Do you dream of an extraordinary language stay in Australia, combining the preservation of the Great Barrier Reef and total immersion in English ?

Together, they have developed an innovative program that allows you to improve your English while discovering scuba diving, whether you are a beginner or experienced diver . You will also have the opportunity to observe the Great Barrier Reef up close and actively contribute to its protection. This program harmoniously combines environmental conservation and language learning, all in a sunny tropical setting.

Your destination: Cairns

Looking to combine a language immersion program in Australia with introductory or advanced scuba diving and environmental activism? Head to Cairns, a coastal city of over 150,000 inhabitants, located in the state of Queensland . Just a few kilometers away lies the famous Great Barrier Reef , a marine ecosystem stretching approximately 2,000 kilometers. Your adventure will begin in Cairns, with a program dedicated to the preservation and protection of this natural treasure, immersing you in the heart of one of the world's largest marine ecosystems.

Our "Scuba Diving + Monitoring on the Great Barrier Reef" package includes:

Accommodation at Gilligans Backpacker Resort in 4 or 6-bed dormitories with private bathrooms.
Hotel upgrades available – SEE NOTE
Meals as indicated in the program
Open Water OR Advanced Open Water diving course.
The diving courses include a 3-day/2-night excursion on a dive boat to the Great Barrier Reef.
Certified divers undertake recreational dives.
Transfers to/from the diving school
2 x full-day excursions on Passions of Paradise with a reef conservation specialist guide who does Eye on the Reef = rapid monitoring and other marine conservation tasks. 4 dives in total.
Number of dives included:
Open Water Course + Passions of Paradise : 13 dives on the Great Barrier Reef (weather permitting).
Advanced Open Water Course + Passions of Paradise : 15 dives on the Great Barrier Reef (weather permitting).
Certified Divers + Passions of Paradise : 15 dives on the Great Barrier Reef (weather permitting).
1 x return ferry transfer to Fitzroy Island and visit to the turtle hospital with hands-on activities (subject to same-day availability), SEE NOTE in the program, days 7 & 8.
Volunteering with a local marine environmental protection organization, including practical activities
T-shirt of the conservation program participants
Program coordination and on-site assistance are provided by our local partner, No Limit Adventures.

Our "Scuba Diving + Monitoring on the Great Barrier Reef" package does NOT include:

Return flights to Cairns and airport taxes
Airport-accommodation transfers
Taxes for access to the Great Barrier Reef (approximately $85 for the 3-day/2-night Great Barrier Reef excursion)
Potential medical expenses related to diving
First Aid and Emergency First Response Certificates – Primary Care

Your eco-volunteering project

Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef are "must-see" destinations in Australia

Region with a subtropical climate, minimum 25 degrees all year round. Ideal between April and December.
Positive contribution to the environment
Carbon offsetting for your round-trip flights
Personal satisfaction
Natural language immersion
Increased autonomy
Learning or improving your scuba diving skills
Gain in multicultural experience
Acquisition of new skills
Numerous contacts with other participants from all over the world and locals
Volunteering typically involves unpaid work, but you can find a paid job before or after your volunteer experience if you have a Working Holiday Visa. It's also possible to participate in this type of program with a simple tourist visa.
The fact that you won't be paid is more than compensated by the unforgettable experience and personal satisfaction you'll feel while completing the various tasks.
Unless you enjoy intense heat, we advise against traveling between January and mid-April. There is also a risk of cyclones during this period.

Specialized and recognized partners

No Limit Adventures and Passions of Paradise have partnered to offer you a unique eco-volunteer program on the Great Barrier Reef. Founded in 2008, No Limit Adventures aims to provide off-the-beaten-path travel experiences focused on adventure in a country as ripe for exploration as Australia. Passions of Paradise, established in 1983, is a pioneer in diving on Australia's east coast.

Day 1: Welcome to Cairns (Sunday)

Welcome to the tropical city of Cairns . Enjoy your day exploring Cairns.

Things to do/visit: a walk along the Esplanade, the Botanic Gardens, a swim in the Lagoon, and the CBD (city center)
. A group briefing will be held that afternoon; the time is to be determined.
Note: Participants must arrive in Cairns before noon , in time for the briefing. The time and location of the briefing will be confirmed by your local host.

Days 2-3: “Open Water” Course – Training Centre (open water students only)

Over the next two days of the Great Barrier Reef Conservation Program, you'll embark on the first part of your scuba diving adventure. The dive school will pick you up early in the morning and transfer you to the training center, where you'll begin the theory portion of your scuba diving course with your qualified instructor.
Put all the theory into practice in the pool during the practical sessions, where all your underwater skills will be honed under the watchful eye of a qualified instructor.
After lunch on the third day, it's time to take the theory exam and attend a briefing on the upcoming days on the Great Barrier Reef . Return transfer to the hostel is provided in the late afternoon each day.
Participants completing the AOWD ) course or recreational dives on board the boat (certified divers) can enjoy free days. There are plenty of optional activities to choose from in Cairns (see the list below). We recommend that you check in at the Pro Dive Shop to adapt your equipment on day 3.
Note: activities on days 2 and 3 are reserved for Open Water students.

Rescue divers : your course begins on the third day at the training center with the theory portion. On day 4, you will go to the Great Barrier Reef and complete your course over the following 3 days.

**Days 4-6: Diving and protecting the Great Barrier Reef (Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Nitrox, rescue course*)**

Depart early on day 4 for your Great Barrier Reef diving adventure. All participants will complete their respective courses over the next three days, and certified divers will be able to make up to 11 recreational dives on the Great Barrier Reef.
Once you arrive at the Great Barrier Reef, begin exploring the underwater world of this magnificent natural wonder.
Return to Cairns in the late afternoon on day 6. Transfer to your accommodation and free time. (Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners included*). *No dinner on day 6.

Note: Students in Advanced Open Water, Nitrox and Rescue will attend their respective courses during this 3-day trip.

Certified divers will enjoy 11 recreational dives during the trip on board.

OPEN WATER STUDENTS – ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR DIVE COURSE, PLEASE ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR TO REGISTER YOUR RECORDS WITH PADI AS YOU WILL BE DIVING A FEW DAYS LATER. OTHERWISE, MAKE SURE YOUR LOGBOOK IS CLEARLY STAMPED AND SIGNED BY YOUR INSTRUCTOR, INDICATING THAT YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR OPEN WATER COURSE.

Days 7-8: Cairns/Fitzroy Island and turtles

Your nature conservation adventure continues with a day trip to the Fitzroy Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre (either Day 7 or Day 8, TO BE CONFIRMED. See note). You will meet a representative from the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre at the Reef Fleet terminal in the morning, in time for your ferry transfer to Fitzroy Island, 45 minutes from Cairns, where you will meet other volunteers working at the turtle hospital that day.

You will learn about the work done by this organization, meet some of the "patients" (the injured turtles), and possibly even go behind the scenes to lend a hand. Tasks may include feeding the turtles, cleaning the pools, and performing other tasks associated with the center.

Return to Cairns at midday, or you can stay on the island in the afternoon. If you choose to stay, enjoy your free time. Take one of the island walks, relax on the beach, or go swimming or snorkeling. The afternoon ferry returns to Cairns at approximately 5:45 pm.

Note: The CTRC experience will take place on either day 7 or day 8. The maximum number of participants at the CTRC is 4 people .
If the marine conservation group exceeds 4 people, we will split the group in two, with one group visiting the CTRC on day 7 and the other on day 8. This is at the CTRC's request and is intended to minimize stress on the turtles, limit the number of people behind the scenes, and thus allow you to have the best possible experience.
Too many people = stressed turtles, and we don't want that 😊😊😊
No snorkeling equipment is provided on the island. You can rent equipment at your own expense or bring your own.

Days 9-11: Day trips to the Great Barrier Reef – Reef awareness and conservation tasks

Over the next three days, you'll experience the Great Barrier Reef aboard Passions of Paradise, an award-winning local operator that promotes sustainable day trips to the Great Barrier Reef. The onboard experience will enhance your understanding of citizen science and marine conservation while immersing you in the reef's beauty. Under
the guidance of your designated Master Reef Guide, you'll undertake a selection of reef conservation activities each day through diving and snorkeling. On days 9 and 10, you'll enjoy two dives per day (four in total), followed by a snorkeling-focused day on day 11. While at the reef, you'll learn about reef health studies and participate in the Eye on the Reef citizen science project. These studies include fish counts and registering iconic and endangered species in
the Eye on the Reef monitoring network, contributing valuable reef health data. You will learn more about the Coral Nurture program, in which Passions of Paradise is actively involved. The Coral Nurture program is an initiative
to research, create coral nurseries, and plant corals in various locations around the Great Barrier Reef to ensure the continued health of the ecosystem. Another effort you will also participate in (depending on the season) is the Great Reef Census, a citizen science initiative to photograph and study the Great Barrier Reef, contributing to the Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef database.
During the three days on the reef, your lead guide will adapt the program and choose the best activities for the group based on the prevailing sea conditions to ensure the best possible experience.

Each day, you must check in at the Reef Fleet terminal before 7:30 am and return to Cairns in the late afternoon. Free time each evening and overnight stay in Cairns.

OPEN WATER STUDENTS – PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE YOUR TEMPORARY “Open Water” CERTIFICATION, THE PADI EMAIL CONFIRMING YOUR “Open Water” CERTIFICATION, OR YOUR LOGBOOK ON DAY 9. NO LOGBOOK/EMAIL/TEMPORARY CERTIFICATION = NO DIVING . PLEASE ENSURE YOUR FOUR (4) OPEN WATER DIVES ARE APPROVED BY YOUR INSTRUCTOR.

Day 12 Cairns

Today is your departure day and the end of your marine conservation experience on the Great Barrier Reef. You can now proceed to the airport for your return journey or continue your travels in Australia.

Dates

There is a start date for the program every month except January. Please ask us for the exact dates.

Profile

Participants in the diving course only. Before starting your diving course, you must complete a Self-Assessment Medical Declaration (Open Water students). A "yes" answer to any question means that you have a pre-existing condition that may affect your safety while diving and that you should consult a doctor, preferably one with diving experience, to obtain a diving medical certificate confirming that you are fit to undertake recreational diver training. Participants taking an Advanced Open Water (or higher) must complete the self-assessment medical form here .
Pre-diving medical examinations and medical clearance are the responsibility of the participant. We strongly recommend that all pre-diving medical examinations be carried out by your primary care physician before travelling to Australia.
The rescue diving course is subject to availability and is only offered upon request. This course incurs an additional charge of $200. Please confirm this option before booking.
Participants in the rescue diving course must be in possession of a valid first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation certificate before starting their course.
Participants in the Open Water Diver course must have their logbook OR email confirmation from PADI that they are Open Water certified OR a temporary Open Water certification card with them on day 9. No logbook, email confirmation, or temporary certification card = NO DIVING. Please ensure your instructor has signed your Open Water certification dives (4) in your logbook.