PADI Open Water Diver Courses

Divers Den Cairns
Dive Students on the Great Barrier Reef with Divers Den Cairns
+ 7
PADI Open Water Dive Course Cairns
Cairns Scuba Diving Lessons
Scuba Diving Cairns Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef Intro Dive from Port Douglas Fish Life
Wobbegong Shark, Great Barrier Reef

Overview

Want to learn to dive in Cairns, the home of the Great Barrier Reef? The PADI Open Water Diver course is your first step in learning to dive and earning your first dive certification.

The PADI Open Water learn to dive certification takes you through scuba theory and principles, confined dives for basic training, then time out at the Great Barrier Reef to use your newfound skills as you explore the world beneath the water.

Course Options

You’ll do your training over four days. The first two days will be spent learning the theory and practising your skills in the classroom and pool at our five-star PADI career development and dive training centre.

This is followed by either two day trips to the Great Barrier Reef, or an overnight stay on board our liveaboard vessel OceanQuest.

4 Day Course including 2 Day Trips – Thursday to Tuesday start

  • Day 1 & 2: Pool and theory
  • Day 3 & 4: Complete your certification with two day trips to the Great Barrier Reef!
  • This course can be split into non-consecutive days, e.g. over two separate weekends.

4 Day Course including 2 Day / 1 Night liveaboard trip – Thursday to Tuesday start

  • Day 1 & 2: Pool and theory
  • Day 3 & 4: Overnight trip to the Great Barrier Reef

4 Day Eco Course including 2 Day / 1 Night liveaboard trip – Thursday to Tuesday start

  • Day 1 & 2: Pool and theory
  • Day 3 & 4: Overnight trip to the Great Barrier Reef
  • You will complete the PADI Aware specialty during the one fun dive on day four (if you do not need to repeat any of the training dives)

5 Day Course including 3 Day / 2 Night liveaboard trip – Thursday to Tuesday start

  • Day 1 & 2: Pool and theory
  • Day 3, 4 & 5: Overnight trip to the Great Barrier Reef
  • You will complete your Open Water course on day four, and have time for 5 fun dives

We offer courses in English. Courses in Japanese and Chinese are currently only available on request and subject to instructor availability. PADI eLearning is also available in a variety of language options.

Available:

Weekly

Duration:

Four days, with overnight and day trip only options available

Course Outline:

2 days of pool & theory, plus your choice of Great Barrier Reef trips

Included:

  • All PADI materials
  • All dive and snorkel equipment, including air fills, and full tuition
  • Fresh chilled water, tea and coffee
  • Dive a variety of Great Barrier Reef dive sites
  • Meals while at sea
  • Transfers from Cairns city accommodation

Book now

PADI Open Water Course

per person from
$945
Courses every week
Book now

​Includes all equipment and tuition. Prices valid to 31 March 2025. Price is per person and includes all applicable fees, taxes and levies. Locals discount not valid for optional extras.

Additional info

Prerequisites and forms

  • The minimum age is 10 to participate in a PADI Open Water Course (12 for advanced course). If the diver is under 12, we must be informed before the course starts, as a private instructor will be needed.
  • Anyone 15 or under must be accompanied by a Parent or Guardian during day trips on the reef. A 16 or 17 year old may travel without a Parent or Guardian if we have prior written parental consent and we have the relevant liability forms signed by a Parent or Guardian.
  • 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

Medical and Altitude information

All scuba participants must meet medical questionnaire requirements. Some conditions or medications may prevent you from diving.

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

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Awesome, guys! I took my open water PADI diving course with Divers Den, being one day theory, one day pool training, and 3 days/2 nights at their liveaboard boat OceanQuest. Our instructor was amazing. All the crew at OceanQuest were great, and the dives (and all help and service at the boat) were terrific. I would recommend, and I would definitely come back.”

– Moana

What to bring

For day trip option:

  • Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Swimsuit and towel

For liveaboard 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.