PADI 5 Day Learn to Dive (Liveaboard) Cairns, Great Barrier Reef

from $1200 AUD

About your PADI 5 Day Learn to Dive (Livebaoard) Cairns, Great Barrier Reef

About Your Trip with Pro Dive Cairns

Ready to become a certified scuba diver? The five-day PADI Open Water course offers the perfect mix of adventure and the chance to explore the stunning Great Barrier Reef. With warm waters, minimal current, and excellent visibility year-round, it’s an ideal spot to learn.

The course starts with two days of pool and classroom training in Cairns, at our five-star PADI training centre. Here, you’ll master dive theory and essential skills in our state-of-the-art, four-metre-deep training pool. The final three days are spent aboard a liveaboard on the Outer Great Barrier Reef, where you’ll complete four training dives to earn your certification and enjoy five recreational dives, including an exhilarating night dive.

Trip Overview

Pro Dive Cairns operates at 19 exclusive dive sites across four spectacular reefs: Flynn, Thetford, Milln, and Pellowe. You’ll encounter a vibrant array of marine life, from giant clams and sea turtles to reef sharks and colourful coral formations.

Onboard, relax in comfort with air-conditioned cabins, spacious decks, and catered meals, ensuring a personalised experience with small group sizes and attentive staff. Courses start daily, except Sunday, offering a memorable way to get certified and explore the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. The great thing about Pro Dive’s operation is you depart Cairns staying with the same group and crew for the duration of the three days cruising the Great Barrier Reef. At the end of your trip after spending three amazing days together, you have the opportunity to regroup for a farewell dinner. A perfect way to end your trip that will leave you with lifelong memories.

 

Highlights

  • Pro Dive Cairns PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre with an International reputation for producing quality, professional and value for money dive programs
  • 2 Days of quality training at a state-of-the-art facility and dive instructors – Theory is completed using PADI eLearning (online) though still completed in a classroom environment with your Dive Instructor
  • Dive program allows for additional fun dives so you can practise your new underwater skills helping you build your confidence
  • Experiencing a night dive for the first time
  • Dive program offers you early morning dives, midday dives, late afternoon and night dives so you will get to see the Great Barrier Reef over a 24-hour cycle
  • Make new friends
  • Opportunity to complete additional courses and speciality dives
  • Visit several different dive locations over the three days

 

What to Bring

Day 1 & 2 at the Training Centre

  • Swimwear, Towel, Marine safe sunscreen
  • Money for lunch
  • Dive medical if required (please contact us if you are not sure)
  • Passport or Australian driver’s licence

Day 3, 4 & 5 on the Great Barrier Reef

  • Clothing and swimwear, warm clothes for the evening
  • 2 x towels (ocean/shower)
  • Sun hat
  • Marine-safe sunscreen & toiletries
  • Seasickness medication
  • Shoes are not necessary
  • Alcoholic beverages if you would like a drink in the evening

Please do not bring sleeping bags, pillows and extra luggage (luggage can be stored securely at our retail shop)


Inclusions

  • 9 Dives (4 training dives and 5 pleasure dives – inc one night dive)
  • Dive insurance
  • Padi Gold Open Water Certification
  • PADI Open Water manual
  • Dive log book

Vessel Amenities

  • Air-conditioned cabins and saloons
  • 14 twin bunk bed cabins and 2 double bed cabins (enquire on booking)
  • All bedding supplied
  • Freshly prepared meals
  • Hot freshwater showers
  • Spacious dive and sundeck
  • Twin 240v power outlets in each cabin

Food and Drinks

  • Fully catered, buffet style, freshly prepared meals
  • Unlimited tea, coffee and Milo
  • A limited range of different dietary requirements can be catered for; please enquire with our reservations team for specifics before your trip
  • We recommend gluten intolerant or vegan guests bring snacks that don’t require refrigeration
  • No bottled water is kept on board; personal drink bottles and filtered chilled water is available
  • Soft drinks, fruit juice and chocolate bars are available at additional cost

Extras

$90 – Marine Park Levies Levy per person (paid directly to operator at check-in)

 


Pricing Tables

Pricing 2024/25. Course starts in Cairns every day, except Sunday.
Option Cost
5 Day Learn to Dive $1,200.00
Tax & Levy - $90 (pricing per person)

Full Itinerary

It is recommended to check in and have all your dive/snorkel equipment organised and fill out any necessary paperwork before the morning of your departure. Pro Dive’s retail shop is located on the corner of Grafton and Shields streets (Cairns City). The shop is open 7 days a week, from9:30am to 7:00pm.

Days 1 & 2 – Pool & Theory at Cairns Training Centre

Day 1: Academic & Pool Training
8:00 Complimentary hotel transfer
Available from Cairns city and Northern Beaches hotels/hostels

8:30 Check in at Pro Dive Cairns training centre
Located at 116 Spence Street

8:45 Course starts
Academic training begins in the classroom – All theory is now done via the PADI eLearning online system. You will have access to your eLearning account to complete your required modules prior to starting your dive course. Students can complete the modules during the allotted time on Day 1 and 2 of the course with their instructor to discuss any questions. You will need to have with you a Mobile Phone, Laptop or iPad to access your PADI eLearning.

12:30 Lunch break
Lunch is not provided

13:30 Pool training
Practical dive training begins

17:30 Complimentary return transfer
Return transfer to your accommodation

Day 2

7:30 Complimentary hotel transfer
Available from Cairns city and Northern Beaches hotels/hostels

08:00 Equipment briefing
Hands-on scuba gear walk through with instructors.

9:15 Pool training

12:00 Lunch break
Lunch is not provided

13:15 Gear up at the Pro Dive Cairns retail shop
Dive equipment fitting for the liveaboard trip

14:00 Final academic training session and exam

17:45 Complimentary return transfer
Return transfer to your accommodation

Day 3

6:00 Complimentary hotel transfer
Available from Cairns city and Northern Beaches hotels/hostels

6:20 Check in at Pro Dive Cairns retail shop
Corner of Shields & Grafton Streets, Cairns City

7:00 Depart Cairns for 3 days & 2 nights on The Great Barrier Reef
Light breakfast served on board

11:00 Dive 1: Training dive
On the Great Barrier Reef

12:30 Lunch

14:30 Dive 2: Training dive

16:30 Snorkelling opportunity

18:00 Dinner

19:45 Watch the night dive
Watch the certified divers participating in the first night dive of the trip

Day 4

7:00 Dive 3: Training dive
First dive of the day, before breakfast

9:00 Breakfast

11:15 Dive 4: Training dive
This will be the last training dive for Open Water certification

12:45 Lunch

15:15 Dive 5
First dive as a newly certified scuba diver

17:45 Dinner

19:30 Dive 6: Night dive
Guided night dive experience for all newly certified divers

Day 5

06:30 Dive 7
Your first dive of the day – a sunrise dive to enjoy the reef waking up.

7:30 Breakfast

9:00 Dive 8

11:00 Dive 9
The last dive of the trip, finished by 1200 noon

12:00 Lunch
Last lunch on The Great Barrier Reef before returning to Cairns

16:00 Complimentary return transfer
Return transfer to your accommodation

19:30 Farewell dinner (optional, additional cost)
Join fellow passengers and crew at a local restaurant for a farewell dinner


FAQ

Prior to commencing your dive course, you are required to complete the self-assessment Student Diver Medical Declaration. A positive response to any questions indicates there is a pre-existing condition which may affect your safety while diving and you must consult a medical practitioner, preferably with experience in diving medicine, to obtain a dive medical certificate that states you are medically fit to dive. Medical must be complete within 90 days of starting your dive course. To obtain a copy of the form please contact us. We recommend that you do not fly within 24 hours of diving. The earliest you should fly is 12 pm (midday) on the day after your trip concludes.
The minimum age to learn to dive in Queensland is 10. There is no maximum age.
It is a dive course requirement that you be able to swim 200 metres or snorkel 300 metres and tread water/float for 10 minutes.
You can cancel your learn to dive course for any reason up to the end of Day 1 of the course and receive a full refund of all money paid. There is no refund for any reason after this time. If you have booked through a travel agent cancellation fees may apply. We recommend that all customers have travel insurance. The number of dives may vary subject to weather and/or other unforeseen circumstances.

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