Cairns Trip Overview
Travel to the Great Barrier Reef and become a Marine Conservation Volunteer and official surveyor for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks Authority. We have teamed up with Passions of Paradise, a leading scuba diving and outer reef operator in Cairns with a high commitment to environmental sustainability. Together we are offering our Marine Conservation Program run on the Great Barrier Reef combining firstly the adventure of scuba diving with the opportunity to help the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) monitor and identify reef health indicators on the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy our 12-day program that combines the adventure of diving with marine conservation on the Great Barrier Reef and wildlife conservation.
Become part of our dedicated team and make a genuine contribution to marine conservation and care for the Great Barrier Reef. Your efforts will make a difference for future generations.
Additional Info
Duration: 12 days
Starts: Cairns, Australia
Trip Category: Multi-day & Extended Tours >> Multi-day Tours
Explore Cairns Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Travel to the Great Barrier Reef and become a Marine Conservation Volunteer and official surveyor for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks Authority. We have teamed up with Passions of Paradise, a leading scuba diving and outer reef operator in Cairns with a high commitment to environmental sustainability. Together we are offering our Marine Conservation Program run on the Great Barrier Reef combining firstly the adventure of scuba diving with the opportunity to help the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) monitor and identify reef health indicators on the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy our 12-day program that combines the adventure of diving with marine conservation on the Great Barrier Reef and wildlife conservation.
Become part of our dedicated team and make a genuine contribution to marine conservation and care for the Great Barrier Reef. Your efforts will make a difference for future generations.
Itinerary
Day 1: Cairns
Pass By: No Limit Adventures, Cairns, Queensland 4870 Australia
Arrive to tropical Cairns and transfer to you hostel. Enjoy your day discovering Cairns by foot. Points of interest include a stroll along the Esplanade, the Botanic Gardens, a swim in the Lagoon, the port and the CBD. Group briefing late afternoon/ early evening at a time TBA.
Note: Participants should arrive at the hostel by 16:00 in time for the briefing. Briefing time to be confirmed by your local host.
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Gilligans
Day 2: Cairns – PADI Open Water Course day 1
Pass By: Cairns, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland
Over the next 2 days you will do the first part of your scuba diving adventure. Get picked up by the dive school early morning and transfer to the training center, where you will commence your theory on scuba diving with your qualified instructor. Put all the theory into use in the pool during your practical sessions where all your underwater skills are honed under the watchful eyes of your instructors. After lunch on day 3 it is time for your theory test and a briefing of the upcoming days out on the Great Barrier Reef. Transfer back to the hostel late afternoon each day.
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Gilligans
Day 3: Cairns – PADI Open Water Course day 2
Pass By: Cairns, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland
PADI Open Water course continued.
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Gilligans
Day 4: Cairns – Great Barrier Reef. PADI Open Water Course day 3
Stop At: Great Barrier Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
Depart early morning on day 4 on your Great Barrier Reef dive adventure. All participants will complete their respective courses over the next three days. Once you arrive on the Great Barrier Reef begin exploring the underwater world on this magnificent natural wonder. Return to Cairns late afternoon on day 6. Transfer to your hostel and free time. (B,L,D*)
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Boat
Day 5: Great Barrier Reef. PADI Open Water Course day 4
Stop At: Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Queensland Australia
Live aboard boat trip continued…
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Boat
Day 6: Great Barrier Reef – Cairns. PADI Open Water Course day 5
Stop At: Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Queensland Australia
Last day out on the Great Barrier Reef, finishing your Open Water course. Return to Cairns late afternoon.
Duration: 12 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Gilligans
Day 7: Cairns – Fitzroy Island/ Cairns Turtle Rehab Centre
Stop At: Fitzroy Island, Fitzroy Island, Queensland
Your conservation adventure continues with two consecutive day trips to the turtle hospital on Fitzroy Island. Transfer by ferry to Fitzroy Island in the morning, 45 minutes from Cairns, where you will meet the volunteers working at the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre on the island. You will learn about the work done by this organization, meet some of the patients and, possibly, go behind the scenes to lend a helping hand. Tasks may include feeding turtles, cleaning tanks as well as a beach clean up. Return to Cairns at midday or alternatively stay on the island for the afternoon. If the latter enjoy free time. Do one of the walks on the island, relax on the beach or swim and snorkel. The afternoon ferry returns to Cairns approx. 17:45.
Note: no snorkeling equipment provided. You can hire equipment at your own expense or bring your own.
Note: amount of tasks and the opportunity to do hands-on work at the Turtle Rehab Centre are subject to number of volunteers present at the centre
Duration: 9 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Gilligans
Day 8: Cairns – Fitzroy Island/ Cairns Turtle Rehab Centre
Stop At: Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Queensland Australia
Same as day 7.
Duration: 9 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Gilligans
Day 9: Cairns – Marine Conservation on GBR
Stop At: Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Queensland Australia
Over the next 2 days you will be onboard Passions of Paradise, a locally owned premier operator promoting sustainable day trips to the Great Barrier Reef to enhance your marine conservation experience. Under the guidance of your designated Eco-guide you will undertake a selection of activities each day while diving (2 x dives per day), being Rapid Monitoring surveys and a species count to be entered into Great Barrier Reef Marine Park’s Eye on the Reef Sighting’s Network (number of activities could vary depending on conditions). Each day you will need to check in at the Reef Fleet Terminal by 0730am and return to Cairns late afternoon. Free time each afternoon.
PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE YOUR TEMPORARY OPEN WATER CARD OR LOG BOOK WITH YOU ON DAY 9
Duration: 9 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Gilligans
Day 10: Cairns – Marine Conservation on GBR
Stop At: Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Queensland Australia
Day two of Marine Conservation on the GBR.
Duration: 9 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Gilligans
Day 11: Cairns – Plastic sorting with local marine conservation organization
Stop At: Cairns, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland
This morning you join the team of a local marine conservation organisation, where you will be given the task of sorting and segregating rubbish collected at organised beach clean ups. It is one thing to clean the beaches, but the next task is to get the ball rolling with the upcycling process and this is what your manpower will provide today. If the weather permits and the dates align, you might also be part of a local beach cleanup. Here you can expect a day of fun, education and feel-good action. Learn about the impact of marine debris on our oceans, ask the expert conservation coordinators where the rubbish originates from and find out what steps we can take to fight the war on plastic.
Duration: 4 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Gilligans
Day 12: Cairns – End of tour
Pass By: Cairns, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland
Today is the end of your tour. Check out and transfer to the airport for your onward or homeward journey. Safe Travels!
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
