Eye on the Reef
Great Barrier Reef conservation
Great Barrier Reef Conservation Program
No Limit Adventures has teamed up with Passions of Paradise to offer our Marine Conservation Program run on the Great Barrier Reef. Passions of Paradise is a leading scuba diving and outer reef operator in Cairns with a high commitment to environmental sustainability. Combine the adventure of scuba diving with the opportunity to help the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) monitor and identify reef health indicators on the Great Barrier Reef.
Our Great Barrier Reef Conservation program has been developed to allow people with little to moderate reef experience to be involved in the Great Barrier Reef conservation effort. Assisting us with an established GBRMPA monitoring program called “Eye on the Reef – Rapid Monitoring” your efforts will help a dedicated team of Marine Biologists and other industry professionals in monitoring long term coral health on the Great Barrier Reef.
No Limit Adventures and our partners will be working together to ensure each marine conservation volunteer walks away with a great deal of self-fulfilment from participating in our unique Great Barrier Reef Conservation program, involving diving, adventure and volunteering, on the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns. Your involvement will contribute to the reef’s long-term protection and provide GBRMPA with additional data helping to identify and monitor reef health indicators.
Become part of our dedicated team and make a genuine contribution to marine conservation and care for the Great Barrier Reef. Your efforts will make a difference for future generations.
“The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem and includes over 3000 separate coral reefs and supports an immense variety of life!”
Itinerary
Day 1 Welcome to Cairns
Arrive to tropical Cairns and transfer to you hostel. Enjoy your day discovering Cairns by foot. Points of interest include a stroll along the Esplanade, the Botanic Gardens, a swim in the Lagoon, the port and the CBD. Group briefing late afternoon/ early evening at a time TBA.
Day 2 – 3 Open Water Course – Training Center
Over the next 2 days you will do the first part of your scuba diving adventure. Get picked up by the dive school early morning and transfer to the training center, where you will commence your theory on scuba diving with your qualified instructor. Put all the theory into use in the pool during your practical sessions where all your underwater skills are honed under the watchful eyes of your instructors. After lunch on day 2 it is time for your theory test and a briefing of the upcoming days out on the Great Barrier Reef. Transfer back to the hostel late afternoon each day. (B) (Note:
Note: days 2 – 3 Open Water students only. Free time for all other participants.
Day 4 – 6 Great Barrier Reef
Depart early morning on day 3 on your Great Barrier Reef dive adventure. Travel time to the first dive site is approx. 3 hours. After arriving get briefed by your dive instructor and begin exploring the underwater world on this magnificent natural wonder. Over the 3 days you will do a total of 9 dives out of which 4 will be your final step to becoming an Open Water Diver along with 4 fun dives and 1 night dive. Return to Cairns late afternoon on day 5. Transfer to your hostel and free time. (B,L,D*)
Note:
Advanced Open Water and Nitrox students will do their course during this trip. Certified divers have the option of doing a live aboard trip incl. 10 recreational dives. *No dinner on day 6.
Rescue Divers: your course commences on day 4 at the training centre with theory. Travel to the Great Barrier Reef on day 5 and complete your course over the next 3 days. Rescue divers will return to Cairns on day 7, late afternoon.
Day 7 Cairns
Rest day. Enjoy a day off from the water. Optional activities in Cairns include rainforest tours, extreme activities like skydiving, bungy jumping, jet boating or Mountain Biking tours. Alternatively, just relax by the pool at the hostel or at the Lagoon. We highly recommend a trip to the Daintree National Park, discovering the waterfalls in the Cairns Highlands or some of the suggested extreme activities. Rescue Divers finish their course today and return in the afternoon from the reef.
At 18:30 you will attend the Reef Teach presentation, an insight into the magical world of the coral reef. (B)
Day 8 – 11 Great Barrier Reef Conservation with Passions of Paradise
Over the next 4 days you will be onboard Passions of Paradise, a locally owned premier operator promoting sustainable day trips to the Great Barrier Reef to enhance your marine conservation experience. Under the guidance of your dedicated Eco-guide you will undertake a selection of activities each day while diving (2 x dives per day), being an introduction to Rapid Monitoring surveys and a species count to be entered into Great Barrier Reef Marine Park’s Eye on the Reef Sighting’s Network (number of activities could vary depending on conditions). As a PADI dive centre, Passions of Paradise has the ability to offer divers and snorkelers special recognition for their conservation efforts during your conservation experience. Utilising the Project AWARE foundation, you will receive a certificate of recognition for your contributions to protecting the world’s marine environment with an AWARE Coral Reef Conservation recognition and/or a Project AWARE Specialist recognition. Each day you will need to check in at the Reef Fleet Terminal by 0730am and return to Cairns late afternoon. Free time each afternoon. (B,L)
Day 12 Fitzroy Island
This morning you transfer by ferry to Fitzroy Island, 45 minutes from Cairns, where you will meet the volunteers working at the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre on the island. You will assist the team with a Rapid Monitoring Survey on the local reef and then learn about the work done by this organization, meet some of the patients and, possibly, go behind the scenes to lend a helping hand. Free time in the afternoon to do one of the walks on the island, relax on the beach or swim and snorkel. Return to Cairns approx. 17:45 and free time. (B)
Day 13 Cairns
Today is the end of your tour. Check out and transfer to the airport for your onward or homeward journey. Safe Travels! (B)
ONE-DAY GREAT BARRIER REEF CONSERVATION OPTION FOR CERTIFIED DIVERS
Become a Marine Conservationist for a day. Join the program for one day between days 7 – 10. Complete two Rapid Monitoring surveys under water and get your PADI Project AWARE Specialty onboard Passions of Paradise.
Prices:
- AUD$3190 per person (incl. either Open Water or Advanced Open Water Dive courses)
- AUD$3290 per person (incl. Nitrox course)
- AUD$3390 per person (incl. Rescue Diver course)
- AUD$3490 per person (incl. Advanced Open Water + Nitrox course)
- AUD$2190 per person (program for Certified Divers, starting day 7 and not including any of the above dive courses)
- AUD$395 per person (option for Certified Divers joining the program for ONE day between days 8-11.)
(Prices valid until 31 December 2018 | Prices inclusive of GST | Prices are based on min. 4/ max. 8 pax per group)
Inclusions:
- Accommodation at Gilligans Backpacker Resort (or similar):
- Options 1 – 4: 10 nights dorm accommodation
- Option 2: 5 nights dorm accommodation if arriving on day 7 (Certified Divers)
- Option 3: 1 night dorm accommodation for participants joining the program for one day
- Meals as noted in the program (B,L,D)
- 2-hour Reef Teach educational session
- Dive course as stipulated in options 1 – 4. All dive courses include 3 day/ 2 night live aboard reef trip
- 4 x day trips on Passions of Paradise with a dedicated reef conservation guide doing Eye on the Reef – Rapid Monitoring and other Great Barrier Reef Conservation tasks
- Project AWARE Specialist Card (all participants)
- Number of dives:
- Option 1: 17 dives on the Great Barrier Reef (pending weather conditions)
- Option 2: 19 dives on the Great Barrier Reef (pending weather conditions)
- Option 3: 18 dives on the Great Barrier Reef (pending weather conditions)
- Option 4: 19 dives on the Great Barrier Reef (pending weather conditions)
- Option 2: 8 dives for Certified Divers arriving on day 7
- Option 3: 2 dives for participants joining the program for one day
- Day trip to Fitzroy Island and visit at the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, with hands-on activities (subject to change)
- Great Barrier Reef Conservation program participant certificate and t-shirt (all participants)
- Tour coordination and assistance by No Limit Adventures
Exclusions:
- International and domestic flights
- Visa fees to Australia (if applicable)
- Airport transfers (see Note)
- Reef taxes and levies (approx. $80 for the 3D/2N reef trip and $20/ day with Passions of Paradise. TOTAL Reef Fees: AUD$160)
- Dive medical costs (if required)
- First Aid Certificate cost (only required by participants doing Rescue Dive Course)
- Costs of personal nature
- Optional activities
Note:
- Dive Course only – Prior to commencing your dive course you are required to complete a self-assessment Student Diver Medical Declaration. A positive response to any question means that there is a pre-existing condition that 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 that you are fit to undertake recreational diver training.
- Dive medicals and medical clearance to dive are the responsibility of the participant.
- Rescue Diver course commences on Sundays and finishes on Wednesdays.
- Program start days: Day 1 should be a Thursday | Day 7 Wednesday
- Gilligan’s offers all guests a free one way airport transfer from Cairns airport to the hostel between the hours of 8am to 8pm. For those wanting to take the FREE airport transfer please go to bus bay 6 outside the domestic and international terminals. A booking is required – to do this please go to https://cairnsairportshuttle.com.au/bookings/ and use discount code gilarr57 to ensure you are not charged for the transfer. Maximum of 7 passengers per booking. Please remember to print or save your ticket to present to the bus driver.
- Single room upgrades available at the hostel, pending availability and at extra cost
Monitoring Program Tasks:
Participants will be required to complete the following set tasks on each set dive:
- Timed swim (minimum 10 minutes on each dive) – underwater monitoring and species count on the Great Barrier Reef (i.e. corals, marine life species).
- 360-degree survey of sea bed on the dive site – Objective is to clearly identify the animals and plants observed in each section – (macro-algae, live coral, live coral rock, coral rubble and sand).
- Recording of any impacts on coral being observed (i.e. coral bleaching or damage noticed).
(Personalised departures are available anytime upon request with a min. of 4 pax.)
Follow us on Social Media – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter!
Program partners
Program run in strict cooperation with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks Authority
Payment & Cancellation policy:
- 25% deposit required to secure place
- Full payment must be made no later than 31 days before program commencement
- No refunds within 30 days of program commencement
- Cancellations made within 31 – 42 days will incur a 50% cancellation fee of total price
- Cancellations made 42 – 60 days will be charged an administration fee of AUD$150
- No shows will incur 100% cancellation fee
Operator Cancellation:
No Limit Adventures reserves the right to cancel any departure up to 30 days before the commencement date in case of participant cancellations or not attaining min. numbers.
Deposits will be refunded in such an instance.
No Limit Adventures takes no responsibility for any travel arrangements made outside of the inclusions of the Marine Conservation program.
marine conservation volunteer, great barrier reef conservation, volunteering Cairns, learn to dive great barrier reef, diving conservation program, marine conservation program Great Barrier Reef Cairns, turtle conservation Cairns