A dive trip to the outer regions of Australia's famous Great Barrier Reef is the perfect diving experience. Tropical weather all year round, an abundance of fish life that surrounds every coral reef and warm water temperatures make diving this area of the Great Barrier Reef 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 with pre-dive tuition, close underwater supervision, dive recognition card and certificate included. The PADI "Discover Scuba Diving" program is not a learn to dive course, but an underwater experience. Before embarking on a fascinating underwater tour, your qualified PADI instructor will guide you carefully through the routine paperwork, pre-dive tuition and in-water skills. On dive completion 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. The vessel is 22.5 meters in length, has a cruising speed of 25 knots and carries a maximum of 60 passengers. With an average 1:4 crew to passenger ratio, you can be assured of individual attention from the fully trained and experienced crew. A tropical smorgasbord lunch is included in your dive trip today. Complimentary tea and coffee is available throughout the day.

The SeaQuest ADV is a dedicated dive boat with the majority of passengers being scuba divers, with a few snorkelers. Experienced divers, learner divers and those preferring only to snorkel are all welcome on this day trip to the reef. If you would prefer to snorkel or are a certified diver, please refer to either 3220SQA1DSNORK or 3220SQA1DCDIVE.

Schedule Details

Departure Dates:

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.

Additional Information

Inclusions:

• Hot fresh showers
• Hotel pick up and drop off
• Tropical smorgasbord lunch
• Day trip to the Great Barrier Reef
• Personalized service and no crowds
• Complimentary tea and coffee all day
• Two dives at two different dive locations
• Guided dives if required (depends on option selected)
• Australia's Goods and Services Tax (GST)

Exclusions:

• Underwater cameras are available for hire
• Video filming daily, copies are available for purchase
• A range of quality souvenirs are available for purchase
• Bar facilities (soft drinks, juice, beer, wine, chocolates and ice creams can be purchased on board)
• Reef Tax, Port Authority and Fuel charge $15.00 per person (EMC $4.50, Fuel Levy $5.00, GST, Port and Administration Charges $5.50)

Additional Info:

• This tour must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of your travel date.
• Confirmation for this product will be received at the time of booking, unless you are booking within 3 days of tour date. In this case, confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability.
• Tour is operated in English unless otherwise stated.
• Please note that it is not advised to fly within 48 hours of completion of a dive.
• Optional dive insurance is available, the three day minimum is currently AUD$25.00 per person. This can be arranged and purchased directly from the operator upon joining your tour in Cairns.
• Being environmentally aware, the dive operator does not anchor on the reef. They have exclusive use of 14 permanent moorings on the Norman, Saxon, Hastings and Michaelmas Reefs.
• IMPORTANT: If you have heart problems, you must undertake an Australian dive medical to be able to dive in Australian waters. This clearance should be in the form of an Australian Dive Medical, AS4005.1. If you are unable to undertake this medical, there is no refund on the cost of the dive trip.

What to Bring:


• Hat, towel, swimsuit, sunscreen and sunglasses. Certified divers must bring their certification cards and log book.
• Corrective lens masks or prescription masks are available for use free of charge, however a security deposit of AUD$100.00 is required.

Local Operator Information:

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.

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