Barrier Reef

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Do you need to be qualified to dive at the great barrier reef?

I want to take my girlfriend away to Austrailia to see the Great Barrier Reef. Now I think the best way to see it would be to go diving. What I want to know is do we need to have a qualification or some sort of diving experience to be allowed to dive there?

Thanks

You must be a certified diver to scuba on your own. However, if you happened to be at the GBR tomorrow, that's no reason not to get off the boat and see it.

Most people who experience the Great Barrier Reef are snorkelers. Snorkeling is common in areas where the top of the reef is less than 10 to 20 ft (3 to 6 m) or near islands. Naturally the depth you can go is limited by your abilities as a snorkeler, but with a little practice, you should be able to achieve 25 ft (8 m).

Another possibility is as a "recreational diver" or "resort diver" certification. That is an entry-level card one receives after a few hours training with an instructor. You then can scuba while being closely supervised by a dive master (or any higher rating). Dive operations at the GBR will offer this, but due to the personnel requirements, there may be limited availability. It's a crapshoot relying on this unless you explicitly book a supervised dive trip ahead of time.

The best solution is to obtain an "open water scuba certification" before going there. It takes four to six full days of classroom and pool sessions—or five or six weeks of one night (or day) per week of 4+ hour classroom and pool session—at a total cost around $400 or $500, including a concluding open water experience over two days. See your local scuba shop for full information. Feel free to drop by and chat—they love to talk to potential new divers. The biggest caveat is to be clear about what you are paying for and what is required. Some of the more unscrupulous require equipment purchase with a class. That's ridiculous—gear rental should be part of the price.

Great Barrier Reef - Travel Video


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