3 days Great Barrier Reef Advanced Open Water Diving Course

Provider:
Pro Dive Cairns

Quick Overview

Duration

3-day course

Group Size

18

Activity Level

About this experience

The PADI Advanced Open Water course is the next step after basic certification and is designed to boost your confidence underwater and expand your skills.

No classroom is more spectacular than the Great Barrier Reef itself – with its rich marine life and excellent diving conditions all year round.

Highlights of this experience

  • Prerequisite: PADI Open Water certification or equivalent certification from another training organization. No formal instruction, but the PADI Advanced Open Water manual must be read and the knowledge questions answered for each dive.
  • 11 dives with access to 19 outer reef dive sites on four reefs: Flynn, Thetford, Milln and Pellowe Reef.
  • Discover an amazing variety of marine life: Giant clams, sea turtles, stingrays, reef sharks, tropical fish and spectacular coral formations. Night dives open up a whole new dimension of nocturnal life.
  • The Advanced certificate includes three core dives: Deep Diving, Underwater Navigation and Night Diving, as well as two optional dives (e.g. Nitrox, Underwater Naturalist, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Boat Dive).
  • Relax between dives on board one of the three first-class Scubapro dive boats with air-conditioned cabins, spacious decks, WiFi and catering.
  • Small groups guarantee a personal, high-quality diving experience with dedicated support from our professional team.
  • Course in German on Thursdays and Sundays

What's included

  • All PADI materials
  • Diving and snorkeling equipment
  • Chilled water, tea and coffee
  • 11 dives (including 2 night dives)
  • Accommodation transfer
  • All meals on board
  • Diving insurance

What's excluded

  • $110 Nitrox
  • $40 Camera rental
  • $90 Reef TaxThe PADI Advanced Open Water course is the next step after basic certification and is designed to build your confidence underwater and expand your skills. No classroom is more spectacular than the Great Barrier Reef itself - with its rich marine life and excellent diving conditions all year round.
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Itinerary

Exact itineraries vary depending on the tour type. 

Diving on the outer Great Barrier Reef

5:45am – Complimentary hotel transfer, available from accommodation in Cairns City & Northern Beaches.
6:15am – Check-in at Pro Dive Shop on the corner of Shields & Grafton Streets.
7:00am – Depart Cairns for 3 days and 2 nights of fantastic diving and snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. A light breakfast is served on board.
11:30am – Your first fun dive before lunch. A great opportunity to get used to the diving conditions or brush up on your skills.
12:45 – Lunch: hearty soup, fresh salads, cold cuts and rolls.
14:30 – Your second dive – discover more underwater wonders. After completing the dive, the boat sails to the next dive site.
16:30 – Your first training dive: navigation. Learn to return safely to the boat and practice underwater navigation using a compass and natural landmarks.
6:00 pm – Dinner: daily changing menu, always hot, hearty and plentiful.
7:30 pm – Second training dive: night diving. With your instructor you complete a simple navigation and get a guided tour. Discover sleeping turtles, parrotfish and other nocturnal sea creatures.
8:30 pm – Dessert is served.

7:00 a.m. – Early morning dive: Third training dive – deep diving. Under the guidance of your instructor, you will dive to 30 m, learn about the effects of pressure and recognize signs of nitrogen narcosis. This completes all three core dives.
8:00 am – Breakfast: cereal, fresh fruit, bacon and eggs, toast & spreads.
10:30 am – After breakfast, it’s off to the second dive of the day – the first of five remaining dives for your Advanced training. Choose from the following specialty dives:

Underwater Naturalist: Get to know the most important fish families and coral species of the Great Barrier Reef.

Underwater Photography: Tips for camera care and the best shots underwater. Digital cameras can be hired for AUD$45 per dive.

Search and Recovery: Learn to search for and recover objects and bring them to the surface with lifting bags.

Boat Diving: Perfect for gaining boat diving experience.
12:00 noon – lunch: hot pasta with fresh salads.
3:00 pm – afternoon dive after snorkeling.
6:00 pm – dinner before the night dive.
7:30 pm – night dive.
8:30 pm – dessert.

Morning dives & return to Cairns

6:30 am – First dive of the day.
7:30 am – Breakfast: freshly prepared food, fruit salad, cereal and toast.
9:00 am – Second dive of the day at the last dive site of the tour.
11:00 am – Last dive! After surfacing, freshly prepared sandwiches are served while the boat heads back.
16:00 – Free hotel transfer to Cairns City & Northern Beaches.
19:30 – Optional: Farewell dinner with fellow travelers and crew at a local restaurant.

Where we’ll meet

You should already be in Cairns the night before departure. Check-in takes place between 4:30pm and 6:30pm at the Pro Dive Shop on the corner of Grafton & Shields Street. If you are unable to attend check-in that day, you will be checked in at 6:15am the next morning. Check-in formalities: When you register, you will be measured for the rental equipment that you will use during the tour. Pick-ups are possible from selected accommodation. You can easily select your accommodation at check-out. 🔹 Haven't booked your accommodation yet? No problem - just select TBA (to be advised). 🔹 Your accommodation is not on the list? Write to us - we'll take care of it! We'll be happy to help you and make sure your trip gets off to a smooth start!
Spence Street, 116, Cairns City, Queensland, 4870, Australia
$1350 /person
  • Australia
    Cairns
    Queensland
  • 8:00 a.m.
  • Around 16:00

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Experience FAQs

You should bring a towel, ideally two: one for after the water and one for the shower in the evening. You will also need your diving certification card and your logbook or other proof of your diving experience. Swimwear and comfortable, casual clothing for three days are also necessary. Think of warm clothes for the evening and pyjamas. Don’t forget toiletries such as toothbrush, soap, sunscreen etc. Please do not bring sleeping bags, bulky luggage or large amounts of cash, as all costs incurred on board will be settled directly at the Pro Dive Shop at the end of the tour.

The minimum age at PRO DIVE Cairns is 7 years. Children under the age of 15 must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times. There is no childcare service on board.

Yes, you are allowed to use a drone during the three-day tour, but only with the skipper’s permission.

Yes, you may bring alcohol with you, but in moderation, as space on the boats is limited. Please note: once alcohol has been consumed, you are not allowed back in the water until the next day. PRO DIVE Cairns places great emphasis on responsible drinking.

Yes, PRO DIVE Cairns offers free transfers from accommodation in Cairns and the Northern Beaches to Palm Cove. Please note: Transfers are not available from Port Douglas and Kuranda or from private residences.

Yes, your friend or partner will be paired with another certified diver during your four training dives. After that, you can complete the five additional fun dives together. There will be plenty of time for snorkeling and social activities throughout the tour if your companion is not diving or snorkeling.

According to RTSA standards, the ratio of students to instructors never exceeds 8:1. PRO DIVE usually achieves a ratio of 6:1 or better.

The Great Barrier Reef is not a place for deep-sea diving. The dive sites are between 10 and 25 meters, with the best diving conditions usually between 10 and 15 meters. The dive sites are therefore shallow enough for all certified divers to enjoy diving, regardless of their level of training.

Yes, each cabin is equipped with a 240 V socket.

Checking availability

Availability

3 days Great Barrier Reef Advanced Open Water Diving Course

Valid for 12 months

The PADI Advanced Open Water course is the next step after basic certification and is designed to boost your confidence underwater and expand your skills. No classroom is more spectacular than the Great Barrier Reef itself – with its rich marine life and excellent diving conditions all year round.

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3 days Great Barrier Reef Advanced Open Water Diving Course
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