Frequently asked scuba diving questions

Dives are made from the vessels, taking advantage of the easy access dive platforms and other on-board amenities. Entries are usually made from the dive platform, just a few centimetres from the water.

To ensure safety, most liveaboard boats require the following of all divers:

All divers must be certified by an internationally recognised accrediting organisation.
All divers must have logged at least one dive within the 12 months prior to boarding the vessel, or participate in a refresher course prior to boarding.
All divers must adhere to the buddy system.
All divers must log in and out of the water with a member of the diving staff.
Each diver must have a submersible console and timepiece.
On night dives, each diver must wear a cyalume light stick or marker beacon.
Decompression diving is generally not allowed under any conditions. The maximum depth is 40 metres/130 feet.
Diving activities must cease when the consumption of alcohol begins.

Nitrox or “enriched air” is a blend of gas with higher oxygen content than normal air (usually 32-36%). This is used to increase no decompression bottom time on shallower dives. Many people use it just as an additional safety margin, especially when they plan many dives over a period of consecutive days.

Use of Nitrox requires special training and certification. A number of live aboard vessels do offer Nitrox as an alternative to normal air. The availability of Nitrox will be referenced in the vessel description, or alternatively… contact us and we will recommend suitable dive vessels that visit the locations you want to dive.

The waters of the Great Barrier Reef offer excellent visibility. Underwater visibility can range from 15 metres (50 feet) to well over 30 metres (100 feet); while visibility along the Reef can vary a bit more due to rainfall and water temperature, the visibility in the Coral Sea is consistently excellent year-round, with an average of 30 metres (100 feet) visibility. So apart from swarming schools of pelagics, there is very little to come between you and the view.

The majority of scuba dives are not guided. The normal procedure followed by most dive operators is to give a thorough briefing so that divers have the confidence to dive without a guide. However if you have not been diving for a long time or are not very experienced, all dive operations (live aboard and resorts) offer a divemaster service for the first few dives.

There are however regional differences…. on day boats out of Cairns, you can take a guided dive if you pay a little extra… From Port Douglas all dives from day boats are guided.

Fishing is permitted on the Reef subject to Queensland Fisheries restrictions. Fishing is prohibited in certain national park, preservation and scientific zones. Size, season and quota restrictions apply to most fish and shellfish.

Whales, dolphins, porpoises, dugong, turtles, clams, trumpet and helmet shells, female crabs and all gropers and cod over 1.2 metres are fully protected.

There is no best time of year for diving the Great Barrier Reef; Queensland’s warm waters are ideal for year round diving. Each month brings something different, from manta rays during November through to April, to the coral spawn in November, to rare dwarf mink whales in June and July. Water temperatures range from 22°C in July (72°F) to 28°C in February. Due to the large selection of dive sites, you can usually avoid sites with strong currents.

Think about your main interest in diving the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea is and use this as a guide as to what time of the year you should visit.

A range of expeditions are on offer in the Great Barrier Reef conducted at the time of the year that best suits these particular studies: Shark research, Minke whales, Megafauna, Reef spawning, Reefcheck, Bio erosion, Octopus/ Nautilus/ Cuttlefish and other projects are always developing. Contact us for more details.

Generally, January-March is considered monsoon time with amazing feeding and marine life action following the breeding season. April-September is winter, which can offer great visibility and beautiful weather but sometimes strong winds. October-December also has wonderful weather with lots happening under the water as most coral reef species breed during this time. Typically weather is at its best for diving from August to January.

You can dive just about anywhere on the Great Barrier Reef-simply choose the general area, then select from island resorts, day boats, learn to dive programs or liveaboards. You can be sure of spectacular sights wherever you take to the water.

Underwater visibility can range from 15 metres (50 feet) to well over 30 metres (100 feet); while visibility along the reef can vary a bit more due to rainfall and water temperature, the visibility in the Coral Sea is consistently excellent year-round.

The Great Barrier Reef is generally not a deep dive destination. Our dive sites have an average depth range of 10-25 metres (30-80 feet). As coral relies on sunlight for growth, some of the best snorkeling and diving can be done in shallow areas around the reef top.

However on the outer reef and the oceanic reefs you can see the coral disappearing into the void hundreds of feet below.

The Australian dive industry has one of the best safety records of any diving destination in the world. The Great Barrier Reef itself has an excellent safety record. The waters are comparatively calm, shallow and warm. Dive operators are required to conform to strict health and safety regulations specified by the Government. Your dive master will brief you on any potential concerns you may encounter in a particular region.

With such a large coastline, Queensland’s air-rescue services are among the most extensive and advanced in the world. Diver recovery systems, decompression chambers and dive medicine expertise can be accessed in any emergency from most points on the Reef… The nearest decompression chamber to the Great Barrier Reef is in Townsville, which is 450km south of Cairns.

A number of dive operators offer DAN 30 Day Travel Assist insurance for emergency medical evacuation …or you can join for yearly membership but you have to do this in your country of residence. DAN makes the arrangements if there is need to medivac a passenger and they (DAN’s doctor) make the decision where to medivac the passenger. To learn more about Divers Alert Network, S.E Asia Pacific see www.danseap.org

Reef Tax, officially known as EMC (Environmental Management Charge) is a government charge… This money goes towards research, preservation and management of the Great Barrier Reef. Many dive operators include this tax in their trip costs, while others collect it onboard… Most operators include an additional administration charge when collecting this tax.

If you don't want to wait that long and would prefer to telephone us, our working hours are 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday (Queensland time) and we'd love to hear from you. See Contact us

It depends on how keen a diver you are and how much time you have. If you want to make the most of the Reef and have a purely diving holiday, you should live-aboard…. Some of the best sites on the outer reefs and the Coral Sea reefs are only accessible via the purpose built specially equipped live-aboard vessels.

If you want to combine an island holiday with diving and other activities, the many resort islands offer it all. If you want to stay on the mainland, you’ll find a wide range of day boat operators to choose from…. Day dive trips from the islands and mainland can offer excellent diving.

Don’t worry if you do not know it yet…even some divers forget what it means!…SCUBA simply stands for: Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

There are two options. If you would like to try first before committing to a full dive course, you can do an “introductory dive”. This does not certify you as a diver…. But is a way for you to ‘try before you buy’.

To become a certified diver, you start with a beginner’s course, which is usually called “Open Water” diver course. After successful completion of the course you will be a certified scuba diver. More than 30,000 people learn to dive on the Great Barrier Reef each year.

You have never dived before but you can safely do a dive without doing a full dive course. This is called “Introductory Diving”, sometimes “Discover Scuba Diving” or “Resort Diving”. It all means the same and is a common practice worldwide to give people the chance to dive safely under supervision without doing a full course…This dive process is not a qualification course for scuba diving.

The requirement for the PADI (and most other) “Open Water Diver certification” for example is to swim 183 metres (200 yards), and tread water for 10 minutes. So you do not need to be a high performance swimmer!

If you are comfortable in the water, and a reasonably good swimmer, you will most likely enjoy learning to scuba dive. Overall, you will be trained to perform skills a diver needs to know.

If you have a good general health and an average fitness, chances are very good that you will become a good diver.

Yes this is possible. All scuba dive-training agencies have adjusted their training programmes so you can crossover at certain stages. However there are a number of requirements, depending at what level you want to do a course with another association. There is no general answer to this, contact us with your details and we will help to answer your question.

There is a hierarchy of courses, designed to continuously build your knowledge, competency and confidence as a diver. After the open-water course you can do an advanced course, specialty course or rescue course. If you want to become a dive professional, you keep going with the divemaster course, then the instructor course.

Minimum age is 12 years. There is no maximum age. The oldest dive student we know about was 74.

You can start a PADI Open Water Course at home. You will learn the theory, do your theory exams there and your confined water sessions (this means learning scuba diving skills in a pool).

Bring a referral letter from your PADI instructor, stating that you have successfully completed the theory and pool section of the course. You can then finish your course in the warm tropical waters of Australia or the Pacific. You can join an open-water course at your holiday destination and just do the last part of the course…your 4 ‘Open Water’ training dives.

This way you can get certified, without spending part of your vacation on a dive course. Best is a PADI referral course because the PADI system is the one most commonly taught in Australia and the South Pacific. NAUI and SSI are also offered at some schools.

It works vice versa! Your dive instructor will fill in a standard form and you can finish your course within 6 months (approx) at any destination, where courses are offered.

Many boats, especially in Australia offer discounts for non-divers. So, if your partner is not a diver, he or she might like to join you on a live-aboard vessel for a discounted price… Also you might like staying at a dive resort, where your partner can enjoy other activities… Contact us and we will help with any further information.

This is a question with quite a number of possible answers. It is best if you contact us detailing your dive experience… How many dives have you done?… When was your last dive?…. In what areas do you have diving experience (eg cold water diving, ocean diving, tropical diving)?….What do you like most in a dive vacation?… The more you tell us, the better we can target our suggestions.

Yes there are a number of options where you can be on the same vessel; one doing a course, the other doing certified diving… contact us

You will find that the vast majority of internationally recognised diving certifications are valid in Australia and the Pacific Islands. It is an Australian Government requirement that your certification card be sighted by the company you are diving with. It is also recommended that visitors bring their diver’s logbook.

To see a full list of related certifications… see What Certifications Do I Need in Australia.

You will be a certified diver (mostly called “Open Water Diver”) if you have learned basic diving skills from a licensed scuba dive instructor. You are then qualified to dive with a “dive buddy”; no dive instructor needs to be present anymore.

Dive operators will need to see your certification card (c-card) before they let you dive... If you go to a dive shop and want to hire a scuba tank, they will ask you for your c-card too. You should make sure you get certified with a certifying agency, which issues c-cards that are recognised worldwide. Some of them (the most popular ones) are PADI, NAUI and SSI.

You will find the vast majority of internationally recognised diving certifications are valid in Australia. It is also recommended that visitors bring their diver’s logbook… see What Certifications Do I Need in Australia.

Yes, you must show at least your c-card (certification card) as proof of your certification when you want to dive. Otherwise no operator will allow you to dive. It is a good idea to have your logbook with you as well so the divemaster can assess your dive experience.

Minimum duration on intensive courses is usually 4-5 full days. You will spend the first 2 days with theory and practical exercises in the pool. On day 3 you do 2 training dives in open water. On day 4 you do another 2 training dives in open water.

Generally diving on a Reef is quite easy because of the conservative depths, warm water and fantastic visibility. So, if you are a newly qualified diver you will have no worries with a general open water dive. Night diving and wreck diving require a greater degree of skill, confidence and experience. Normally novice divers will be accompanied on these dives by a divemaster, which may incur a fee.

An up to date diver’s logbook will provide the proof of experience required for particular dives and sites.

Your own personal toiletries, personal medication, swimming costume, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, footwear, t-shirts, shorts, sweater and sweat pants- light wind breaker for cool sea breezes and winter months (mid April to September). Most boats have sound systems on board so also bring along a few of your favourite CD’s.

Packing for a live aboard trip in Northern Australian waters or the South Pacific Islands does not require much more than shorts, T-shirts and swimsuits. A warm shirt or light windbreaker for the evenings is advisable, and a light raincoat may come in handy... From June through August, a sweater and long pants are advisable. Suncream (15+), sunglasses and a hat are recommended at all times… also pack your own personal toiletries and medication. Most boats have sound systems on board so also bring along a few of your favourite CD’s.

You might find clean but informal attire advisable for the evenings in Cairns or other destinations during your holiday, if you are planning island excursions, be sure to bring the appropriate attire.

Use soft luggage as it takes up little space when empty... Due to weight restrictions on any low-level air flight you may be taking. Limit the weight of the loaded luggage you will be taking aboard the boat to 20kg/44lbs… overweight luggage may be assessed an additional charge... If you have a tendency towards seasickness, come prepared with motion sickness medications... to learn more see Staving off Seasickness in our 'First Aid Afloat' section.

If possible, pack your regulator, dive computer, mask, a swimsuit, change of clothes and toiletries in your carry-on bag. Having these few items with you will make an unexpected luggage delay far more bearable, and if you are arriving from overseas you may appreciate a change of clothes enroute.

All bed linens, towels and the like are provided on board... However it is advisable to bring your own beach towel.

Power in Australia and aboard the boats is 240 volt, so be sure to bring your converter and a 3-prong adaptor depending on your equipment.

You can start a PADI Open Water Course at home. You will learn the theory, do your theory exams there and your confined water sessions (this means learning scuba diving skills in a pool).

Equipment list

Certification card

Diving log book

Mask

Snorkel

Fins

Booties (if you wear them)

Buoyancy control device

Wetsuit

Regulator w/ alternate air source

Submersible pressure and depth gauges

Underwater time piece

Dive light

Dive computer

Repair kit w/ spare parts

Yes! Remember your core body temperature will reduce with increased diving and depth so a little extra warmth is better than too little. Extras such a vest and hoods can be very helpful if you are uncertain if you will need additional warmth. Below is a table of average water temperatures year round.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Celsius	28°	28°	27°	26°	26°	27°
Fahrenheit	84°	84°	82°	80°	79°	77°
	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Celsius	22°	22°	23°	25°	26°	27°
Fahrenheit	72°	72°	74°	79°	80°	82°

If you are not traveling with a dive buddy, you will have a dive buddy assigned on board or prior to departure. It is a Government regulation that divers must dive in pairs. As many divers are single travelers, the divemaster will try to match buddies according to their dive experience. Also, there will always be the opportunity to dive with the instructor, marine biologist or a divemaster.

There can be a number of reasons why you do not enjoy diving with your assigned dive buddy… Divemasters try to match divers that have a similar numbers of dives and experiences... However this is not easy to achieve by just reading a c-card and comparing the number of dives each diver has done.

You’ll only find out if you are compatible by doing a couple of dives together. Often one diver in a buddy team uses far more air than the other, so dives ended up being shorter for both… Or one diver prefers to observe the reef and marine life closely, while the other does not have the same interests and prefers to cover large areas.

Explain your situation to the divemaster and ask him to match you with someone more compatible.

It depends on the site, the dive and your level of experience. However buddy pairs are generally free to dive at their leisure after being briefed on the dive site by their divemaster.

Experienced photographers often ask for this, and under certain circumstances certain operators and divemasters will allow a solo dive

In Australia there are only a few operators that permit solo diving, and then minimum requirements need to be met….one is to have a redundant air system. If you would like to know more details, please contact us.

Some limited options for solo diving can be enjoyed in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Micronesia... If this is important, contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

There is a lot of marine life on the Great Barrier Reef which is home to more than 1500 species of fish that live among some 400 species of coral.
You can swim with giant turtles, manta rays, and docile whale sharks... join a swarming school of pelagics or come face-to-face with gentle giant cod... Coral gardens and staghorn forests are everywhere. Taking a night dive reveals colourful new corals and brilliant glow fish…your dive operator will have information on the marine life you will be likely to encounter at a particular dive site.

Scalloped hammerheads are seen approximately nine of ten trips to the Coral Sea, with large schools seen mostly from May to September. The probability of seeing schooling hammerheads during this period is high, but not guaranteed... Individual great hammerheads are seen regularly on expeditions.

There are sharks in every ocean, and a variety of sharks inhabit the Great Barrier Reef. Commonly encountered are small species that pose no threat to divers and snorkelers... If you do see a shark on the reef, it will almost certainly be a black or white tip reef shark- a timid species much less interested in us then we are in them. Furthermore sharks prefer the open sea, so if you do spot one on the reef you are in fact one of the lucky few. The shark you read about most often... The Great White, does not exist in Far North Queensland.

If you do want to come face to face with sharks, certain dive operators’ conduct carefully planned and protected shark dives, and other conduct research programs studying behaviour, movements, breeding and growth… Contact us for more details

Stingers, also known as box jellyfish, are coastal dwellers. They breed in the estuaries in the winter months (May to October). They then move out to the coastal waters in October, November or December depending on the season... and they generally stay where their food of juvenile fish and prawns are available. The jellyfish season is from November to April and swimming enclosures are provided at local beaches for people to swim in.

Humpback whales travel down the Queensland coast from August to October each year on their southern migration. Being curious animals, the Humpbacks often approach close to boats, frequently giving awesome displays of breaching, spy hopping and tail and fin slapping. They are best seen in the shallow coastal waters of the Reef, such as Hervey Bay, the Whitsunday’s and Port Douglas regions and near Flinders Reef off Brisbane. Various launch operators conduct whale watching tours throughout the season.

Most dive operators will supply everything you need, from fins and facemasks to underwater photography equipment... There may be additional fees for hiring equipment. Thanks to Northern Australia’s warm waters, heavy wetsuits are rarely needed, unless you are diving in the south in winter (June to August). Lycra or standard 3mm to 5mm wetsuits are adequate for most regions through the year.

Compressed air tanks come in 9, 11 and 12 litre capacity (66, 80 and 88 cubic feet).

The majority of boats have plug converters available that will convert the two-pronged American type to the three-pronged Australian type (110v-240v plug converters). 110v transformers are also available with a selection of adaptor outlets (suitable for USA plugs)…. However you will need to bring your own battery chargers if these are necessary for your specific equipment requirements.

Dive operators usually have no DIN adaptors for hire. So make sure you don’t forget yours!

There are two different tank valve-fitting systems.

The most common one is the INT (INT stands for international). There is an O-ring around the tank valve opening, which acts as a seal between the first stage regulator and tank valve. DIN fitting is mostly used in Europe and in technical diving.

The DIN fitting is a thread fitting on the tank valve. You screw the first stage regulator into the valve. In this case the O-ring, which creates a seal between them, is at the first stage regulator.

In USA, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon’s, Micronesia and most Asian and South American countries regulators are sold with INT fittings and tanks are equipped with INT.

In most European countries, regulators are sold with DIN fittings. If your regulator has a DIN fitting, make sure you bring an adaptor as well. This is very important, as dive operators do not have adaptors for hire.

Full suits with 5mm torso and 3mm arms are the common variety of suits available.

It is impossible for boats to carry just the right o-ring for every regulator or BCD and the same applies to battery sizes etc... The safest way to ensure maximum diving is to have your gear serviced right before the trip, and bring the correct spare parts.

Many dive operators provide a camera hire service. Also the majority of boats produce an expedition video, which is shot in digital format and copied to PAL, or NTSC for all countries. Also crew members often take footage of the dive trip highlights above and below the water and this will sometimes be added to a promo video, which makes for a great reminder of the trip.

These days most boats and resorts are equipped for divers with cameras. Some very well, other just provide the basics. To know more about camera facilities, refer to our web pages for the resort or boat in question…or contact us with your particular enquiry.

This is your personal decision….some divers will only dive with their own scuba gear, some people do not mind using good quality hire gear. However, nothing compares to using scuba gear you are familiar with.

For those that are concerned about seasickness the following is recommended:

For those extremely concerned, take Avil, Kwells, Scopalamine (patches available in USA) or similar tablets early on the day of travel. It is a good idea to try these tablets prior to travel to see how they affect you and to be familiar with any side affects they may cause (normally slight drowsiness). There are also natural ginger motion sickness tablets available over the counter of any pharmacy.

Remain in your cabin if feeling queasy, and try to sleep in a prone position. Do not stay on the upper deck, lounge or in the bathroom as these areas are the most likely to cause seasickness. While traveling inside the barrier reefs, seasickness is rarely an issue… however the lengthier passages in open water are more animated and “rolley” and more likely to cause seasickness, so take seasickness tablets early.

Experience will teach you when to take more seasickness tablets, and in time you may find you do not need them after finding your sea legs.

The areas on the vessel that have the least movement are the lower deck cabins and the back deck… If you are prone to suffer from seasickness it is recommended that you request a lower deck cabin... to read more abour seasicjness go to our 'First Aid Afloat' section: Staving off Seasickness.

Increasing altitude and the resulting decreasing pressure is a definite factor in the contracting of decompression sickness. This is the reason for no flying 24 hours after diving. This relates to anything over 300 metres (1000feet) and definitely skydiving and hot air balloon rides (unless under 300m)!! It is especially relevant if you have been doing repetitive diving and deep diving (up to 40 metres) for a prolonged period (5-7days)….This is due to the release of pressure and the chance of built up nitrogen causing bubbles in your circulatory system and potential blockages and ‘bends’ occurring.

Therefore you should definitely put any of these activities off for an extra day after the 24 hour period, or even better, do them before the diving trip…. There is no need to wait before diving after flying…but of course, if you have jet lag, you should take it easy with diving.

To learn more about this subject we would refer you to an excellent article written by Simon Mitchell that summarizes the current thinking on the issue… see Flying After Diving

The Signs

Blotchy skin rash
Paralysis or weakness anywhere in the body
Coughing spasms
Staggering or instability
Shortness of breath
Altered mental status
Unconsciousness

Emergency First Aid

Check airway, breathing and circulation (ABC's)
Administer 100% oxygen
Place diver in recovery position
Treat for shock
Transport to the nearest hyperbaric facility
Be sure to get an infusion for dehydration.

The Symptoms

Pain in arms, legs or trunk
Extreme fatigue
Headache, nausea
Itching, skin rash
Restlessness
Numbness, tingling or paralysis
Personality changes
Reflex changes
Bladder problems
Chest compression or shortness of breath, dizziness.

No medical is required for certified divers. However if you have asthma, insulin dependant diabetes, epilepsy, heart or lung problems you will need a letter from a dive medical doctor approving your scuba dive activity.

Learn to dive students will be required to complete an in-water evaluation. This requires a non-stop 200m (660ft) swim and an ability to tread water for a minimum of 10 minutes… Scuba diver’s undertaking any form of training will require a current medical to Australian Standard 4005.1... This can be organised once you are in Australia or before traveling but can only be obtained from a doctor practicing dive medicine. This requirement also applies to referral students.

If you would like to read more or see a medical form in advance… see Australian Dive Medical

If you are a certified diver, you do not need to bring a medical. However, it is recommended that every diver do a regular check up with his or her physician…and especially before taking on a scuba dive trip. In Australia, although you do not need a medical if you are a certified diver, you always have to fill in a medical questionnaire before you can go diving…but you do not need to see a doctor.

You only need to have a medical examination if:

You do an “Open Water Dive Course”
You do a Rescue Dive course
You do a Divemaster course
You do an Instructor course
In any case if there are serious doubts about your state of health according to the medical form you filled out.

Unfortunately most people do not know that there are easy ways to avoid that familiar ear pain by clearing the pressure in the ears…. During your dive course you will learn simple techniques how to equalise pressure in your ears. This is a very handy and important skill to learn, also for swimmers and snorkelers..

Yes, most physically handicapped people can dive as long as they do not have a medical condition. There are two dive associations who offer special dive courses that are adopted to answer special needs.

The IAHD (International Association for Handicapped Divers) and the HAS (Handicapped Scuba Association) have instructors around the world.

In some cases the appropriate training is available in Australia. If you are interested, please contact us. It is important that we know about your handicap.

Overall you should be reasonably fit; you should not be extremely overweight or out of condition. It is always a good idea to seek the advice of a doctor who is familiar with medical issues related to scuba diving.

In Australia, the law requires a qualified Australian physician to do a medical examination before you do an Open Water Dive course... This medical is sometimes done at the dive school during the first day of your course. However, it’s a good idea to get your diving fitness tested before you travel to avoid disappointment.

Conditions that would exclude diving are: Diabetes I or II, Asthma, Pneumothorax (scarred lung), Epilepsy, Tuberculosis, Heart diseases, Pregnancy.

Standard travel insurance policies specifically exclude fun activities like scuba diving. It is highly recommended that you obtain specific dive insurance that covers medical and retrieval expenses.

Yes! You must have Dive Alert Network (DAN) medivac or similar diver insurance that will cover you in the event that you need to be evacuated off the boat…The best bet for insurance is a yearly DAN membership which you can take out with your regional DAN headquarter. Dan provides Travel Assist, which covers the cost of evacuation from a diving or other accident. A membership with DAN is far more then a good way to insure your diving.

It is also strongly recommended that you have trip cancellation insurance (Travel Insurance) in the event that your trip is cancelled due to ANY circumstance eg last minute sickness, airline delays, bad weather, cancelled vacation time…etc. See Travel Insurance

Most liveaboard vessel operators and dive resorts require the signing of an ‘assumption of risk statement’. Many use the form PADI provides. If you would like to read the PADI form before traveling… see Assumption of Risk Statement

Diving holidays

Frequently Asked Scuba Diving Questions