minimum age is 12 years
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
All Fees and Taxes
Learn dive theory with classroom lessons and practice in pool sessions
Lunch onboard Evolution days 3 and 4
Cairns City accommodation transfers every day
Two full day cruises onboard to the outer reef onboard the most luxurious catamaran, Evolution
All applicable PADI training material
4 x Outer Great Barrier Reef Dives and 1 x FREE Fun Dive!
Lunch on days 1 & 2
Accommodation
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
The PADI open water course is the leading certification course for scuba divers and suitable for complete beginners. During your 4-day training course, spend the first two days learning the theory with classroom lessons and practice basic scuba diving skills, safety drills, and correct ascending and descending techniques during training sessions in a swimming pool. Once you are fully prepared, put your skills to the test in the open waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy two full-day cruises to the outer reef, each including two guided scuba dives—four dives in all—and experience the underwater wonders of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your instructor will be with you every step of the way to ensure that you stay safe and maximize your chances of spotting marine life, such as tropical fish, reef sharks, stingrays, and sea turtles. Both cruises include a delicious barbecue lunch served on board. Upon completion of the course, you will receive your PADI Open Water Dive Certificate, which allows you to scuba dive up to a depth of 60 feet (18 meters), join certified dive tours, rent diving equipment, and take part in advanced PADI diving courses.
Options
4-Day Learn to Dive Course
Lunch on Day 3 and 4: BBQ lunch prepared onboard with fresh fish, prawns, steak, salads (Veg, GF, DF & Vegan options)
Pickup included
4-Day PADI Open Water Dive Course - Learn to Dive on the Great Barrier Reef
Pickup included
Reviews
25 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Brilliant!!!
Rositsa T,
Oct 4, 2024
- Viator
5.00Excellent!!!If I can give 50 starts review,I would.The best thing I did to myself was booking this course.I always have fear of deep water and just in four days I was able to dive down to 16 meters.I still can’t believe I did that.All this thanks to Frankie,he was amazing,helped me so much.I will never be able to put in words how grateful I am.Make yourself favor and book this course if you want to learn to dive or if you want to face your fear ( like me).Also,really cool to tell people,you leant to dive in Great Barrier Reef.I high recommend it.
Great Instructor!
Samuel S,
Feb 26, 2024
- Viator
5.00Frankly is the most knowledgeable, funny, and entertaining instructor I could’ve imagined. the way he explains the open water course makes complicated topics simple, couldn’t have asked for a better instructor! the food on the boat was good but anything is good when you’re tired from a 45min dive the boat is beautiful and so is the reef. highly recommend!!!
Unparalleled experience
Robert O,
Nov 6, 2023
- Viator
5.00Down Under Dives provided the experience of a lifetime. Frankie was incredibly knowledgeable, professional and passionate. He was was the best instructor I could imagine and made us feel incredibly lucky to learn under his expertise. All worries and fears disappeared the minute he put us in our gear. Couldn’t have asked for a better environment or instructor.
Could not have asked for a better instructor
Ena K,
Oct 11, 2023
- Viator
5.00My friend and I completed our open water course under the guidance of Frankie, and we couldn't have asked for a more exceptional instructor. Frankie's humor, patience, extensive diving experience, and genuine passion for the sport made him a fantastic teacher. Opting for in-person lessons over relying solely on eLearning was a wise choice, as Frankie's teaching was better than PADI's instructional videos. He made sure we truly understood each concept before progressing to the next. To ensure our comfort during our initial pool dives, he provided us with high-quality masks that were not available on the boat, and once on the boat, he picked the best masks out of what was available for us to use. On top of that, he surprised us with cheesecake to celebrate my friend's birthday, which happened to fall on the final day of the course. Initially I had some anxiety about diving, but Frankie's expertise and unwavering patience quickly helped me get over my fears. Thank you for making this an unforgettable experience Frankie!
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Operated by Down Under Cruise and Dive