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.

In the evening you will attend the Reef Teach presentation (18.30), an insight into the magical world of the coral reef and a great theoretical introduction to the underwater world for your upcoming diving adventure.

Note: Participants should arrive at the hostel by 16.00 in time for the briefing. Briefing time to be confirmed by your local host.

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: days 2 – 3 Open Water students only. Free time for all other participants.

Rescue Divers: your course commences on day 3 at the training centre with theory. Travel to the Great Barrier Reef on day 4 and complete your course over the next 3 days.

Day 4 – 6 Great Barrier Reef (Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Nitrox, Rescue courses *)

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, Nitrox and Rescue students will do their respective courses during this trip. Certified divers have the option of doing a live aboard trip incl. 10 recreational dives. *No dinner on day 6.

Day 7 – 10 Great Barrier Reef Day trip – Reef Conservation tasks

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 designated Eco-guide you will undertake a selection of activities each day while diving (2 x dives per day), being 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). Optionally you may also carry out Coral Watch surveys while snorkelling. 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 07.30am and return to Cairns late afternoon. Free time each afternoon. (B,L)

Day 11 Fitzroy Island – Cairns Turtle Rehab Centre

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)

Today is the end of your tour. Check out and transfer to the airport for your onward or homeward journey. Safe Travels! (B)

Inclusions:

• Accommodation at Gilligans Backpacker Resort (or similar):
  • Options 1 – 3: 9 nights dorm accommodation
• Meals as noted in the program (B,L,D)
• 2-hour Reef Teach educational session
• Dive course as stipulated in options 1 – 3. 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 Marine Conservation tasks
• Project AWARE Specialist Card (all participants)
• Number of dives:
  • Open Water Course + Passions of Paradise: 17 dives on the Great Barrier Reef (pending weather conditions)
  • Advanced Open Water Course/ Nitrox + Passions of Paradise: 19 dives on the Great Barrier Reef (pending weather conditions)
  • Rescue Course + Passions of Paradise: 19 dives on the Great Barrier Reef (pending weather conditions. Rescue Course is subject to availability)
• Day trip to Fitzroy Island and visit at the turtle hospital, with hands-on activities (subject to availability on the day)
• Conservation program participant certificate and t-shirt
• 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 and CPR 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 starts on day 1, being a 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 (approx. AUD$95 per night)

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.)

Payment & Cancellation policy

• 30% 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