June 21, 2019 By sales Comments are Off

Discover Scuba Diving

Never dived before? Well now you can, without any previous experience. Join our caring Dive Instructor and let them take you into the wonder waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Diving is fun and not as difficult as you may imagine, after a brief theory lesson and practicing some under water skills, you are ready to begin. Is there a better place to do your first scuba dive than the Great Barrier Reef?

First Dive

Michaelmas Cay

To make the dive as undemanding and enjoyable as possible, the first scuba dive is in the tranquil waters at Michaelmas Cay.

With the assistance of your attentive instructor you are taken carefully down to a comfortable depth of aproximately 7 metres.

Deep enough to be enthralling but at the same time shallow enough not to be daunting, the balance is just right.

First time scuba diving

Imagine the thrill as you breathe underwater for the first time! This alone is an exhilarating experience and the first activity you do is to go to the soft sandy bottom to stop and simply look around and enjoy being underwater. Take in the view, marvel that the surface and snorkellers are now aproximately 7 metres above you and that you can remain down here.

It is now that you may experience an exciting “rush”, so your instructor will give you a short period to become accustomed to the adventure of diving the Great Barrier Reef. We will then gently take you to see the first reef animal, a nearby giant clam.

Diving is very different to snorkelling

You can stay underwater for approx 30 minutes and you are able observe the fascinating reef creatures in relaxed detail. But most notably the reef fish will react to you more curiously as you are now below them, they feel less threatened. Don’t be surprised to find yourself surrounded by these small, colourful, inquisitive swimmers. It can be quite a shock if they see their reflection in your mask, prepare for a close encounter!

You will be in small group with other beginner divers and your instructor will carefully guide you through this maze of coral. The reef is out of the ordinary to anything you may have seen and there is so much to see so close to the Seastar.

Second Dive

Hastings Reef

For an additional fee you may try a second dive here at Hastings Reef.

Having just completed a dive at Michaelmas, incredibly, even with such brief experience, diving skills gained on that dive go to make you more capable and typically this dive can be longer.

scuba-diver

Hastings is an outer reef and a very different reef system to that of Michaelmas, the water is deeper; the fish larger, there are larger schools of small fish, huge coral canyons and enormous corals over 400 years old. All set in a unique coral structure with caves, trenches, valleys and crevasses. At times you seem to be flying as the coral wall towers over you.

The confidence gained on the first dive enables you to tackle this reef.

This opportunity should not be missed.

General information

In 2018, the Queensland Government updated its “Recreational Diving and Snorkelling Code of Practice” and-outlined new requirements for potential divers, especially with regards to medical fitness. Hence, anyone considering undertaking any form of diving, certified or introductory must complete a medical questionnaire before diving to assess their fitness to dive.

In regards to Introductory Diving. It is necessary for you to read the “Important medical information for Introductory Diver below”.  Please note, some medical conditions, medications and recent operations can and may prevent you from Scuba Diving. You may require a Dive Medical to Australian Medical Standard AS4005-1.

 

Flying and diving

You will not be able to dive if you are flying within 12 hours or if doing two dives, 24 hours.

Important Medical Information for Introductory Diver

Minimum age 12 years. The medical questionnaire for introductory diving is as follows:

HAVE YOU EVER SUFFERED FROM, OR DO YOU NOW SUFFER FROM, ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • Asthma or wheezing
  • Fainting, seizures or blackouts
  • Chronic Bronchitis or persistent chest complaint
  • Chronic sinus conditions
  • Chest surgery
  • Recurrent ear problems when flying
  • Epilepsy
  • Diabetes Mellitus (sugar diabetes)
  • Tuberculosis or other long-term lung disease
  • Brain, spinal cord or nervous disorder
  • Heart disease of any kind
  • Collapsed lung (pneumothorax)
  • Ear surgery

ARE YOU CURRENTLY SUFFERING FROM:

  • Breathlessness
  • Chronic Ear Discharge or infection
  • High blood pressure
  • Perforated eardrum
  • Other illness or operation within the last month
  • Are you currently taking any medicine or drug (except oral contraceptives)?
  • Have you ingested any alcohol within the eight hours prior to diving?
  • Are you pregnant?

ANSWERING “YES” TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS MAY EXCLUDE YOU FROM DIVING.

Please note, some medical conditions, medications and recent operations can and may prevent you from Scuba Diving. If you have answered Yes to any of the above questions, you will be required prior to travel to obtain a Dive Medical to Australian Medical Standard AS4005-1.

NOTE: The above questionnaire is not restricted to that listed and other medical conditions should be revealed and a medical obtained.

At the conclusion of the medical form you will be required to acknowledge:

“Do you understand that concealment of any condition incompatible with safe diving might put your life or health at risk?”

This is where the disclosure of all medical conditions is essential, even those that may seem minor, enabling our dive crew to be able to give you the best possible advice.

Justifiably, this information can seem overwhelming.

Our main concern is your safety:

If answering “yes” to any of the medical questions, you are well advised to get a medical clearance prior to your trip to ensure the best possible experience on Seastar.

Scuba Diving