11 dives- Dive Insurance
- Transfers
- All Dive equipment
- Double or twin share
- All meals
PADI
Diving with nitrox
Nitrox is an air mix, also known as Enriched Air, that has a higher percentage of oxygen and a lower percentage of nitrogen than standard air. This reduced percentage leads to a slower rate of nitrogen gas absorption, extending your allowable bottom time. Nitrox is ideal for divers wanting to dive multiple times over multiple days, making it perfect for liveaboard dive trips. However, special certification is required for its use. Pro Dive Cairns offers the Nitrox Certification for certified divers, in conjunction with the three-day, two-night Great Barrier Reef liveaboard dive trip.
The theory component of the certification begins pre-trip. Within 24hrs of your booking, you will be provided with details on how to log into the online PADI eLearning portal and begin your course. Here you will read and watch the prerequisite content, along with a final knowledge review. Completing the theory component prior to the trip allows for the maximum number of nitrox dives possible.
An offline alternative is provided on board the vessels for those without access to the internet.
Pro Dive Cairns' liveaboard dive trip allows for three-days and two-nights of exploring a variety of outer Great Barrier Reef locations, all selected for their extravagance of marine life and excellent visibility.
This personalised adventure offers an opportunity to participate in up to 11 dives, including two night dives, as well as some great snorkelling on a variety of our 19 exceptional Outer Reef dive sites over four magnificent reefs: Flynn, Thetford, Milln and Pellowe Reefs. Diving at different times throughout the day, you will be able to encounter an amazing diversity of marine life including giant clams, majestic sea turtles, graceful stingrays, reef sharks, an incredible variety of tropical fish, spectacular coral formations and consistent underwater visibility. Night diving will introduce a whole new dimension of nocturnal life.
Between dives, relax in comfort on board one of our three premium Scubapro dive boats; these purpose-built liveaboard dive vessels; these feature air-conditioned twin or double cabins, spacious decks, catered meals, and the comforts of home. With small passenger numbers and close crew-to-guest ratios, a high-quality, personalised experience from our dedicated staff is ensured at all times.
Departing Cairns every day except Tuesday this three-day, two-night liveaboard trip offers a truly memorable and exciting way to fully immerse yourself and experience our magnificent world heritage Great Barrier Reef environment.
Please Note: some medical conditions may prevent you diving and you will be required to complete a waiver and medical statement prior to the trip. If you have recently/continue to suffer from an illness or condition that may affect your dive fitness, or currently taking any prescription medication, you will need to consult a doctor for a 'fit to dive' medical certificate.
WHY CHOOSE PRO DIVE CAIRNS?
- Purpose built, PADI Five Star Dive and Career Development Centre
- All dive crew are fully qualified PADI instructors. You will be diving with a passionate team of experienced professionals, ensuring the quality of your experience and your safety
- Our boats carry a maximum of 32 passengers and six crew, providing you with a more personal experience
- We provide a true liveaboard experience with our boats departing from and returning to Cairns for every three-day, two-night trip, with no boat to boat passenger transfers
- Access to 19 high-quality dive sites ensuring a diverse range of reef environments and dives
- Pro Dive Cairns is a high standard operator with Advanced Ecotourism Certification, committed to the long-term conservation of The Great Barrier Reef
- Pro Dive Cairns has one of the highest safety standards in the world. With safety the number one priority, there is no safer place to dive in the world
Optional Upgrades and Additional Courses
Additional certification courses available for completion during the liveaboard (additional cost):
PADI Advanced Open water & Nitrox Course
Offered in conjunction with the liveaboard trip, this combo course allows you to take the next step in your scuba diver training with Advanced Open Water and Nitrox certification. Expand your diving skills, knowledge and gain Nitrox certification, allowing for potentially longer and safer diving.
Tour Itinerary
We recommend that you visit our retail shop located on the corner of Grafton and Shields streets the night before your trip to arrange the diving/snorkelling equipment, ensure the necessary paperwork is in order and to ensure your certification details are correct. The shop is open Monday - Sunday: 12.00am - 6.00pm.
Please note, the below itinerary is a guide only, and the order of sites may change. The skipper will always adapt the plan to the prevailing weather, tides and currents.
06:00 Complimentary accommodation transfer
Available from Cairns city and Northern Beaches accommodation.
06:20 Check-in at Pro Dive Cairns retail shop
Corner of Grafton and Shields streets, MAP
07:00 Depart Cairns & Introduction to Nitrox Diving
Depart Cairns for 3 days and 2 nights. On the way to the reef, you will be provided with the PADI Enriched Air manual, which you are required to read, along with knowledge assessments.
11:00 Dive 1
Your first nitrox dive is before lunch. This is an opportunity for you to acclimatise to the nitrox and put your book learning into practical use.
12:30 Lunch is served
14:30 Dive 2
Head off and discover more underwater delights. Once you have completed your dive, the vessel moves on to the next site.
16:30 Dive 3
After an afternoon of relaxing, it is time for your third dive of the trip
18:00 Dinner is served
19:45 Dive 4: the night dive!
We try to do the night dive at the same site as the afternoon dive, as this way you are familiar with your surroundings.
07:00Dive 5
The vessel moves for an early morning dive.
09:00 Breakfast is served
11:15Dive 6
After breakfast, the vessel moves on for the second dive of the day.
12:45 Lunch is served
15:15Dive 7
After lunch, it is time for your third dive.
17:45 Dinner is served
19:30Dive 8: night dive
06:30Dive 9
Sunrise dive
07:30 Breakfast
09:00
Dive 10
11:00Dive 11
The last dive of the trip, finished by 1200 noon
12:00 Lunch
16:00 Complimentary return transfer
Return transfer to your accommodation
18:00
19:30 Farewell dinner (optional, additional cost)
Join fellow passengers and crew at a local restaurant for a farewell dinner
Additional Information
- Clothing and swimwear
- Warm clothes for the evening
- 2 x towels (ocean/shower)
- Dive medical if required
(ask us if you are not sure) - Sun hat
- Marine safe sunscreen & toiletries
- Certification card (certified divers)
- Seasickness medication
- Shoes are not necessary
- Alcoholic beverages if you would like a drink in the evening
- Sleeping bags
- Pillows
- Extra luggage (luggage can be stored securely at our retail shop)
Your safety and comfort is our number one priority. Please let our experienced instructors know if you are worried, stressed or not feeling well at any point.
Before commencing your dive course, you are required to complete the self-assessment Continuing Education Student Diver Medical Declaration. A positive response to any question indicates there is a pre-existing condition which may affect your safety while diving and you must consult a medical practitioner, preferably with experience in diving medicine, to obtain a dive medical certificate that states you are medically fit to dive.
To obtain a copy of the Continuing Education Student Diver Medical Declaration, please click here. The medical must be completed within 12 months of starting your dive course.
We recommend that you do not fly within 24 hours of diving. The earliest you should fly is 12 pm (midday) on the day after your trip concludes.
The liveaboard portion of this course is fully refundable up until 48 hours before departure. The E-learning portion is non-refundable.
If you plan to book through a travel agent, please ask if they have any cancellation fees. We recommend that all customers have travel insurance.
The number of dives may vary subject to weather and/or other unforeseen circumstances.
A Government Environmental Management Charge, Port Departure Tax and administration fee are included in your total fare. The breakdown of cost is provided in the rates table.
Tripadvisor Reviews
Sydney, Australia
Our family of 6 (all recently certified divers, with me having 24 years between dives π³!) + 78yo grandmother just completed the 3 day/2 night Liveaboard. Though a rough ride (extremely choppy seas and huge swells), the staff were amazing and so compassionate and caring of all our needs. From the shop front - Isobel, who was super friendly and patient eventually finding us on the ISC site, to the cool Rafa - our skipper, Kevin - super knowledgeable (and funny) in his capacity as the dive coordinator, and caring of my 78yo mother who attempted to snorkel, but didnβt due to the huge swells. The crew were a well oiled machine, all knew what they had to do and executed each task with impressive efficiency. The facilities were excellent and the food was great (thanks Davida). Safety was always the #1 priority and I felt extremely confident letting my 15yo son buddy dive with one of his siblings. We saw reef sharks, turtles, nudibranchs, flute fish, giant clams, amongst schools of fish and beautiful coral. Ticking this experience off our bucket list, we feel blessed that we were able to see the GBR whilst we still could. Thank you ProDive Cairns ππΌπ!
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Brisbane, Australia
My partner and I booked the 4 day 3 night live aboard hoping to see Minke whales in late June 2022. Unfortunately we weren't able to go up to Ribbon Reefs as the wind and swell were too rough that was a little disappointing at first.Instead we went to Flynn and Milln reefs about 35miles east of Cairns and the dive spots were great! I was so pleasantly surprised at how comfortable I felt on the boat and the food was amazing.The crew worked their absolute backsides off to make sure we had everything we needed. Big shoutout to Jordan, Pedro, Leo, Caro, Martin and Tim. There was 24 divers on the boat and they got to know each of us, kept the boat clean and offered plenty of help with diving of course.Thanks guys for making my partner and my first live aboard experience such a great one! I would definetely go on another live aboard with this company again.
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I wish I had read some of the reviews from more experienced divers before I booked the 3 day liveaboard with prodive. Writing this review to cover the things I wish i knew before booking.The crew did their best with what they had but ultimately its just a low cost, low quality, high volume operation:- most divers on board were doing their ow certification, which I think influenced the sites we went to. We spent most of our time on flynn reef and only moved to milln reef for the last two dives. Not sure about the rest of the GBR but a lot of the sites were bleached and sad.- no guides are provided, and you're on your own to navigate to the sites and find interesting critters. Quite a few people I talked to didn't end up in the right place or see the things we were supposed to. Instead of enjoying the dives, a lot of it was trying to situate ourselves or look after the more inexperienced divers. If no guides are provided, than a minimum number of dives would be appropriate to ensure safety- no effort was made to buddy up solo divers based on experience and air consumption. It was uncomfortable seeing someone realise their buddy was highly inexperienced and try to communicate that they didn't feel safe or confident with them as a buddy as we were getting ushered into the water.- open water divers were on their own without guides/divemasters immediately after getting certified, and a lot of them looked pretty rattled. All the safety checks and head counts seem pretty pointless if they're happy to send out two extremely inexperienced divers out on their own- no idea why the staff didn't tell divers to take motion sickness tablets when we were checking in or before boarding the boat - they told us way too late when the boat was already in choppy waters, and 20+ people threw up for 2 hours straight.- this last point is being picky but the boat was at full capacity which meant uncomfortably cramped seating arrangements for meals, and being in each other's way when we were putting on our gear - this could easily be managed by staggering entry into water by groups rather than have all 32 people getting ready at the same time.
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