Marine Conservation Program at Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Program: Marine Conservation in Australia

Day 0 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. Dinner is served at your hostel. (D)

Day 1 - 2 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 3 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. At 18:30 on day 2 you will attend the Reef Teach presentation, an insight into the magical world of the coral reef. (B,D) (Note: Certified Divers have the option of doing their Advanced Course and/ or Nitrox)

Day 3 – 5 Great Barrier Reef

Depart early morning on day 4 on your Great Barrier Reef dive adventure. Travel time to the first dive site is approx. 3-4 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 6. Transfer to your hostel and free time. (B,L,D) Note: Advanced Open Water and/ or Nitrox students will do their course during this trip

Day 6 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.

At 18:30 you will attend the Reef Teach presentation, an insight into the magical world of the coral reef. (B,D)

Day 7 – 10 Great Barrier Reef – Reef Conservation

Get picked up early and transfer to your live aboard boat in the port. Traveling out to the outer reef you will be briefed by your expert reef guide on the data collection and tasks expected over the next 3 days. Preceding each dive you will be briefed and findings discussed post-dive. Throughout the 3 day trip you will have a total of 11 dives of which 6-7 will focus on data collection and the remainder will be recreational dives. Return to Cairns late afternoon, transfer to your hostel and enjoy some free time. That evening we meet for drinks and certificate presentations on a job well done. (B,L,D)

Day 11 Fitzroy Island

This morning you transfer by ferry to Fitzroy Island, 45 minutes from Cairns, where you will meet the volunteers working at the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre on the island. 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,D)

Day 12 Cairns

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