Outer Great Barrier Reef Day Trip for Introductory Divers aboard SeaQuest ADV

Learning to scuba dive? Take an introductory diving cruise to the Great Barrier Reef for an incredible underwater experience. You’ll receive pre-dive tuition, close underwater supervision, a PADI dive recognition card and a certificate signed by your instructor.

With tropical weather year-round, an abundance of marine life and warm water temperatures, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the best diving sites in the world for introductory divers.

This introductory diving program aboard the SeaQuest ADV is the perfect introduction to diving the reef – though please note that the PADI “Discover Scuba Diving” program is not a learn to dive course. Before embarking on your fascinating underwater tour, your qualified PADI instructor will guide you carefully through the routine paperwork, pre-dive tuition and in-water skills. On completion of your dive, you'll be presented with a PADI dive recognition card and a SeaQuest ADV certificate signed by your instructor.

The new SeaQuest ADV is an advanced, modern vessel, with a cruising speed of 25 knots. It carries a maximum of 60 passengers, and with an average 1:4 crew to passenger ratio you can be assured of receiving individual attention from the fully trained and experienced crew.

You’ll be served a tropical smorgasbord lunch on your dive trip, and complimentary tea and coffee are available throughout the day.

The SeaQuest ADV is a dedicated dive boat, and both experienced divers and learner divers are welcome. If you would prefer to snorkel, refer to 3220SQA1DSNORK; if you are a certified diver, please refer to 3220SQA1DCDIVE.

Schedule Details Departs: Daily Departure Point: Cruise departs from the Marlin Marina (Pier Marketplace) in Cairns Departure Time: Cruise departs at 8.30am, check in is half an hour prior to departure Hotel Pickup: Tour departs from centrally located Cairns, Palm Cove and Northern Beaches hotels. Please include the details of your hotel at the time of booking. Itinerary: Sample of Dive Sites

There are a number of permanent, private moorings at selected dive sites on reefs such as Norman, Saxon, Jorgies, Breaking Patches and Hastings. The choice of sites depends on the wind, tidal currents and visibility. Each dive site is distinctly different and offers an excellent opportunity to observe the spectacular coral formations and exotic marine life for which the Great Barrier Reef is so famous. Visitors can expect to see a wide variety of colorful fish including Coral Trout, Emperors, Clownfish, Barramundi, Parrotfish and Giant Maori Wrasse that grow to lengths of four feet. Many of the fish are quite tame and respond with curiosity to any human contact. Divers are also likely to see Turtles, Giant Tridacna Clams, Colorful Shrimp, Spanish Dancers, Octopus and Cuttlefish.

A favorite with most divers is Troppo Lounge. It was named for a large sand patch adjacent to the mooring. There is a coral wall at the northern edge of this site starting at a depth of 16 feet and dropping to 90. The wall has a number of interesting crevices and is ideally suited for swim throughs. The wall is loaded with both stony corals and colorful soft corals, as well as lobster and several morays. Divers are likely to spot white-tipped Reef Sharks and occasionally, a Bronze Whaler in the deeper zone of this reef.

Nearby is another mooring marking the location of Caves Mooring. This site is great for divers who love exploring the nooks and crannies of a complex coral reef structure. It is loaded with a large number of caves, arches, crevices and small tunnels. The most impressive is a cave that has a seven foot wide entrance beginning in 45 feet of water. The tunnel exits onto the reef at a depth of 26 feet. This site is a favorite haunt for turtles, a school of Pacific Barracuda, a Bull Ray and, on occasion, a Manta Ray.

The Mountain is another favorite dive site named for a massive coral head that begins at 60 feet and rises to within 10 feet of the surface. The boat mooring is adjacent to the coral formation, marking a sandy patch in 32 feet of water. Just in front of the mountain is a small farm containing a variety of Tridacna Clams of various sizes and colors. The largest is a giant Tridacna with a three foot long shell. The sandy patch is a favorite hangout for stingrays and sometimes, a turtle.

This is just a small sample of the numerous dive sites along the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Other sites offer an opportunity to see a diverse selection of coral formations, fish and invertebrate marine life.

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