PADI eLearning Open Water Course

PADI Open Water Dive Course Cairns
Divers Den Cairns Dive School
Dive Students on the Great Barrier Reef with Divers Den Cairns

Overview

The online PADI Open Water course offered through Divers Den is a convenient way to learn to dive. Learn the theory and lay the foundation for your practical learn to dive training on the Great Barrier Reef!

You’ll complete the academic part of the PADI Open Water Diver course through online learning in your own time, and in your own language (available languages listed below).

Sign up on the PADI website and make your way through the course material. This includes interactive presentations, video, audio, graphics and reading, along with short quizzes to gauge your progress. The eLearning portion takes around 12-15 hours to complete.

Once you’ve finished your online PADI course, you can book your practical training at the Great Barrier Reef with us. This will include one day in the covered, heated pool at our 5-Star PADI dive centre, and either two day trips or an overnight trip on the Great Barrier Reef.

Over the course of two day trips you’ll become a certified Open Water Diver amongst the flourishing coral reefs and diverse marine life of our exclusive Great Barrier Reef dive sites.

Please note that due to all the in-water skills lessons being completed in one day, participants need to expect a full day in the water (8 hours minimum). This may not be suitable for slower-paced learners, or people who need frequent breaks from physical activity. If a slower pace is needed, we recommend the 4 Day Open Water Course.

Duration:

12-15 hours of online learning, plus 3-day practical course

Availability:

Start date each Friday

Course Outline:

Online knowledge development, 1 day in the pool plus either 2 day trips or an overnight trip

Medical Information:

All scuba participants must meet medical questionnaire requirements and some conditions or medications may prevent you from diving. Visit the Can I Dive page to see if you meet the requirements before booking.

Included:

  • Certification card processing fee
  • eTraining log
  • eManual, eRDP (Recreational Dive Planner) Desktop
  • RDP Table (digital)
  • eRecord
  • Knowledge reviews, quizzes, exam and videos
  • Transfers from Cairns city accommodation

Book your Course Now

PADI eLearning Open Water Course (3 Day/1 Night Liveaboard)

per person from
$960
Twin Cabin
$990
Double Cabin
Book now
Open Water Course needs to be purchased in conjunction with PADI eLearning Course

eLearning Practical: 2 Day Trips

per person from
$945
Course + 2 Day Trips
Book now
Open Water Course needs to be purchased in conjunction with PADI eLearning Course

PADI eLearning Course

$275 + tax
Online only Paid directly to PADI
Book now
When you click 'Book Now' you'll be taken to the PADI website. Needs to be purchased in conjunction with Open Water Course and completed prior to start date.

​Includes all equipment and tuition. Prices valid to 31 March 2026. Price is per person and includes all applicable fees, taxes and levies.

Itinerary

1 Day Pool, 2 Day 1 Night Overnight Trip

Day 1:

9am: Check in at our Dive Centre at 319 Draper St, Cairns for your day of pool and theory.

5pm: Finish your training, shower and change before heading back to your accommodation.

Day 2:

8am: Board our dayboat SeaQuest

8.30am: Depart for the reef and Dive 1 briefing

10.15am: Dive 1

12 Noon: Lunch is served and Dive 2 briefing after

1pm: Dive 2

2.45pm: Transfer to the overnight boat OceanQuest

3.30pm: Dive 3

6.30pm: Dinner is served!

7.30pm: Enjoy our Sharks in the Dark experience as a snorkeller, or from on deck

10pm: Bar closes

Day 3:

The vessel will move to a new location early in the morning with a chance to see the sunrise.

8.30am: Breakfast time! Fuel up – today you’ll become a certified Open Water Diver!

9.15am: Dive 4 briefing

9.30am: Dive 4 – congratulations, you’re now an Open Water Diver!

11.15am: Dive 5 briefing

11.30am: Dive 5 (fun dive)

1pm: Lunch is served

2.30pm: Transfer back to SeaQuest

4-4.30pm (approx): Arrival back in Cairns

On arrival in Cairns we will offer a complimentary luggage drop off to your hotel or our dive centre.

Additional info

Prerequisites and forms

  • Please note that due to all the in-water skills lessons being completed in one day, participants need to expect a full day in the water  (8 hours minimum). This may not be suitable for slower-paced learners, or people who need frequent breaks from physical activity. If a slower pace is needed, we recommend the 4 Day Open Water Course.
  • Minimum age 10, or 12 if completing Advanced Open Water  (If the diver is under 12, we must be informed before the course starts, as a private instructor will be needed)
  • When enrolling in an entry-level recreational diving certificate you must complete the following self-assessed medical declaration form before starting your training. If you answer yes to any of the health questions, you will need to bring the completed form with you to your physician to recieve a physician’s letter/medical clearance before you start your course.

Diver Medical – Participant Questionnaire

  • Medical certificate if required.
  • Ability to pass a 200m swim and 10 minute treading water test

Languages offered for PADI eLearning

English, Espanol, Français, Nederlands, Deutsch, Italiano, 한국어, اللغة العربية, 日本語, 中文繁体, 中文简体, Ελληνική γλώσσα, Dansk, Hrvat, Čeština , Português, Bahasa Indonesia, Suomi, Norsk, Svenska, Bahasa Melayu, Polski, Magyar nyelv, Русский язык, Türkçe, עִבְרִית, ไทย, Tagalog.

Extras

  • Snacks and beverages
  • Photo purchases
  • Digital camera hire
  • Quality souvenirs

What to bring

  • Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Swimsuit and towel

For overnight option:

  • Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Swimsuit and towel
  • Overnight bag with changes of clothing, including warm clothing and socks for overnight wear
  • Toiletries

Bedding and bath towels are supplied on board. Excess baggage can be stored at our Draper Street office at check in.

Overnight Accommodation Options

OceanQuest has the following accommodation options:

  • 4 Double Cabins with a queen size bed and en suite bathroom (minimum 2 passengers)
  • 18 Twin Cabins each with two single beds and en suite bathroom

Due to current social distancing regulations:

  • Shared cabins are only available to guests in a travel bubble (travelling together)
  • A mandatory sole occupancy surcharge of 25% applies to solo travellers
  • The sole occupancy surcharge will be refunded if restrictions are lifted before departure

Medical and altitude information

All scuba participants must meet medical questionnaire requirements. Some conditions or medications may prevent you from diving. These requirements can be found on our Can I Dive? page, and we strongly recommend reviewing before booking.

Queensland’s code of practice on diving states that for a single no decompression dive, you should not fly/go to altitude for at least 12 hours, or 24 hours if divers have had multiple dives per day for several consecutive days, or have made dives that require decompression stops.

Altitude is defined as 300m/1000ft above sea level. This includes going to the Atherton Tablelands (a popular local scenic attraction), so please be aware if booking tours to follow your dive trip. Under normal circumstances, you should be out of the water on your last dive by 12pm (midday) on our overnight trips and 2pm on our day trips.

Reviews

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Had an absolute blast doing my Open Water and Advanced course on board OceanQuest – it was everything I dreamed it would be on the Great Barrier Reef. My incredible instructors were amazingly knowledgeable Everyone was so helpful and welcoming. Thanks so much, I will definitely be back again!”

– Alex