Cairns Dive Adventures

Duration: 5 days: 2 Cairns / 3 Great Barrier Reef
Certification: SSI Diver Stress and Rescue
Operates: Year round | Transfers: Included
Departs: Every second Monday, 8.00am
Returns: Every second Friday, 4.30pm

Cairns Dive Centre is Cairns’ SSI scuba diving specialists.  As well as offering learn to dive courses, they also offer advanced scuba diving courses including the SSI Diver Stress and Rescue course, which will help divers be prepared for unexpected emergencies.  This course focuses on providing scuba divers with the skills necessary to identify, avoid and solve problems that may occur under water or on the surface.  To participate, you must already possess valid CPR and First Aid skills and certificates.  You must also have a current Dive Medical certificate which is compliant with Australian Standards AS4005.1.

The SSI Diver Stress and Rescue License includes classroom time and in-water dive training, as well as open water dive experience and tuition on the Outer Great Barrier Reef.  The classroom and pool theory work is completed at their inner-city Cairns diver training centre by qualified SSI Dive Instructors.  Open water dives are undertaken at several sites on the Great Barrier Reef, aboard Cairns Dive Centre’s live aboard dive vessel M.V Kangaroo Explorer.

Highlights & Inclusions

• SSI Diver Stress & Rescue Certification
• 2 days of tuition and pool training in Cairns
• 3 days & 2 nights, live aboard dive trip
• 10 scuba dives
• All dive equipment, including wetsuits and torches
• 3 Outer Great Barrier Reef dive locations
• Accommodation & meals aboard M.V Kangaroo Explorer
• Transfers to & from Cairns to M.V Kangaroo Explorer, aboard M.V Sun-Kist

Cairns Dive Centre prioritises increased scuba diving training in actual dive conditions, at their specialist dive training centre in Cairns. This focus is particularly suited to anyone wanting to progress their diving skills beyond Open Water level.  The SSI Stress and Rescue Course takes five days to complete and includes classroom time, pool tuition and of course, open water dives on the Outer Great Barrier Reef to put your skills to practice.  It includes 10 dives in total.  The course content covered in-class and water includes the causes and prevention of stress during scuba diving, detecting and dealing with stress, the personal and scuba skills needed for panic and rescue situations, accident management and the conditions that complicate rescues.  The intense tuition includes CPR and you should have relevant First Aid certification to participate in this course: if required, Cairns Dive Centre can assist with arranging First Aid, CPR and Oxygen Administration courses in conjunction with the SSI Diver Stress & Rescue Certification, but this is an additional cost.

Once the classroom and pool tuition is complete (first two days) you will head to the Outer Great Barrier Reef for three days and two nights of diving.  Cairns Dive Centre is allowed to visit up to seven different reef sites and you will visit at least three during your trip, providing different dive conditions and experiences.

Medical Notes

• An Australian Dive Medical must be completed prior to starting the course. This is an additional cost and can be undertaken locally at several Cairns doctors / medical clinics. The medical assessment must be less than 12 months old and reflective of your current health.
• Please note: International Dive Medicals and Diver Fitness Certificates will not be accepted, unless they are compliant with Australian Standards AS4005.1.
• We recommend you do not fly for at least 24 hours after your last dive.

Cairns Dive Centre: Sample 5 Day SSI Stress and Rescue Dive Course Itinerary
Monday & Tuesday (Cairns): Cairns Dive Centre provides complimentary coach pick-up from all Cairns city hotels, transporting you to their specialist diver training centre, where you will undertake the classroom and pool work component of the SSI Stress and Rescue Dive course.  Content covered during these two days includes:

1. What is stress?
2. Stress in diving: causes & prevention
3. Detecting & dealing with stress
4. Accident management
5. Skills needed to deal with panic & rescues
6. Conditions that complicate rescues

Please note: meals and accommodation are not included during this first two days, however all dive equipment, manuals and tuition is included.

Wednesday & Thursday (Great Barrier Reef): It’s time to put theory into practice and today is the day you make your way to Cairns Dive Centre’s live aboard dive vessel, M.V Kangaroo Explorer, which is a 1.5 hour boat transfer from Cairns.  Cairns Dive Centre is licensed to visit up to seven different reef sites including Briggs, Channel, Milln, Thetford, Moore, Elford and Sudbury Reef.  On arrival at M.V Kangaroo Explorer, you are welcomed aboard by the friendly crew who will provide a quick orientation and show you to your cabin.  From there, it is two days of open water diving to fine tune the stress and rescue skills you learnt in Cairns.  SSI qualified dive instructions will guide you through the open water dive component of the course and sign off on your certification.  Then you have time to just dive, swim, snorkel, relax and enjoy the majesty of the Outer Barrier Reef.

Friday (Great Barrier Reef): It’s your last day of scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, so make the most of it and get up early.  Each reef visited by Cairns Dive Centre offers very unique diving conditions and experiences.  Channel Reef in particular offers excellent diving, although due to its position on the outer edge of the reef the currents can be quite strong: perfect conditions for divers who have recently completed their SSI Stress and Rescue Dive course.  After lunch, transfer back to M.V. Sun-Kist for your return journey to Cairns.  You should arrive back around 4.30pm with complimentary coach transfers back to your Cairns city accommodation.

Passenger notes:

• Current proof of certification in CPR and Basic First Aid is required.
• International Resuscitation courses are acceptable as prerequisite certifications for completion of the SSI Rescue Diver Course.
• What is not included in the ticket price? Accommodation and meals for the first two days in Cairns; Environmental Management Levy, Fuel Levy, Port and Admin Charges and alcoholic beverages on board M.V Kangaroo Explorer.