Dive & Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef

Congratulations on your decision to take a PADI 'Learn to Dive' course.

Cairns has several reputable companies to choose from and each has the advantage of learning to dive on the Great Barrier Reef!

You may choose to complete your PADI Open Water Diver course over four, five or six days. The difference between the courses is the amount of diving possible after you are certified as a PADI Open Water Diver.

All PADI Open Water Courses (Learn to dive)that we offer in Cairns are structured as outlined in the steps below, followed by 'fun dives' - no more training, simply diving for fun without the direct supervision of an instructor.

The longer the course, the more dives are offered. The six day course also incorporates the PADI Advanced Course immediately after the PADI Open Water Course.

The PADI Open Water Course is split into 3 easy steps:

Learn to Dive Step 1

5 x theory sessions.
Each session involves instructor tuition, videos, quizzes. There is also a final exam.
This is usually combined with step 2, both steps combined usually take 2 days in total.

Learn to Dive Step 2

5 x pool sessions.
You must be able to swim 200m and tread water for 10 minutes.
Here you learn all the skills required to become a certified diver in the comfort and safety of a swimming pool environment.
This is usually combined with step 1, both steps combined usually take 2 days in total.

Learn to Dive Step 3

4 x training dives on the Great Barrier Reef, over 2 days.
Here you demonstrate all the skills you have learnt in the pool/classroom in the ocean. Upon successful completion of the 4 dives you are certified as a PADI Open Water Diver!!!!

Choose from the following options:

• 4 Day PADI Open Water Diver Course
• 5 Day PADI Open Water Diver Course
• 6 Day PADI Open Water Diver Course

Referrals

Referral Courses can be done if you have completed your pool and theory dive training at home (step 1 & 2) at your local dive shop. Once you come to Australia you can then finish your training dives (step 3) aboard Liveaboard dive vessels or day dive vessels. This is a great option if you don't want to spend two days of your holiday with pool and classroom training.
This option is known as a referral.

• Referrals

A medical will be required for ALL Learn to Dive Courses.

Special note regarding medicals:

All dive medicals from overseas will NOT be accepted unless they state they are to Australian Standard AS4005.1

Generally most students pass the Medical Examination without any difficulty. There are however, some CONTRA -INDICATIONS for scuba diving. If you have ever suffered from any of the following conditions, you are unlikely to pass the medical examination in Australia:

• PNEUMOTHORAX
• EPILEPSY
• HEART SURGERY
• DIABETES REQUIRING INSULIN
• ASTHMA
• Or if you are currently PREGNANT

This medical examination must be conducted along the guidelines of Australian Standard AS4005.1. If you or your doctor require a copy of this standard, please click here.

To see an example of a dive medical form used here, please click here.

All PDF information sheets are Adobe Acrobat format.
If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader you can download it for free from Adobe.

www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html