Add to your dive qualifications with a PADI Rescue Diver certification through our five-star PADI Dive Centre in Cairns, gateway to the world famous Great Barrier Reef.
As a PADI Rescue Diver you’ll learn to prevent and manage incidents, sharpen your observation skills and help others avoid problems, becoming a safer, more confident diver.
The PADI Rescue Diver course is divided into three sections: Knowledge development, Skill development and Practical application. All three sections will be completed under the professional supervision and guidance of your Divers Den PADI Instructor.
Once you’ve developed your Rescue Diver knowledge at our training centre, it’s time to set off on a two-day one-night experience on our liveaboard vessel OceanQuest. Here you’ll be expertly guided through the practical scenarios out in the open water of the Great Barrier Reef.
If you don’t have a valid First Aid/CPR certificate, you can begin the PADI-endorsed Emergency First Response (EFR) course on your first day with us. Please contact us for details.
Includes all equipment and tuition. Prices valid to 31st March 2026. Locals discount not valid for optional extras. Price is per person and inclusive of GST and all fees, including the GBRMPA environmental management charge (EMC) which contributes directly to the management of the Marine Park. Learn more at gbrmpa.gov.au
9am: Complete paperwork and familiarisation at our Dive Training Centre. You’ll spend your first day on classroom learning, with theory sessions in the morning.
Lunch is not included, but you can bring a packed lunch, or there are plenty of places to eat near by.
End the day with pool sessions covering skills like self-rescue reviews, tired and panicked divers, and divers in trouble underwater.
4.30pm: Course finishes for the day
9am: Finish your theory in the morning and sit your final exam. After lunch we will continue with more pool training, covering unconscious divers on the surface, exits, first aid and oxygen use.
In the afternoon, fine-tune your rescue skills in the pool.
Day 3 (Wednesday)
Remember to bring your overnight bag today, because you’re off to the Great Barrier Reef!
7.30-8am: Pick up from your central city accommodation or our dive centre, before transferring to the marina
8.30am: Set off from Cairns Marina on board OceanQuest, our liveaboard vessel. After boarding you will be allocated your cabin. As we cruise to the outer reef you’ll receive dive briefings and complete assignment work with your instructor.
10am: Arrive at the reef for your first dive session
12pm: Enjoy lunch and a rest to log your dives and catch up with your fellow student divers while we move to our second dive site
3pm: Afternoon dive session
6pm: Dinner is served
6.30pm: Enjoy our exclusive Sharks in the Dark experience!
8pm: Dessert
10pm: Bar closes
7.30am: Prepare for the day with a full cooked breakfast.
8.30am: Dive session
10.30am: Last dive session, with final rescue scenarios
12pm: Check out of your cabin
12.30pm: Time for lunch! After lunch, you’ll have rest time to work on your dive logs, finalise your paperwork and emergency assistance plans – congratulations, you’re now a certified Rescue Diver!
2.30pm: Our transfer vessel arrives to return you to Cairns
3pm: Depart outer reef
5pm (approx): Return to Cairns. On arrival we’ll offer a complimentary luggage and dive gear drop off to your hotel and dive centre.
9am: Complete paperwork and familiarisation at our Dive Training Centre. You’ll spend your first day on classroom learning, with theory sessions in the morning.
Lunch is not included, but you can bring a packed lunch, or there are plenty of places to eat near by.
End the day with pool sessions covering skills like self-rescue reviews, tired and panicked divers, and divers in trouble underwater.
4.30pm: Course finishes for the day
9am: Finish your theory in the morning and sit your final exam. After lunch we will continue with more pool training, covering unconscious divers on the surface, exits, first aid and oxygen use.
In the afternoon, fine-tune your rescue skills in the pool.
Day 3 (Wednesday)
7.30-8am: Pick up from your central city accommodation or our dive centre, before transferring to the marina
8.30am: Set off from Cairns Marina on board AquaQuest, our day trip vessel. As we cruise to the outer reef you’ll receive dive briefings and complete assignment work with your instructor.
10am: Arrive at the reef for your first dive session
12pm: Enjoy lunch and a rest to log your dives and catch up with your fellow student divers while we move to our second dive site
3pm: Depart outer reef
6pm: Return to Cairns. On arrival we’ll offer a complimentary luggage and dive gear drop off to your hotel or our dive centre.
7.30-8am: Pick up from your central city accommodation or our dive centre, before transferring to the marina
8.30am: Set off from Cairns Marina on board AquaQuest.
10am: Arrive at the reef for your first dive session
10.30am: Last dive session, with final rescue scenarios
12.30pm: Time for lunch! After lunch, you’ll have rest time to work on your dive logs, finalise your paperwork and emergency assistance plans – congratulations, you’re now a certified Rescue Diver!
3pm: Depart outer reef
5pm (approx): Return to Cairns. On arrival we’ll offer a complimentary luggage and dive gear drop off to your hotel or our dive centre.
All scuba participants must meet medical questionnaire requirements. Some conditions or medications may prevent you from diving.
Queensland’s code of practice on diving states that for a single no decompression dive, you should not fly/go to altitude for at least 12 hours, or 24 hours if divers have had multiple dives per day for several consecutive days, or have made dives that require decompression stops.
Altitude is defined as 300m/1000ft above sea level. This includes going to the Atherton Tablelands (a popular local scenic attraction), so please be aware if booking tours to follow your dive trip. Under normal circumstances, you should be out of the water on your last dive by 12.30pm on our overnight trips, and 2pm on our day trips.
