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This is one of Divers Den’s most popular learn to dive courses. It incudes 2 days of theory and pool practice in Cairns, followed by 3 days and 2 nights staying on the Great Barrier Reef where you become a certified scuba diver. Choosing this longer course maximises your time on the reef. It provides the opportunity for you to complete the 4 open water training dives required for certification, then gives you time to complete an additional 4 day dives as a certified diver with the option for 1 night dive. How good is that. You get to learn to dive on the reef and then have time to explore it on unguided buddy dives. This course starts every day of the week, except Wednesday. Please note that due to limited availability on OceanQuest, we recommend locking in your preferred dates as soon as you know them.
The price for this 5 day / 2 night Divers Den PADI Open Water Diver course covers all theory, instruction and PADI materials, dive equipment rental and the 3 day / 2 night stay at the Great Barrier Reef on OceanQuest. Accommodation is available in double cabins, twin share and quad share, and it’s first in best dressed with this. All meals, tea, coffee and chilled water on OceanQuest are also included. The minimum age to participate in a PADI Open Water learn to dive course is 10 years old, however if the student is aged under 12 years old, Divers Den will want you to pay additional costs for a private dive instructor.
PADI Open Water Course. 5 day course, including 3 day / 2 night Great Barrier Reef liveaboard. 9 dives.
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Divers Den Cairns has certified over 150,000 divers since they began operating in 1974. They have a 5 Star Career Development PADI Centre in Cairns and experienced team of professional Dive Instructors. This 5 day course includes 2 days of theory and pool practice in Cairns, then the 3 day / 2 night trip to the Great Barrier Reef, staying overnight on OceanQuest. OceanQuest has 4 double cabins, 18 twin cabins and 1 quad share room. All cabins have their own ensuite, with bathroom and toilet. The multi-level boat is spacious and comfortable with air conditioned interiors and exterior sundecks. Guests on board will be a combination of snorkelers, certified divers and dive students.
Scuba diving is a fun, recreational activity and presents an amazing way for you to explore and engage with the underwater world. However, it also has technical aspects which must be understood to ensure diver safety. This includes but is not limited to, understanding water pressure and its effects on the body, the importance of equalising underwater and knowing how to manage your dive and check your air levels. The classroom component of the course is completed at their diver training facility in Cairns.
*Please note all students wishing to participate in a PADI Open Water Diver course must complete a self-assessed medical declaration before you start training. Some health conditions, including asthma, epilepsy, heart conditions, chronic sinus concerns and more, may prevent you from participating. You can download the Diver Medical Self Assessment questionnaire here. Please ensure you complete this honestly and accurately, this is vital for your safety when underwater. If further assessment is required, you’ll need to get a doctor’s letter / medical clearance before you start the course, this clearance must be dated no older than 90 days before time of issue and time of course commencement.
Confined water practice sessions are an essential part of learning to dive. They allow you to practice core scuba diving skills in a calm water environment, which for Divers Den is at a heated training pool. Skills you will practice include but are not limited to, setting up your equipment and completing buddy checks, water entry, safe descent and ascent, checking your air consumption, buoyancy control and learning to use your scuba equipment. Instructors guide you through each exercise at a steady pace, so you feel prepared before moving on to your open water dives. The Divers Den training pool has shallow sides and reaches a maximum depth of 3m in the middle. Please note it is a PADI requirement that Open Water Divers can swim 200m without stopping and tread water for 10 minutes, without touching the sides or bottom. This must be demonstrated in the pool.
This Divers Den Cairns PADI Open Water Diver course includes a 3 day / 2 night stay at the Great Barrier Reef. Your floating hotel is OceanQuest, a comfortable liveaboard boat which has 19 moorings at several outer reefs, including Saxon, Norman and Hastings Reef. You will complete the 4 necessary training dives on the Great Barrier Reef. On successful completion, you’ll be a certified PADI Open Water Diver able to dive to a maximum depth of 18m with a buddy, anywhere in the world. With the training complete, the 5 day / 2 night course provides you with the opportunity to complete a further 4 buddy dives as a certified diver, with the option to participate in 1 night dive. Please note all first night dives must be guided and this is a $20 additional cost to the course. Which exact sites and reefs you will be diving on will be determined by the prevailing weather at the time of your course, the best sites will be chosen to maximise diver comfort on the day. You will dive on a few different reef locations, As OceanQuest moves during your time at sea.
Divers Den’s liveaboard boat is called OceanQuest. This 34.5m catamaran can accommodate up to 48 passengers, in 18 twin cabins, 4 double cabins and 1 quad share room. Please note all cabins are air conditioned and have their own ensuite with shower and toilet. Most of the cabins have windows, providing sea views. Linen and bath towels are provided (bring an ocean towel for use on the dive deck). All cabins have power outlets, to charge devices. OceanQuest has 3 decks offering a range of shared spaces, including the air conditioned dining room and upstairs lounge and bar, to the exterior dive deck and back deck.
OceanQuest has 4 double cabins, which are allocated on a first in best dressed basis. The cabins are spacious and have their own ensuite for your privacy and comfort. Maximum number of guests in double cabins is 2 passengers.
There are 18 x twin share bunk bed cabins on OceanQuest. These all have their own ensuite for your privacy and comfort. Maximum number of guests in twin share cabins is 2 passengers.
There is 1 quad share cabin on OceanQuest. It has its own ensuite for your privacy and comfort. Maximum number of guests in the quad share cabin is 4 passengers.
OceanQuest has 19 moorings at 3 different reefs, Saxon, Hastings and Norman Reef. These are all considered Outer Reefs and generally have excellent underwater visibility and abundance of marine life. They are all suitable for people completing their open water training dives, for PADI Open Water Diver certification. During your 3 days / 2 nights on OceanQuest, the boat will move to a few different sites, allowing you to explore multiple locations. Which reefs and sites you will visit, is determined by the weather, tides and current during your time at sea.
All meals during your time on the Great Barrier Reef are included in your dive course price. There are no meals provided on the 2 x classroom and pool practice days in Cairns. On your day of transfer from Cairns to OceanQuest, you will enjoy morning tea and a tropical buffet lunch on the day boat. Then dinner and dessert on OceanQuest. For each of the full days you spend on OceanQuest, there is a hot and cold buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. All meals are prepared fresh by the onboard chef. The menu changes daily to provide variety. The meals are plentiful and there’s fresh fruit available throughout the day for snacks, as well as tea, coffee and chilled water. Additional snacks, such as crisps and chocolate bars, soft drinks and other beverages, can be purchased at additional cost from the onboard bar. Speaking of the bar, OceanQuest is licensed and alcoholic beverages are available for sale, including beer, wine and cider. However, please note that once you have consumed alcohol you will not be permitted to enter the water again until the following day. The purchase of drinks and snacks is in addition to the price and the cost will be added to your room tab, which will be settled every day before lunch. Credit cards and cash are accepted.
Dietary requirements can be catered too with advance notice. Letting the team at the Dive Centre know during your pool and theory days is a great idea.
For the Great Barrier Reef component of your dive course, you should bring all of your clothing and swimwear (including warm clothes for the evening). A shower towel is provided in your cabin, but please bring an extra ocean towel. Also bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, toiletries and reusable water bottle, plus seasickness medication (if you need it). All dive equipment is provided and included and onboard OceanQuest.
Sleeping bags, pillows, extra luggage (can be safely stored at the Divers Den office at check in). Extra shoes. You will not be wearing shoes on the boat.
This Divers Den Cairns liveaboard Open Water Diver course starts every day of the week, except Wednesdays. It takes 5 days to complete. The first 2 days are in Cairns, completing theory and pool practice sessions, with the next 3 days and 2 nights spent at the Great Barrier Reef. Dive Instructor to Student ratio are kept small at 10 to 1 for pool / theory days and 8 to 1 on Great Barrier Reef dives. The Divers Den dive training centre is located at 319 Draper Street, Parramatta Park, Cairns city. City accommodation transfers are provided and included. Days 3, 4 and 5 are at the Great Barrier Reef, transfers to and from Cairns are provided and included. Please note: The itinerary below is based on the usual course schedule and is provided as a guide only. The timing and number of training dives completed each day may change due to weather, sea conditions or operational requirements. All 4 required open water training dives will be provided as part of the course. You have the opportunity to participate in an additional 4 certified dives in conjunction with the price. No refund or discount is provided should you choose not to do these dives.
Theory and Pool Training. The course gets underway at the Divers Den’s Dive Centre, which is located at 319 Draper St, Parramatta Park, Cairns. City accommodation transfers are available if required. Lunch is not included, so bring money for this.
Meeting your Dive Instructor and fellow dive students. Participating in the diver training pool sessions.
If you require transfers from your Cairns city accommodation, these commence at 9am and must be confirmed at the time of booking. This morning you start to learn some of the theory of scuba diving, in the air conditioned classrooms. Learning is guided by your Dive Instructor with videos and quizzes. This afternoon you practice scuba skills in the heated pool and complete the necessary 10 minute tread water test. There is a lunch break and lunch is at your own expense. You can bring it with you, with kitchen facilities at the Dive Centre, or purchase at nearby places. The first day ends around 5.30pm. Make sure you bring swimwear, a towel and money for lunch. Your Certified Dive Medical and passport or Australian Driver’s License.
Pool Training and Exams. This morning it’s back into the heated pool, to continue practicing your scuba skills and completing the 200m swim test. All theory and pool work completed today.
Practising dive skills in the heated pool and completing academic work with a multiple choice exam. This day prepares you for tomorrow’s trip to the Great Barrier Reef, where you complete training dives in the open ocean.
Pick-ups are available from Cairns city accommodation and commence at 9am. This morning you continue practising dive skills in the heated pool and complete the 200m swim test. This afternoon you complete your theory and end with a multiple choice exam. There is a lunch break and as per yesterday, lunch is at your own expense. Make sure you bring swimwear and a towel, sunscreen and money for lunch.
Great Barrier Reef. Check in at the Divers Den’s Dive Centre, for a shuttle transfer to the Marlin Marina. 8.30am Depart Cairns for your overnight trip to the Great Barrier Reef.
Scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Today you will complete 3 training dives on the reef and spend your first night on the reef.
If you require transfers from your Cairns city accommodation, these commence at 7.30am and must be confirmed at the time of booking. You will first head to the Dive Centre, with transfers from there to Marlin Marina. The boat departs Cairns at 8.30am and during the 90 minute journey to the reef, your Dive Instructor will provide dive briefings. This morning you will complete 1 training dive, followed by lunch at 12pm. You will complete another training dive before transferring from Divers Den’s day boat, to their liveaboard boat. Your third training dive is completed this afternoon. Make sure you bring: All clothing and swimwear required for the trip, including warm layers for evenings. 1 x towel (for ocean use – bed linen and bath towel are provided in the cabin), a hat, sunscreen, toiletries, seasickness medication and a refillable personal drink bottle. Please note OceanQuest is a licensed boat. Beverages can be purchased at additional cost at the saloon. There is no BYO. You can NOT drink and dive. Any drinking will be at the completion of your training dives for the day.
Great Barrier Reef. Wake up to watch the sunrise over the Coral Sea. Today you complete your dive training and have the chance to start your adventures as a certified diver!
Becoming a certified PADI Open Water Diver! Today you will complete your training dives with your Dive Instructor and become a certified diver. This accomplishment means you can buddy dive anywhere in the world to a maximum depth of 18m. There is also the option for 1 night dive.
OceanQuest runs to a tight daily schedule. A hot and cold breakfast is served at 7.30am. Afterwards, it’s into the water for your fourth and final training dive at 8.30am. With a handshake underwater your training is now complete and you are a certified diver. At 10.30am you have the opportunity to do your first unguided buddy dive. Lunch is served at 12.30pm. You have the opportunity to take another certified dive at 3.30pm. Dinner is served at 6pm and at 6.30pm you have the chance to try a Night Dive. Please note this is not compulsory: all night dives are guided at $20 per diver, which is in addition to the course and trip cost.
Great Barrier Reef. It’s your last day at the Great Barrier Reef with the opportunity for 2 more certified dives.
Chance for 2 certified dives before leaving the Great Barrier Reef! Also wake up early for a spectacular sunrise over the Coral Sea, it’s an amazing time of day on the water.
OceanQuest runs to a tight daily schedule. A hot and cold breakfast is served at 7.30am and afterwards, there’s time for 2 certified dives. This concludes your water time at the Great Barrier Reef. Lunch served at 12.30pm and at 2.30pm you transfer back to the Divers Den day boat, which takes you back to Cairns. You arrive back around 5pm.
The minimum age to participate in a PADI Open Water Diver course is 10 years old. However, if your child is younger than 12 years old, Divers Den will want you to pay additional costs for a private dive instructor.
This Divers Den PADI Open Water course takes 5 days to complete. The first 2 days are classroom learning and pool training at their Cairns dive centre. The final 3 days and 2 nights are at the Great Barrier Reef, staying overnight on their liveaboard vessel OceanQuest. You will complete the necessary 4 open water training dives at the Great Barrier Reef and then have the opportunity to complete 4 unguided buddy dives as a certified diver. There’s also the option to participate in 1 Night Dive, which must be guided and costs an additional $20 per person payable onboard.
The 5 day / 2 night liveaboard option allows you to complete your 4 training dives and then enjoy an additional 4 dives as a certified diver. It’s a fabulous way to maximise your diving experience on the Great Barrier Reef. Additionally, staying overnight on the reef is an amazing experience. Sunset and sunrise over the Coral Sea is amazing. A liveaboard trip provides more time to focus on diving the reef, with less daily travelling.
No prior scuba diving experience is required. This is a complete entry-level PADI Open Water Diver course designed for beginners with no previous scuba diving experience. You will spend the first two days learning dive theory and practising skills in Divers Den’s heated training pool before completing four supervised training dives on the Great Barrier Reef. This is followed by the chance for 4 day dives and 1 night dive as a certified scuba diver.
Yes. You must be able to swim and be comfortable in the open ocean, which might have currents and waves. It is a PADI dive course requirement that you can swim 200m and tread water / float for 10 minutes. This is for your own safety and is a standard, international requirement for scuba divers. You will need to demonstrate this in the pool session component of your dive course.
You will complete 4 open water training dives on the Great Barrier Reef. These are completed under Dive Instructor supervision. You can then participate in an additional 4 day dives and 1 night dive as a certified diver. So a total of 9 dives included in the course.
OceanQuest operates at Outer Great Barrier Reef locations. They have moorings at Norman Reef, Saxon Reef and Hastings Reef. The exact reefs and dive sites are selected according to weather, sea conditions and diver comfort. OceanQuest will move during your time at sea, allowing you to explore multiple Great Barrier Reef dive sites.
Yes. After successfully completing the training dives and theory components, you will receive a PADI Open Water Diver certification, which allows you to dive anywhere in the world up to 18 metres depth with a dive buddy.
Yes everyone wanting to participate in this PADI Open Water Diver Course will need to complete a self-assessment Dive Medical, which will indicate if further medical assessment is required. This can be downloaded here. Filling out the self-assessment questionnaire accurately is vital for your safety. If further assessment is required, you’ll need to get a doctor’s letter / medical clearance before you start the course, this clearance must be dated no older than 90 days before time of issue and time of course commencement.
*Please note: Scuba diving is a strenuous activity and some health conditions, such as asthma, epilepsy, high blood pressure, chronic sinus issues and more, will prevent you from learning to dive. This is for your safety.
No. Scuba diving is not recommended during pregnancy. You can not learn to scuba dive if you are pregnant.
The liveaboard course price includes rental of all scuba diving equipment, PADI training materials, Dive Instructor supervision, pool training sessions and the 3 day / 2 night Great Barrier Reef trip, staying overnight on OceanQuest. All meals and linen are included in the 3 days at the Great Barrier Reef, including chilled water, tea and coffee. Additional snacks and beverages may be purchased but are at an additional cost. Please note: No meals are beverages are included in the 2 x days in Cairns, where you complete theory and pool practice sessions. This must be purchased and arranged at your own expense.
The 5 day / 2 night liveaboard dive course includes 3 days and 2 nights at the Great Barrier Reef, staying on the Divers Den liveaboard boat OceanQuest. It has air conditioned cabins which all have their own ensuite. Linen and a bath towel are included. You will visit several different Cairns Outer Great Barrier Reef sites, during your time at sea.
Yes. Solo travellers can book this course. You will meet other students during the classroom, pool and reef components. Twin and quad-share accommodation may be available aboard OceanQuest, subject to cabin allocation. This is on a first in, best dressed basis.
A certified diver can book an OceanQuest liveaboard package for the same dates, subject to availability. You will not be able to dive with the training group. However, once your dive student companion has become certified, you can do buddy dives together. This allows you to really share your Great Barrier Reef diving experience with your friend and/or family members.
Non-divers and certified divers may also stay aboard OceanQuest, subject to availability and the package they book. This can make the course suitable for couples or families, where only one person is completing dive training. However, your schedules and in-water activities will differ while course training is underway. Once training is completed, you may buddy dive with your certified diving companion. Snorkelling from OceanQuest is excellent, for non-diving companions / family members. In this instance, you can buddy dive with another certified diving passenger, most likely someone from your course.
Divers Den also runs Open Water Diver courses where the 4 training dives are completed across 2 consecutive Great Barrier Reef day trips (instead of the overnight liveaboard). You will still complete the required course dives, but you will return to Cairns between the two reef days rather than staying overnight. You could then book additional day tours to participate in additional certified dives. This would be at extra cost to the 4 day course.
We strongly recommend booking your Divers Den liveaboard PADI Open Water Diver course as soon as you know your dates. OceanQuest does sell out, particularly during school holidays, so if you have cabin preferences or set dates, book as soon as you can.
Your Dive Instructor will provide additional guidance, time and support where needed. Divers Den is committed to supporting their dive students and have successfully certified over 150,000 divers. You are in safe, professional hands.
All seasickness medication is a prevention not a cure. If you’re worried about getting seasick, then it’s best to take the medication before getting on the boat. There’s lots of options and considerations to ensure you can still have the best time. We know, because we get seasick; which is why we’ve written a post on our top tips to prevent seasickness.
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