4-Day PADI Open Water Dive Course: Exploring the Great Barrier Reef

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef with a 4-day PADI Open Water Dive Course. Learn to dive and earn an internationally recognized certification while exploring the underwater wonders of Cairns. Limited class size, professional instructors, and hotel transfers included.

Duration: 4 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • 287 Draper St - 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.

What's Included
  • Learn dive theory with classroom lessons and practice in pool sessions
  • All fees and/or taxes
  • Lunch onboard Evolution days 3 and 4
  • Cairns City accommodation transfers every day
  • 1 x fun dive on the outer reef
  • 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
What's Not Included
  • Lunch on days 1 & 2
  • Accommodation
Additional Information

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!

  • 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
Location
287 Draper St
Draper Street
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(20 Ratings)
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W7230dtdouglast
Jul 15, 2024
Word-class experience - The 4-day open water PADI dive course was one of the best experiences I've had. Every aspect of the course was extremely high quality and professional, from the gorgeous boat and reefs to the hospitality of the instructor. Frankie was incredibly accommodating and went out of his way to ensure we had the best time possible, and the places he took us diving were incredibly beautiful. The course was also extremely good value for money. Couldn't recommend this experience to anyone more!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
H1079ebjamesf
Jul 8, 2024
'Frank'ly Amazing 🦈🪸🐟🐠 - All round amazing experience! Explored the Great Barrier Reef while also getting our PADI open water certification! 1. The first two days of practice and theory was well run with: - concise notes with digestable learning - practice dives with clear instructions and tailored advice 2. The two days out at the reef were fabulous with: - Tours to fantastic dive locations at Saxon and North Hastings Reef - Friendly and helpful crew - Great spread of food on board - Saw an array of aquatic life, my favourite was the white tipped reef sharks and giant clams. 3. Franky who ran the course was Frankly amazing. Honestly made the experience so worthwhile with great knowledge, patience and banter. If you go, I hope you get Franky! Highly recommend! 5 Star!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
837stormr
Jun 24, 2024
Excellent dive instructor. - I recently completed the PADI dive course with my 15 year old son. The course was well-structured and provided a thorough understanding of diving essentials. Our instructor Frankie, was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and supportive throughout the entire course. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in diving – it exceeded all my expectations!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
294franziskae
May 15, 2024
Open Water Dive Course - Learning how to dive with instructor Francesco and the team at Downunder Cruise and Dive was the best choice I could have made. The first two days consist of theory and exercises in the pool, day 3 and 4 are spent on the boat diving in two different beautiful reefs. I felt very comfortable and safe. The quality of the course is very high and the value for money compared to other providers is unbeatable in my opinion. The passion of the whole team and especially of Frankie is definitely transferred to the students and gives you unforgettable moments underwater. I highly recommend doing your Open Water Diver here. I had an amazing time and would always do it again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robinso5708kz
Mar 13, 2024
Open water course with Franky and Freddie - We did our open water PADI course with down under dive. The 4 day course includes everything and more to become a great diver. Our amazing instructors Franky and Freddy did a great job teaching, finding the perfect mix of fun and engaging learning, while also maintaining a professional atmosphere. Even tough our two days out on the reef were accompanied with some very rough conditions, all the crew, Frankie and everyone else involved made the best of it and we had a lovely time. We leave Cairns with our certificate and a bag full of new great memories. Thanks Frankie and Freddie plus all of the crew for this unforgettable time! Robin&Alle
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Richardsd3384yz
Mar 2, 2024
Frankie is the best! - We had the most amazing time diving in the stunningly beautiful Great Barrier Reef. We were extremely lucky to get the most amazing teacher Frankie with 15+ years of experience. The theory part on the mornings of the first and the second day was extremely well structured, and he explained it all perfectly. He is also just a super fun person with great energy. During the dives he made us feel save the whole time. We practiced step by step what to do when something goes wrong to the point that I feel like we could master any problem on our own now. If you want to learn scuba diving I can't imagine a better way. Thank you so much!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Samuel_s
Feb 26, 2024
Great Instructor! - Frankly 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!!!
Review provided by Viator
Tobiasneb
Feb 10, 2024
It was a good decision to get my diving licence there - Frankie was an amazing diving instructor! His expertise and teaching style made me feel perfectly prepared. The diving session with the team of five people was a great experience and we all had a lot of fun. I highly recommend Frankie and his team!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
933katharinaj
Jan 22, 2024
AMAZING!!! Best Dive Course! - The dive course was just amazing! Franci was my dive instructor and I had the best time in the course, both during my dives and during the time on the boat and school. During the dives, we practiced some skills but spent most of the time exploring the Great Barrier Reef at two different locations. We saw dolphins, turtles, sharks, and soo many beautiful fish and corals. Franki knew all the good spots and we were able to get really close to sharks which was amazing. Apart from that, the theory lessons were really fun and the time on the boat was great. We could eat as much as we wanted (for free), snorkel (for free) or lay on the sun deck when we were not diving and got wine at the end of the trips. Moreover, the crew was so nice and helpful, the energy was amazing and there was a professional photographer capturing everything on board and in the water. It was by far the best thing I‘ve done while traveling Australia! 11/10 recommended!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robert_o
Nov 6, 2023
Unparalleled experience - Down 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.
Review provided by Viator
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September 2024
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