Cairns & Great Barrier Reef, Snorkel & Dive, QLD
For SINGLE TRAVELLERS 25 to 40 years.
Thursday 10 - Tuesday 15 June 2010 (includes Queen's Birthday Long Weekend), (6 days)
Itinerary
For Learn to Dive Course: Download Medical Form
Day 1: Arrival Day
Cairns airport is a short taxi or shuttle ride to Cairns CBD. Arrive in Cairns at your leisure. Check-in to hotel (check-in time 2pm).
This evening, from 6pm the group enjoys pre-dinner drinks and dinner at the Salt House Restaurant and Bar. Situated at Marina Point, next to the new Cairns Yacht Club facilities, Salt House is a unique dining venue and bar, offering a panorama of the ocean, marina and city on the waterfront at Cairns, Marina Point. Dinner tonight at Salt House is a brillant introduction to your holiday. The Salt House is a not to be missed night spot in Cairns.
Hotel: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort
Day 2: Live Aboard Departure Day
Medical Declaration Form:
You must complete a medical declartion form. This form will be available on board or you can complete in advance.
Download Medical Form: page 1
Download Medical Form: page 2
- 7:30am - Arrive at Marlin Jetty. Board the high speed air-conditioned catamaran 'Reef Experience' for your transfer to 'Reef Encounter' for the next 2 nights. Complimentary coffee & tea and BBQ (bacon & eggs) breakfast.
- 8:00am - Depart Marlin Jetty, Cairns transfer to Reef Encounter.
Scuba dive & snorkel briefing. - 9:15am – 9:30am Arrive Outer Barrier Reef Reef, transfer to Reef Encounter. Lunch, scuba dive, snorkel, sunbake & relax.
- 3:00pm - Cruise to Hastings, Norman or Saxon Reef for the night.
Scuba diving, snorkelling, sunbake & relaxation time. - Dinner, Night scuba dive & relaxation time.
Day 3: Live Aboard
Enjoy your next day of diving and/or snorkelling. By now you will be very relaxed and right into the swing of this unique Great Barrier Reef encounter.
Day 4: Live Aboard Return Day
- 6:30am - Scuba dive & breakfast (2 dives)
- 10:30am - Cruise to new outer barrier reef location. Scuba diving (1 dive), snorkelling & sunbaking, relaxing time.
- 12:00pm - Lunch, departing guests transfer to Reef Experience.
- 1:45pm - Cruise to other location, scuba dive, snorkel, sunbake, relax.
- 2:00pm - Transfer to Reef Experience
- 3:30pm - Depart for Cairns, complimentary wine and cheese.
- 4:30pm - Arrive back in Cairns. It's an easy stroll from the marina to your hotel, to check-in for the next two nights.
Remember - after diving you can not fly for 24 hours so our itinerary includes 2 nights accommodation in Cairns after the dive trip. PLUS it's a great chance to get to know Cairns over this weekend.
Hotel: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort
Day 5: Cairns
A wonderful full buffet breakfast is served at the hotel.
Enjoy your day at leisure. There's plenty to do or just relax poolside.
Hotel: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort
Day 6: Cairns - final day
A wonderful full buffet breakfast is served at the hotel. You will need to check-out of your hotel room this morning. If you are not departing until the afternoon, feel free to ask the hotel to store your luggage until you need it.
Hotel check out is 11:00am
DAILY LEVY:
There is a $15.00 per person per day levy payable on the boat. This charge is a combination of Reef Tax which is the Australian Government charge to visit the National Marine Park The Great Barrier Reef - A Port Charge, a fuel levy and a management fee.
DIVING REGULATIONS:
Your health and safety is of paramount importance.
Queensland Dive Laws are the strictest in the world - with the safest dive record in the world.
Some Medical conditions and or medication may stop you from participating in Scuba Diving even if you are a certified diver. These include Asthma or wheezing, Brain, spinal cord or nervous disorder, chronic bronchitis or persistent chest complaint, chronic sinus, collapsed lung, diabetes melitis, most chest surgery, Epilepsy, Fainting, Seizure or blackouts, Heart Disease of any kind, recurrent ear problems when flying, tuberculosis or other long-term lung disease and High blood pressure. Some prescription and non prescription medications including some Malaria prevention tablets may prevent you from diving.
If you are unsure of any medications or medical conditions please consult your Doctor - The Australian standard is Dive Medical A4005.1
It is not the decision of the diver operator regarding these laws - rather, the diver operator is regulated by the Queensland Government.
Introductory or Resort Dives
You will need to fill in the Medical Questionnaire given to you. Answering YES to any question will not necessarily disqualify you from diving, but will indicate the need for a medical assessment by a qualified physician prior to diving that conforms to Australian Medical Standard AS4005-1.
Learn To Dive Courses
Experienced Diver The purpose of the questionnaire is to determine whether you should be examined by a doctor. There may be a pre-existing condition that has not stopped you from diving in your own country, but one that Australian laws do not allow; or perhaps there could be a new condition developed since you became qualified to dive which may well affect your safety while diving now. So, basically if you answer YES to any of the conditions listed on the Medical Questionnaire (see sample below), we strongly recommend that you see a physician for further assessment. As mentioned above it is far better to visit a physician whilst in Australia, as a valid medical in Australia is one that complies with Australian Standards (AS4005.1). There have been many cases where a qualified diver has been disqualified from diving when they have already made the trek to the reef, simply because their medical condition becomes known to the dive instructor. At the end of the day the dive instructor is controlling the dives, and your safety is their responsibility whether you like it or not!
You will need to pass a Dive Medical which has been done in accordance with Australian Standards (AS4005.1) Please be well aware of this and only do a medical outside of Australia if your doctor conducts it in accordance with those exact standards and clearly states it on the top of the medical certificate that he issues. If your certificate does not state this, there is a very high chance you will have to do another medical in Australia. A dive medical is relatively cheap in Australia at approximately AUD $45.
Prior to diving, you may be asked to fill out a Medical Questionnaire; this is not a legal requirement but is done in your own best interest. Some companies make it policy and some don't, unfortunately it is still quite a grey area and the rules are not hard and fast.
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2012