Dive Courses

Whether you’re a total beginner, a newly certified scuba diver, or you’re looking to move up through the advanced and professional levels of recreational diving, we have a PADI course to suit you. And there’s no better place to get your diving certification than with Australia’s leading training centre, based at Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

Our Cairns dive school is one of just a few in the country to hold Five-Star PADI Career Development Centre status. This classification is your guarantee that our centre has met the highest standard of requirements for training dive leaders and preparing them for employment. We provide the full range of diving education programs and are committed to high quality training and excellence in dive experiences.

Since our school formed over 40 years ago, we’ve certified more than 150,000 people, one of the highest rates of certification in the world! We conduct all levels of PADI courses in English, Japanese, German and Chinese, with Korean on request.

Our pool is purpose built for scuba training, with two shallow areas and a 3m deep section – it’s the only covered and heated pool of its type in Cairns. There are also four classrooms dedicated to professional instructor development.

Divers Den operates a fleet of multi-million dollar dive vessels. From Cairns, our day trip vessel AquaQuest and our liveaboard vessel OceanQuest have access to 20 private and exclusive moorings, showcasing the very best of the outer Great Barrier Reef.

Our modern vessels are purpose built for snorkel and dive adventures to bring you the best of the outer Great Barrier Reef. Our instructors are friendly, passionate, experienced and professional, so you’ll be learning from the best!

Find out more about learning to scuba dive – or if you need more reasons to choose Divers Den for your scuba training, you can find them here. You can view all our courses on this page, or click on the links below to filter courses by skill level (beginner, advanced or professional).

Courses we offer

Scuba Kids
From $88

Scuba Kids – 8 years and over

Try scuba diving for the first time in our pool and enjoy fun underwater games!

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From $424

PADI Scuba Diver

Learn to scuba dive in our pool and get certified to dive to 12m in the open water! For ages 10+

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From $632

PADI Open Water Diver Courses

Learn to dive on the Great Barrier Reef with our range of course options

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From $632

Four Day PADI Open Water Course

Get your Open Water cert with this quick affordable option - two pool days in the pool, two day trips to the reef PLUS an extra day trip FREE!

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OceanQuest Liveaboard Dive Vessel Cairns
From $704

Four day, one night PADI Open Water Dive Course

Let us introduce you to a new underwater world, finishing your certification with an overnight dive trip

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From $880

Five day PADI Open Water Course

Our most popular learn to dive course, with 6 extra 'fun dives' and a guided night dive from our liveaboard vessel

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Cairns Scuba Diving Lessons
From $1,216

Six day PADI Open Water & Advanced Course

Get your Open Water and Advanced Open Water certification in one unforgettable trip, with three nights on the reef

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From $628

PADI Open Water Diver Referral Courses

Let's finish what you started - if you've already completed your pool and theory sessions, head straight to the reef with us

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From $500

PADI eLearning Open Water Course

Start your Open Water Dive Course online with PADI, then complete your practical training with us

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From $668

PADI Advanced Open Water Courses

Already Open Water certified? Take the next step with our day trip and overnight Advanced course options

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From $72

Scuba Refresher Course

If it's been a while between dives, our friendly team can get you back up to speed with a refresher session

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Nitrox Scuba Divers exploring the Great Barrier Reef
From $250

PADI Nitrox Course

Gain your PADI Nitrox certification and enjoy the benefits enriched air can provide you as a diver

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Snorkel with Minke whales Cairns
$99

PADI Dwarf Minke Whale Awareness Distinctive Specialty

Learn to dive and snorkel safely with dwarf Minke whales - an amazing experience!

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$825

PADI Rescue Diver Course

Gain confidence in your dive skills and become a better buddy with this fun and extremely handy course

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$2,870

PADI Divemaster Course

Start your PADI professional training with Divers Den and make diving your career!

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PADI Instructor Training Program

Kick-start your career in the dive industry with on-the-job training and real life experience

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From $3,875

PADI Instructor Development Course

The PADI Instructor Development Course is your passport to an international lifestyle of diving, travel and a job you'll really love!

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PADI Seal Team

Complete fun Aquamissions in our pool in this five-week program and become a Seal Team member!

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