Our privately guided introductory dive and snorkel trips from Port Douglas to the Great Barrier Reef will maximise your experience of the underwater world. If you’ve never scuba dived before – and want to try breathing underwater for the first time – then the Great Barrier Reef is a magic place to do it. With the training, assistance and support of our very experienced dive guides, you’ll descend beneath the surface to explore the coral gardens of the biggest tropical reef system on earth. Taking you quite literally by the hand, your private guide will navigate you around the reef to a maximum depth of 12m, pointing out some of the many exotic tropical fish species and corals. If you are travelling with family or friends who are certified divers, they can join you on your first scuba experience, to a maximum group size of 4. If budget is an issue, we can make a group dive booking for you to try introductory diving from Port Douglas. Rest assured we are here to provide local knowledge and advice, to ensure you have the very best Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef trip and experience possible, regardless of who you dive with. Please note we also provide privately guided introductory diving from Cairns.
My name is Mark Fraenkel, and my primary role is to guarantee an exceptional diving experience for you from Port Douglas or Cairns. With over 5,000 dives under my belt on the Reef and having arranged thousands of diving trips for our customers, I am well-equipped to answer any questions you might have. Whether you’re seeking the top diving spots or need guidance, I’m here to help. Feel free to contact me out with your inquiries – our advice is complimentary, and I assure you a prompt response.
Our privately guided introductory diving trips from Port Douglas go to the same destinations as our certified dive and snorkel trips, to the best Agincourt Reefs on the Great Barrier Reef. These reefs are some of ‘the best and most pristine examples of coral reefs in the whole Great Barrier Reef’ [extract from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 2013/2014 Reef Report].
Located north-east of Port Douglas, Agincourt Reef is on the edge of Australia’s continental shelf. The coral cover and diversity are excellent and underwater visibility can be more than 30m (90 feet). There’s no previous diving experience necessary to book these trips, just a sense of adventure and the ability to swim, with the opportunity to participate in up to three introductory dives. What will you see on your privately guided introductory dive trip from Port Douglas? While we can’t guarantee specifics, we can tell you what we usually see, which includes but is not limited to a multitude of reef fish, from tiny wrasse and chromis to butterflyfish, angelfish, clownfish, parrotfish and more, giant clams, sea turtles, stingrays and reef sharks.
Depending on the time of year, we sometimes see manta rays, whale sharks and up to four species of whales, including humpback and dwarf minke whales, which migrate through here between June and September. In fact, Silversonic has a rare license that allows guests to swim with the dwarf minke whales, which can be an incredible and life changing experience.
When you choose Blue Dive, you have your very own private dive guide and instructor, to help you have the best day possible. Our dive instructors are absolutely committed to making your introductory diving experience safe and enjoyable. From meeting you in the marina, to boarding the boat, selecting appropriate dive gear, providing tuition and familiarization with the equipment and being with you whilst you take your first breath underwater – your private guide is with you every step (and fin kick) of the way. Silversonic is our boat of choice for regular day trips, as it has exclusive access to the best of the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs – another option is the Blue Dive luxury private charters and expeditions. There are many reasons to choose Blue Dive, here’s our top 7.
While our privately guided introductory dive trips from Port Douglas are recognized as being the best in class, we also book plenty of wider group introductory dive trips. These are an alternative for those on a budget and in this instance, you will be taught and guided in groups on Silversonic or Calypso. So, what’s the difference between the two? See below.
Regardless of whether you choose the premium privately guided introductory dive trips from Port Douglas, or the guided group introductory dives, there’s a range of important requirements, medical and regulatory information you need to know before you come diving. The minimum age to participate in an introductory dive is 12 years of age. Anyone wanting to participate in an introductory dive must be in good medical health and is required to complete the PADI Discover Scuba Diving medical questionnaire and sign a form confirming their good health on the boat, on the day of travel.
If you answered ‘YES’ to any of the above questions, you MUST bring a “Clearance to Dive” which states the condition(s) and is signed by your doctor, dated within the last 12 months. Please note various health conditions, including asthma, fainting episodes, heart and lung problems and some other medical conditions – including pregnancy – will prevent you from scuba diving. If unsure, it is crucial that you contact us prior to booking and we can advise, as there are very strict requirements around diving with medical conditions and we need to discuss these directly with you. If you require medical clearance to dive please download the PADI Medical Statement and have it completed by a doctor. Please contact us prior to seeing your doctor, so we can advise on any additional information we may require.
Please Note: The current safety regulations require a 18-hour surface interval between diving and flying. All diving would be completed by 2.30pm, so any flights could be booked for departure any time after 8.30am, on the following day. For more information please visit our medical page.
The privately guided introductory dive trips from Port Douglas, are the best way to be introduced to scuba diving and the Great Barrier Reef. Our private guide will be there right by your side, taking just you and your family and friends through the entire dive process. Snorkeling companions are welcome to come along and there’s plenty of opportunities for introductory divers and snorkelers to spend time together, in and out of the water, throughout the day. Want To Take It To The Next Level? The next step is to take your PADI Open Water Diver course, to gain your official dive certification and we can help with that too – check out our dive courses.
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