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Get 'certified' on
the Great Barrier Reef! |
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Australia, the ‘lucky country’, is blessed with
numerous natural wonders, but few are as awesome as the Great
Barrier Reef. It covers about 217,000 square miles of the
southern Pacific Ocean and includes more than 2,900 individual
reefs and 71 coral cays. Under the water’s surface it supports
an amazing concentration of life – more than 1,500 species of
fish, 350 different kinds of coral, 4,000 species of mollusks
and 10,000 species of sponges!
If you have always wanted to learn to dive, this is the ideal
opportunity. See the Great Barrier Reef and get coached by some
of the best dive instructors in a safe and clean environment.
Instruction starts in the familiar surrounding of a swimming
pool and then progresses to a live-aboard dive boat on the Reef.
Water temperatures range from 71°-82°, providing the perfect
climate for diving. So what are you waiting for - go diving
Downunder and emerge at the end of the trip with your PADI GOLD
Open Water Certificate, which will literally open up a new
underwater world for you. |
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Instruction starts in a pool before
continuing in the ocean
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Day 1
Check into your hotel in Cairns and spend the
rest of the day at your leisure, exploring Australia's tropical haven. It is a beautiful
city with a balmy climate and a backdrop of palms and cloud-topped mountains. |
Days 2 & 3
You will be met at your hotel and then
transferred to the dive center for registration and commencement of training. This is an
ultra modern - purpose built diver training center with a 13’ deep pool. Mornings are
spent in a classroom, learning the theory of scuba diving. After a break for lunch,
medical exams will take place, and then it is in to the pool to put the theory into
practice. Experienced instructors will be teaching and assisting you as you learn the
fundamentals. Complimentary bus shuttle back to your hotel is available. More classes and
pool practice awaits you the next day. |
Days
4 & 5
An early hotel pick up is scheduled on Day 4, as
you are transferred to the Marina for two full days of diving on the Reef. After sailing
to some of the outer reefs, exclusive to your group, complete 9 dives over two days - 4
qualifying dives and 5 recreational dives. A highlight of day five is a guided night dive
(optional). Visit various locations selected for the extravagance of their exotic marine
life. View magnificent hard and soft corals, giant clams, turtles, stingrays and a huge
variety of tropical fish, both large and small. You will be living aboard the boat for
these two nights. |
Day 6
The boat returns to Cairns today at approx. 4
PM, where a graduation ceremony will be held to present you with your diving certificate.
Your accommodation tonight is back at your Cairns hotel. |
Day 7
Today is yours at leisure again to explore some
of the surrounding regions such as the rainforest village of Kuranda or simply relaxing on
one of the many beautiful beaches. |
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| Accommodations |
Your accommodation in Cairns is
at the Cairns
Village Hotel. Your
accommodation on the cruise will be one of two 21-meter fully equipped dive vessels. It is
air-conditioned, and equipped with night floodlights, 'ship-to-shore' radios and mobile
phones. Each vessel carries 4 crewmembers - a skipper, a dive master, dive instructor and
a cook. Maximum number of passengers ranges between 18 and 25. Cabins will be shared
between 2 and 8 people, and all lines are provided. |
| Meals |
All meals on the 3-day, 2-night cruise are included. No
other meals are included. |
| Suitable For |
No prior experience is required since this is an
instructional tour. You must be able to swim and pass a medical exam. A history of
Asthma may excluded you from scuba diving. The minimum age requirement is 12 years.
Although this is a dive instruction trip, snorkelers and certified divers are welcome to
join. |
| What to Bring |
- All personal items for 7 days
- Swimming gear and beach towel
- Sun hat and sun screen
- Comfortable, non-slip shoes for the dive vessel
- Camera (You might also like to try out an underwater camera
!)
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Tour Cost
(valid till 3/07) |
- US$759 per person, based on twin share accommodation
(if both take up the dive course)
- US$599 for a non-diving companion
(including accommodation and meals on the live aboard dive boat)
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| Included |
- 4 nights' accommodation in Cairns
- 5-day Learn to Dive Course including 2 nights live aboard
on a dive vessel, 9 dives, meals while on dive vessel, all equipment.
- Internationally recognized PADI GOLD Open Water Certificate
- Hotel transfers in Cairns
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| Not Included |
Meals other than on the dive vessel, Medical exam at $26,
extra touring in Cairns in your own leisure time and all other personal expenses |
| Departures |
Operates on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays. |
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Learn to Dive
7-Day Certification Course: From Cairns |
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