Itinerary
- Day 1
Cairns
You'll arrive in tropical Cairns and get settled into your hostel. Spend the day walking around the city and checking out the Esplanade, Botanic Gardens, the Lagoon, port area, and CBD at your own pace. A group briefing happens late afternoon or early evening (your local host will confirm the exact time).
Optional Activities
- Stroll along the Esplanade
- Visit the Botanic Gardens
- Swim in the Lagoon
- Explore the port
- Discover the CBD
Landmarks/POIs Cairns Esplanade Cairns Botanic Gardens Cairns Lagoon - Days 2 - 3
Cairns
If you're an Open Water student, you'll get picked up early morning and head to the training center for theory sessions and pool training with qualified instructors. After lunch, complete your theory test and get briefed on the reef dives coming up. You'll transfer back to the hostel late afternoon. Other participants have free time today, and Rescue Divers start their theory work on day 3.
Included Activities
- Open Water scuba diving theory and training
- Pool practical sessions for Open Water students
Optional Activities
- Free time activities for non-Open Water participants
- Days 4 - 6
Great Barrier Reef
Early morning departure on day 4 takes you out to the Great Barrier Reef for your diving adventure. You'll spend three days exploring the underwater world with your respective courses. Late afternoon on day 6, you'll return to Cairns, transfer back to the hostel, and have free time. Note that reef levies of AUD$85 go directly to Pro Dive Cairns, and there's no dinner included on day 6.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Great Barrier Reef scuba diving courses (Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue)
- Recreational dives for certified divers (11 included dives)
Landmarks/POIs Great Barrier Reef - Days 7 - 8
Fitzroy Island
You'll head to Fitzroy Island either on day 7 or 8 (timing to be confirmed) to visit the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. A 45-minute ferry takes you there in the morning, and you'll learn about their conservation work while meeting the resident turtles. Hands-on activities might include feeding turtles, cleaning tanks, and helping with beach clean-ups. After midday, you can either head back to Cairns or stay and walk around, relax on the beach, or swim and snorkel (you'll need to bring your own equipment). The evening ferry back leaves around 17:45.
Included Activities
- Ferry transfer to Fitzroy Island
- Visit to Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre
- Hands-on conservation activities at CTRC (feeding turtles, tank cleaning, beach clean-up)
Optional Activities
- Walks on Fitzroy Island
- Relax on the beach
- Swimming and snorkeling (equipment hire available at own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Fitzroy Island Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre - Days 9 - 11
Great Barrier Reef
Over three days, you'll be aboard Passions of Paradise, a locally owned operator, heading out to the Great Barrier Reef. Check in at Reef Fleet Terminal by 07:30am each morning and return to Cairns late afternoon. Days 9 and 10 include two dives per day with a Master Reef Guide focused on reef conservation work like fish counts and citizen science. Day 11 shifts to snorkeling-focused activities where you'll learn about reef health surveys, the Eye on the Reef program, coral nurseries, and the Great Reef Census. You'll overnight in Cairns each evening with free time to relax.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Two guided dives per day on days 9-10 aboard Passions of Paradise
- Snorkeling day on day 11
- Eye on the Reef rapid monitoring and citizen science activities
- Reef health surveys and fish counts
- Great Reef Census participation
- Coral Nurture program education
Optional Activities
- Free time each afternoon in Cairns
Landmarks/POIs Great Barrier Reef Reef Fleet Terminal - Day 12
Cairns
Your tour ends today. Check out of your accommodation and transfer to the airport for your onward or homeward journey.
