Learning to Scuba Dive in the Great Barrier Reef

Mrs. Deals’s sister here reporting in from Australia, stop number two on our around-the-world adventure! While my husband and I were sad to leave New Zealand, we were equally excited to visit Australia and learn how to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef. I mean if you are going to learn somewhere, why not choose one of the largest and most famous reefs?! We selected a program that would give us a PADI level 2 (open water) certification by the end. This way if we decide to scuba more during our trip, let’s say in Malaysia or Indonesia (ooooh lala), we will be certified to do so and won’t need an instructor to take us. This will save us time and money for future scuba trips.

We chose to go with Diver’s Den out of Cairns — where we slept on the boat overnight. They were fine, pretty pricey, and I am sure there are other companies in the area that are worth researching before committing. Here is a drone view of our Great Barrier Reef Scuba Diving adventure.

The PADI level 2 certification course included the following:

• 1 day in the classroom learning scuba methodology (*note: we were able to complete this portion online beforehand. We liked this option as it allowed for us to complete the course during downtime and not need to spend a full extra day in Cairns in a classroom.)
• 1 day in the Diver’s Den pool learning the basics from an instructor
• 2 days/ 1 night live aboard on the Ocean Quest boat

Day 1 on the ocean

Diver’s Den picked us up early in the morning. From there they took us to the Cairns Marina and we boarded a smaller boat. This is the boat that day trippers also use to scuba and snorkel so it hits many popular, closer spots in the Great Barrier Reef (read: not as beautiful since they are frequented often). We completed two dives off the smaller boat, continuing to master the necessary skills to get our level 2 certification, before meeting up with the larger Ocean Quest live-aboard boat.

The Ocean Quest remains full time on outer Norman Reef and circulates between a few different dive locations that are filled with incredible coral. Off the Ocean Quest, we completed one more dive to end our action packed day before dinner. Additionally, my husband participated in their “Sharks After Dark” program which allows guests to snorkel or scuba at night with the sharks! There was NO WAY I was doing that…

Day 2 on the ocean

We set our morning alarms for 5:30am so we could scuba as the sun was rising. The turtles were just beginning to wake up and are really as laid back as Finding Nemo portrays them to be! After breakfast we completed our last certification dive where we proved to our instructors that we were worthy of our certification and dive alone in the future. Luckily we all passed and the next dive we took was on our own. After lunch, a boat picked us up to take us back to the Cairns Marina.

This was my first time scuba diving and my husband’s third time. I was quite nervous as I am not a strong swimmer nor am I super comfortable in the water. The instructors were wonderful in helping ease my nerves and allowing me to take it slow. There were only 6 people in our class, so I received a lot of personal attention from the two instructors. In retrospect, the PADI level 2 certification class was probably better suited for my husband than it was for me, as he is a strong swimmer and used to be a lifeguard. I should have signed up for their introduction to scuba trip instead, which does not give you a level 2 certification, but the class doesn’t go as deep into the water and participants are not required to master advanced scuba skills.

Overall…

The Great Barrier Reef was as beautiful as we had imagined. I am incredibly grateful that I got to spend time on the reef before more of the coral dies. We heard from many of the divers on the boat that while the Great Barrier Reef may not provide the most colorful scenery or diversity of fish (compared to other diving sites around the world), it is consistent in delivering an overall spectacular experience and a must-see for any scuba lovers.

Follow us on our 5-month backpacking journey…

• How to travel for little money without using points and mile
• How to utilize New Zealand’s DOC hut system
• Tramping the wonderful Queen Charlotte Track