Can you please tell me about factors that would prevent someone from qualifying to have the Open Water Diver certification training? What times of the year are best for warm water when doing training dives and the Great Barrier Reef? How many days does certification training last, and upon passing, are you then PADI OWD certified? Is there a best time when attendees are the fewest and water temp is warmest, and activity is at its best?

Medical requirements involve a standard PADI Medical Questionnaire. If any 'Yes' answers appear, a dive medical from a doctor is required before training can begin. The Great Barrier Reef is diveable year-round. Warmest water is November to May (26–29°C). The PADI Open Water Diver course takes 5 days: 2 days of pool and classroom, 3 days on the reef. Upon successful completion, you will be fully certified as a PADI Open Water Diver, recognised worldwide. This certification never expires, though refreshers are recommended after long breaks from diving.

I am 65 years old and not a big fan of cold water. Is there any chance I can share with someone to keep the cost down? Is this trip ever discounted? Can those not certified get the same benefits? Does it cost additional?

The included accommodation is in hostels, so you would be sharing a 4 or 6-bed dorm with other guests. Cairns is generally always tropical, so the water is almost always warm. The 12-day trip actually includes your PADI Open Water Certificate, so you become a certified diver. For anyone already certified we offer the option of getting their next level in diving. The price already includes the cost of becoming certified. We do not discount this trip.

I am wondering when you will have the 2024 dates posted. I am interested in Feb. 2024. Also, I am not 100%--do you stay in a hostel for some nights and on the boat for others?

We are in the process of finalising prices and dates as well as some small changes to the itinerary for 2024. We will publish the dates soon. The trip in February is scheduled for the 4th. Generally you spend most nights in Cairns at a hostel and 2 nights on the reef on a boat.

Is this trip suited to singles over 40 (male)

Yes, this trip suits anyone young at heart with a sense of adventure. Accommodation is in dorms in a hostel, however, upgrades to a private room are available.

would i still get the project awareness card in this situaton then

i would still want to do the diving from day 4-6. would their be a different price that i would pay since i dont require the course work.

Can you tell me a little more about what the tour entails?

The first part of the program revolves around dive training where participants do their OWD course or AOWD if already certified. If you already have this level or higher you have the opportunity to do a 3 day/ 2 night live aboard trip to the Great Barrier Reef during the first stage of the trip, including 10 fun dives (2 night dives). Once back in Cairns you then spend 4 days diving with an Eco-guide doing underwater monitoring of the coral and marine life. All data is sent to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks Authority and input into their database. All participants get their PADI Project AWARE Specialty as well as a Certificate of Participation.

Do I need to have an experience in marine biology to join this program?

Experience in marine biology is not required, as you will be in the good hands of our certified Eco-Guide, who will be with you every step of the way, while you are doing all the conservation tasks.

From

US $3,238 per person

Eye On The Reef - Marine Conservation Program on the Great Barrier Reef

12 days

•

Start and end in Cairns

4.9

4 traveler reviews

View all
It was the most fascinating thing I have done so far. It is so interesting and it makes you think a lot about the marine life.
Amalie, traveled in May
5.0
View all

From

US $3,238 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Operator: No Limit Adventures
Explorer: Curated to ignite your sense of adventure
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Partially Guided: Independent travel, featuring selected guided excursions
Medium Intensity: Travelers should be comfortable with somewhat-demanding activities
Guided in English
Group Size 3 - 8
Ages 18+

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Day 1
Cairns
Optional Activities
- Stroll along the Esplanade
- Visit the Botanic Gardens
- Swim in the Lagoon
- Explore the port
- Discover the CBD
Landmarks
Cairns Esplanade
Cairns Botanic Gardens
Cairns Lagoon
Days 2 - 3
Cairns
Included Activities
- Open Water scuba diving theory and training
- Pool practical sessions for Open Water students
Optional Activities
- Free time activities for non-Open Water participants
Days 4 - 6
Great Barrier Reef
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Great Barrier Reef scuba diving courses (Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue)
- Recreational dives for certified divers (11 included dives)
Landmarks
Great Barrier Reef
Days 7 - 8
Fitzroy Island
Included Activities
- Ferry transfer to Fitzroy Island
- Visit to Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre
- Hands-on conservation activities at CTRC (feeding turtles, tank cleaning, beach clean-up)
Optional Activities
- Walks on Fitzroy Island
- Relax on the beach
- Swimming and snorkeling (equipment hire available at own expense)
Landmarks
Fitzroy Island
Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre
Days 9 - 11
Great Barrier Reef
Meals
Lunch
Included Activities
- Two guided dives per day on days 9-10 aboard Passions of Paradise
- Snorkeling day on day 11
- Eye on the Reef rapid monitoring and citizen science activities
- Reef health surveys and fish counts
- Great Reef Census participation
- Coral Nurture program education
Optional Activities
- Free time each afternoon in Cairns
Landmarks
Great Barrier Reef
Reef Fleet Terminal
Day 12
Cairns

Landmarks
Cairns Esplanade
Cairns Botanic Gardens
Cairns Lagoon

Landmarks
Great Barrier Reef

Landmarks
Fitzroy Island
Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre

Landmarks
Great Barrier Reef
Reef Fleet Terminal

What's Included

Expand All

Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance
Optional
Additional Services

Operated by

No Limit Adventures

4.8

(23 reviews)

Number of tours

Age Range

18 to 99 years old

Response time

within 1 day

Response rate

100%

No Limit Adventures is an Inbound Tour Operator based in Cairns, Australia....

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Traveler Reviews

4.9

Overall rating based on 4 Reviews

Itinerary
5.0
Transport
4.5
Guide
5.0
Accommodation
4.0
Food
4.3
Tour Operator
4.8

M
Malgorzata
May 25th, 2023
5
Karolina , Sylvia & Piotr were amazing, very helpful and knowledgeable, the whole tour was guided with the...
Show more
Traveled in May 2023
Erin
March 7th, 2020
5
This was an amazing trip. It's perfect if you are looking to get certified and if you are looking to support...
This was an amazing trip. It's perfect if you are looking to get certified and if you are looking to support conservation efforts. I went as open water certified, looking to get my advanced open water so I had the first two days to hang out in Cairns while the open water people did their classroom training. The hostel we stayed at was really great, lots of people, decent cheap food for dinners. It's nice because you are traveling with the same people for all legs of the trip so you dont really have to worry about "strangers" in your room. Konrad was really great organizing everything and met with us prior to each leg. The live aboard was very well structured, knowledgeable staff and honestly really good food considering the limitations. The days afterward spent learning about marine conservation and doing your part helping with the efforts are definitely once in a lifetime. Russell is extremely knowledgeable and understanding in that you might not be on the marine biology path, but you want to help. I went on this trip as a single who wanted to go on a dive trip to check the box of diving the Great Barrier Reef but I definitely got a lot more out of it. The people that are involved in this trip from No Limit Adventures to Reef Teach to Eye on the Reef to the Turtle Hospital are all so passionate about their jobs and it made this trip truly a once in a lifetime experience.Show more
Traveled in February 2020
D
David
October 3rd, 2017
4.5
The trip was very good. As I already had my PADI Open Water, I had two free days at the beginning. The highlight of...
The trip was very good. As I already had my PADI Open Water, I had two free days at the beginning. The highlight of the trip for me was the liveaboard. Two nights out on the reef with 4 dives a day was great. As the boat moved ~2 times a day, the dive sites changed. The marine conservation section was interesting. It was a new experience completing the surveys. The only down side I thought was that we had to take a ~2hr boat ride every day and the dive sites were limited by what other passengers were doing. However, the diving was still good.Show more
Traveled in September 2017
Reply from: No Limit Adventures
Hi David, Thank you for your kind review. It was nice to have you join our program. I'm glad you enjoyed the diving and conservation work on the GBR. All the best, Konrad
Show more
A
Amalie
May 10th, 2016
5
I was on No Limit Adventures' Marine Conservation program "Eye on the Reef" and it was the most fascinating thing I...
I was on No Limit Adventures' Marine Conservation program "Eye on the Reef" and it was the most fascinating thing I have done so far. I was able to take my Diving certificate and thereafter take part of the great conservation work they are doing on the spectacular Great Barrier Reef. I can highly recommend it to others. It is so interesting and it makes you think a lot about the marine life and how easily it is destroyed. By the way the guys working at No Limit Adventures are the best ever they were our guides in Australia for a month and I simply had the best time of my life and I learned so much Show more
Traveled in March 2016
Reply from: No Limit Adventures
Thank you for the kind review Amalie! We're stoked to hear you had a great time with us in Australia!! :) We look forward to seeing you the next time you are Down Under...
Show more

Dates & Availability

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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Upcoming departures

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29 Mar, 2026
To Thursday
9 Apr, 2026
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What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.

All questions

We couldn't find results

Try a different search term or ask a question to this adventure's experts

E
Emma
Asked on November 19th, 2025
Can you please tell me about factors that would prevent someone from qualifying to have the Open Water Diver certification training? What times of the year are best for warm water when doing training dives and the Great Barrier Reef? How many days does certification training last, and upon passing, are you then PADI OWD certified? Is there a best time when attendees are the fewest and water temp is warmest, and activity is at its best?
Tour Details
Travel Support
- No Limit AdventuresOperator•Written November 2025
  Medical requirements involve a standard PADI Medical Questionnaire. If any 'Yes' answers appear, a dive medical from a doctor is required before training can begin. The Great Barrier Reef is diveable year-round. Warmest water is November to May (26–29°C). The PADI Open Water Diver course takes 5 days: 2 days of pool and classroom, 3 days on the reef. Upon successful completion, you will be fully certified as a PADI Open Water Diver, recognised worldwide. This certification never expires, though refreshers are recommended after long breaks from diving.
C
Christian
Asked on April 23rd, 2025
I am 65 years old and not a big fan of cold water. Is there any chance I can share with someone to keep the cost down? Is this trip ever discounted? Can those not certified get the same benefits? Does it cost additional?
Age Range
Price / Availability
Single supplement
- No Limit AdventuresOperator•Written April 2025
  The included accommodation is in hostels, so you would be sharing a 4 or 6-bed dorm with other guests. Cairns is generally always tropical, so the water is almost always warm. The 12-day trip actually includes your PADI Open Water Certificate, so you become a certified diver. For anyone already certified we offer the option of getting their next level in diving. The price already includes the cost of becoming certified. We do not discount this trip.
H
Heather
Asked on September 28th, 2023
I am wondering when you will have the 2024 dates posted. I am interested in Feb. 2024. Also, I am not 100%--do you stay in a hostel for some nights and on the boat for others?
Accommodation
Tour Details
- No Limit AdventuresOperator•Written October 2023
  We are in the process of finalising prices and dates as well as some small changes to the itinerary for 2024. We will publish the dates soon. The trip in February is scheduled for the 4th. Generally you spend most nights in Cairns at a hostel and 2 nights on the reef on a boat.
J
Joyce
Asked on June 12th, 2023
Is this trip suited to singles over 40 (male)
Age Range
Tour Details
- No Limit AdventuresOperator•Written June 2023
  Yes, this trip suits anyone young at heart with a sense of adventure. Accommodation is in dorms in a hostel, however, upgrades to a private room are available.
J
Joshua
Asked on March 15th, 2023
would i still get the project awareness card in this situaton then
Tour Details
- J
  Joshua
  Traveler•Written March 2023
  i would still want to do the diving from day 4-6. would their be a different price that i would pay since i dont require the course work.
- J
  Joshua
  Traveler•Written March 2023
  Does the project awareness card count as a specialty course towards the dive master program
- No Limit AdventuresOperator•Written March 2023
  Unfortunately we are unable to include the the Project Aware card in the program.
- No Limit AdventuresOperator•Written March 2023
  The cost for the certified diver program is A$2300.
B
Bonnie
Asked on June 1st, 2016
Can you tell me a little more about what the tour entails?
Other
- No Limit AdventuresOperator•Written June 2016
  The first part of the program revolves around dive training where participants do their OWD course or AOWD if already certified. If you already have this level or higher you have the opportunity to do a 3 day/ 2 night live aboard trip to the Great Barrier Reef during the first stage of the trip, including 10 fun dives (2 night dives). Once back in Cairns you then spend 4 days diving with an Eco-guide doing underwater monitoring of the coral and marine life. All data is sent to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks Authority and input into their database. All participants get their PADI Project AWARE Specialty as well as a Certificate of Participation.
D
Danielle
Asked on June 1st, 2016
Do I need to have an experience in marine biology to join this program?
Other
- No Limit AdventuresOperator•Written June 2016
  Experience in marine biology is not required, as you will be in the good hands of our certified Eco-Guide, who will be with you every step of the way, while you are doing all the conservation tasks.

From

US $3,238 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 73116

Currency
$
Australian Dollar
Australia
Plugs & Adapters
As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, South Africa you will need an adaptor for type I.
Type I
Australia
Vaccines
- These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
- Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an infected area for Australia. Ideally 10 days before travel.
- Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for Australia. Ideally 1 month before travel.
Visa
- Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
- Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
Payment information
- For any tour departing before May 21st, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after May 21st, 2026, a minimum payment of 30% is required to confirm your booking with No Limit Adventures. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
- Some departure dates and prices may vary and No Limit Adventures will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
- The following cards are accepted for "No Limit Adventures" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
- Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
- TourRadar is an authorized Agent of No Limit Adventures. Please familiarize yourself with the No Limit Adventures payment, cancellation and refund conditions.
Accessibility
Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Videos

Australia & Papua New Guinea Adventures
Marine Conservation on the Great Barrier Reef - below the surface
Marine Conservation on the GBR, Cairns, Australia

Eye On The Reef - Marine Conservation Program on the Great Barrier Reef

Itinerary

Cairns

Optional Activities

Cairns

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Great Barrier Reef

Included Activities

Fitzroy Island

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Great Barrier Reef

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Cairns

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What's Included

What's Not Included