Under the Sea

8 Day trip- All meals, lodging and activities included

Highlights:
• Earning an Open Water PADI SCUBA certification
• Diving and snorkelling at The outer Great Barrier Reef
• An overnight on a rainforested tropical island
• Great Barrier Reef CoralWatch service project
• Learn from a marine biologist with hands-on assignments

Overview
Itinerary
Inclusions
FAQs

Overview - 8 Day Adventure

Help the environment with a special service project at The Great Barrier Reef!

The Great Barrier Reef provides a backdrop rich with opportunities for field-based discovery, and a pilgrimage to this UNESCO World-Heritage site is the dream of every student studying marine science.

This educational adventure honours the attraction of the sea. Staying on a tropical island lets you roam the emerald rainforest and discover the wonderous abundance of marine life at the inner reef. Students also earn a PADI Open Water SCUBA certification as well as complete valuable data collection at the outer reef as a service project.

A marine conservationist introduces you to the planet's greatest biodiversity, and an optional marine biologist will add depth to your marine sciene studies. Then you experience world-class diving from a liveaboard boat, plunging into a dazzling show of colour and life.

You will eat well - meals are a variety of all-you-can-eat buffets, fresh salads and tropical fruits, and unique restaurants. Accommodation is in a clean and safe central Cairns hostel, a luxurious live aboard reef boat, and camping one night on a blissfully secluded island.

We encourage students to join us for a hands-on marine adventure in a classroom like no other.

Click on an image to view the gallery.

Day 1: Arrival, Orientation and Reef Presentation

Welcome to Cairns! You are met at the airport by one of our staff and transferred to your award-winning hostel in the town's restaurant and shopping district.

Located only a few blocks from the waterfront, attractions, restaurants and the marina are all within easy walking distance. Your hostel features an outdoor pool, laundry facilities, large communal area with couches and pool table, free internet and WiFi. Each room has its own bathroom, and sleeps six students. Theses immaculate rooms also have ample luggage storage, hairdryers and linen. This excellent accommodation was recently inducted into the Tourism Tropical North Queensland's Hall of Fame for consistently rating excellent in the budget accommodation category.

Before dinner, explore the nearby celebrated Esplanade – a lively stretch of waterfront with night markets, occasional performers and an expansive swimming lagoon. This evening you have an orientation and a delicious dinner at one of Cairns' top seafood restaurants (non-seafood options available).

Later you will get an introduction to the Great Barrier Reef and its incredible diversity as a way to prepare you for your upcoming reef adventure. A marine conservationist will give a lively presentation and lead you in discussion about the significance of the reef, the issues threatening its growth, and the role of climate change. Handouts will help you identify the major types of fish and corals at the reef, and there are plenty of samples to touch. Slides and video will help explain some of the reef's more unusual creatures, such as fish that change gender and colour, and which animal breathes through his bum. You'll also learn about species that are potentially dangerous, why sharks are a welcome sight at the Great Barrier Reef, and how to find Nemo.

Accommodation: Cairns Central Hostel
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Inner Great Barrier Reef: Tropical Island Exploration

Today your tropical island fantasies are fulfilled! Your day begins with a boat rise to the pristine Fitzroy Island – a green gem in a turquoise sea. The island was once connected to the Australian mainland before being separated by rising waters. Over time a fringing coral reef surrounded the island, providing a sheltered home for a variety of fish and coral species. The island is now protected as a national park, with 94% of the island covered in lush rainforest and waters ripe for discovery.

Once on the island, there are many choices for activities. Swim in the protected waters of the azure bay or hire some snorkel gear to explore the underwater ecosystem that ecosystem is home to the world's most diverse plant and animal life.

You can take the trail to Nudey Beach -- a spectacular swimming spot once a hang out for "naturists", but now appropriate for everyone.

Your camp is only steps from the water's edge where palm trees arch over the beach, and – with a BBQ, bathrooms and showers at your campsite, you can stay comfortable at your island home for the night.

Accommodation: Island camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Inner Great Barrier Reef: Tropical Island Sea Kayaking

This morning you can walk a gorgeous but steep rainforest track that gives way to dry open forest and scenic vistas. At trail's end stands a historic lighthouse where views of the sparkling Coral Sea stretch to the horizon. For an extra challenge, push on to the summit of the island for 360-degree views.

ILater in the company of a professional guide, you explore fringing coral reefs and private beach by sea kayak. Instruction is provided for first-time kayakers, and you will paddle to spots unreachable by island trails. With full use of snorkeling gear, we can expect to see hard and soft corals, turtles, a variety of fish species and the occasional ray or lionfish. You also discover the mosaic of wildlife--from mudskippers and mud whelks to birdlife and crustaceans—that depend on these tidal wetland systems.

Afterwards you can wander the Secret Garden track, join an optional mini-sub ride (extra cost), or have fun on the giant marine trampoline! You are ferried back to Cairns in the late afternoon, and then enjoy a delicious dinner at a waterfront restaurant.

Accommodation: Cairns Central Hostel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Days 4 & 5: Open Water SCUBA Certification Classes

There is no better way to experience the biodiversity and sheer beauty of the underwater world than with a SCUBA certification, and Cairns is one of the best places in the world to learn to dive. For two days you will spend time at a professional training centre learning the academics of SCUBA diving in the classroom, and the mechanics of diving in the pool. You will learn how to breathe underwater with a regulator, use a dive computer, and get comfortable with your buoyancy. By the end of the two days, you will have enough practice that we should feel comfortable progressing to the next part of the course- the open water dives!

Note: All students must pass a thorough diving physical exam and cannot have used an inhaler or suffered from asthma. Certain medications, such as migraine medication, ritalin, and others will prevent you from being able to dive. Snorkelling is available to those students who are medically unable or not wishing to dive)

Accommodation: Cairns Central Hostel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: SCUBA Diving at The Great Barrier Reef

For the next two days you explore the undersea world of the outer Great Barrier Reef—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and easily one of the world's top natural wonders.

On this voyage, you get an intimate experience of the reef and earn your SCUBA certification while on a live aboard boat. Open Water students will have a chance to complete their certification with several ocean dives, followed by certified "fun" dives.

Among the 1,800 species of fish and 450 species of coral, you can expect to see a thousand shades of hard and soft corals, angelfish and starfish, elusive white-tipped reef sharks, and giant turtles. Within reach are butterfly and parrot fish, sea cucumbers, starfish and virtually the whole cast of Finding Nemo. You will dive along bommies and coral walls with mysterious swim-throughs that dance with light. You also get to experience the magic and glow of the reef at night.

You enjoy sumptuous buffet meals on your live aboard boat, while accommodation is in twin share cabins with bathroom, air conditioning and television. This is a perfect way to meet other divers as well as experiencing the reef on a very deep level.

Accommodation: Live aboard boat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Special Note to American Groups:
Earn college credit for your SCUBA course!

The American Council of Education (ACE) recommends earning college credit for certain PADI scuba diver courses. The ACE credit recommendations for PADI courses may help you in receiving college credit at an American university or college - even if the courses aren't conducted on a university or college campus. Courses offered through PADI Dive Centers, Resorts and at other locations qualify. A university or college may use the ACE credit recommendations in a variety of ways. The institution may apply the credit to your major replacing a required course. They may also use the credit as a general elective to possibly waive a prerequisite course. Universities and colleges that accept ACE credit recommendations for PADI or EFR courses typically handle them like transfer credit. Transfer credit is often awarded without an additional fee. This may save you tuition fees while at the same time allowing you to possibly meet graduation requirements.

Day 7: SCUBA Diving at The Great Barrier Reef and Reef Service Project

There is perhaps nothing as thrilling as waking up at the Great Barrier Reef, watching the sunrise over the ocean, and plunging into the sapphire sea before breakfast. You continue your diving today, keeping an eye out for migrating whales or dolphin visits.

As a way to give back to the environment, divers and snorkelers can participate in a coral bleaching survey organized by Project AWARE and CoralWatch, a non-profit research organization from the University of Queensland. CoralWatch involves students in monitoring coral bleaching and assessment of coral health.

A short course with a facilitator highlights the global impact of coral bleaching and provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to identify coral health and record data. Students then enter their data into the CoralWatch database after snorkelling or diving, and this information is analyzed by scientists to help answer questions on coral bleaching and recovery patterns.

You return to Cairns in the late afternoon, and have a dinner in town to celebrate your adventures over the past week.

Accommodation: Central Cairns hostel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Departure

Eventually all good things must come to an end. This morning after breakfast, you are transferred to the Cairns Airport for your flight home.

Meals Included: Breakfast

What's Included:

All activities and instruction as described in the itinerary
Specialty guides and educators
Cairns airport transfers
Transportation to activities
All breakfasts
All lunches
All dinners
5 nights at a Cairns central hostel (6-share single gender rooms w/bathroom)
1 night island camping (tent camping with bathrooms and showers available)
1 night live aboard boat (twin-share rooms with private bathroom)
Tents, sleeping bags and all necessary camping equipment
A SCUBA dive medical exam
A set of waterproof reef fish and coral ID cards
Great Barrier Reef community service certificate
Mask, fins, and snorkel hire on the reef trip and whilst sea kayaking
Your own FACEBOOK trip page, so parents can follow along during the trip
Marine park and national park fees
Small World Journeys reusable water bottle for every participant
Pre-trip educational information
Risk managment assessment on request
A 5 square metre plot of Daintree rainforest adopted in your group's name
ClimateCare™ carbon offsetting for a carbon-neutral trip

What's not Included:

Airfare
Travel insurance - not required but highly recommended
Optional activities on Fitzroy Island
Optional sleeping bag hire $15 per person for the trip
Personal expenses (phone, internet, laundry, etc.)

Other Destinations in Australia:

Ask us about continuing your Australian adventures in Sydney, Melbourne & The Great Ocean Road, or Uluru (Ayers Rock) and The Red Centre!

Where does the trip start?

Your trip leader/guide will meet you in the Cairns Airport Baggage Claim when you arrive on Day 1 in Cairns. We suggest you arrive between 1:00 - 4:00 pm on the first day, and schedule your departure before noon on the last day.

What qualifications do your trip leader/guides have?

Our guides have a government-issued Working With Children approval (also known as a "Blue Card") that is only given after an extensive background check, and allows them the ability to work with children. Each guide also has a Senior First Aid and CPR certification and government-issued Driver's Authority.

Many of our student trip leaders have higher degrees in environmental science, marine biology or experiential education, and there is one thing which unites them: a love for teaching young people about the outdoors.

We choose guides with extensive experience having worked with young people. They will be with the group the entire trip, and are responsible for the supervision and safety of all students.

For more information, see Our Guides

How do we make sure our educational goals are met?

If you have specific educational goals, or wish to include certain topics or areas of study, please tell us. Our guides have a range of knowledge about flora, fauna, natural history, geology, botany, and marine science and can tailor this program to include topics your students are studying in school, for example, rainforest ecology.

Can we change this itinerary to fit our budget or to include different activities?

Yes! This itinerary is just a sample of what we can arrange for your group. Have a look at our other itineraries - you can mix and match activities you like and we'll create a custom trip just for your group. We are happy to discuss custom options that are tailored to your budget.

What kind of insurance do you have in place?

Small World Journeys has public liability insurance up to $10,000,000 and is required for us to maintain our commercial permits for the national parks.

What is the weather like in Cairns?

Cairns is a tropical place, and outdoor activities can be enjoyed year-round. In our summer (December-February), the weather is at its warmest and wettest. You can expect hot days with occasional tropical storms, producing lush green hillsides and plenty of waterfalls. Average temperatures are 23-31 degrees Celsius/73-87 Fahrenheit.

In our winter (June-August), the climate is at its most mild, with warm days, cool nights, and little rainfall. Average temperatures are 18-26 degrees Celsius/64-78 degrees Fahrenheit.

In spring (September - November), days are warm to hot and in autumn (March - May) temperatures are still warm to hot, with more chances of rain than in spring.

What is your safety record?

Our safety record is immaculate. Yes, we have had students receive minor cuts and bruises, but no injury requiring a hospital visit. We carry a first aid kit in our vehicles, as well as on the guide's person when in remote areas.

Safety is absolutely our number one concern at all times. We do everything in our power to make sure each trip is as safe as it can possibly be. Small World Journeys' trip leaders adhere to a comprehensive Risk Management Strategy.

What should we bring with us?

We will provide you with a suggested packing list in your Confirmation Packet. Some important things to remember to bring are a sleeping bag (one can be hired from us at $15 per person), lightweight clothes for the tropics, sunscreen, hat, and swim suit.

What happens if a student fails their dive medical exam?

Any student who fails their medical exam can still go on the liveaboard trip as a snorkeller, and go out to the reef on two day trips while the other students are doing their pool & theory work. Other non-water based activities are also available.

A refund will be given for the dive course. Some medical conditions that can cause a student to fail their dive medical include heart disease, asthma, diabetes and epilepsy.

Do you do risk management assessments?

Yes. We evaluate and re-evaluate the safety of each of our destinations and activities, and we always reserve the right to modify or cancel an itinerary if the guide feels that conditions are unsafe. We will gladly provide a risk management assessment specific to your trip on request.

Small World Journeys' staff also adhere to a comprehensive Risk Management Strategy.

What kind of food will we have?

We understand how important food is to young people – and heaps of it!

A typical breakfast will be a continental breakfast including juices, cereals, toast & jams (and optional vegemite!) and a typical packed lunch will be a meat and salad sandwich, drink, chips, biscuits and a piece of fresh fruit. On the reef trip you are treated to hot buffet meals.

Dinners include all-you-can-eat Italian, modern Aussie and seafood restaurants, and we place a big emphasis on variety and healthful options.

Best of all, we carry our Bottomless Snack Box when we travel to ensure that no one is ever hungry.

Where will we sleep?

We have chosen accommodation that is safe, clean and unique. In Cairns, you stay at a clean and safe hostel close to the waterfront. Rooms are single gender, shared ONLY with students in your group (no "strangers" in the room). You also stay in comfortable dorm-style marquees at the outback cattle station where students are separated by gender. Two nights will be camping - at the property of the aboriginal family and at the widlife park - bathrooms and covered camping areas are available at both sites. All camping equipment is provided.

The hostel has laundry facilities so you may wash your clothes during the trip.

We have a 24-hour mobile number that parents may ring at any time during their child's trip if there is an emergency, and we will also provide the group coordinator with contact details of where the group is staying each night.

How active will we be on this tour?

You do not have to be an athlete to join this trip; however, our trips are NOT “sight-seeing tours”. Our trips are active, and we will be outside the majority of the day, every day. We can accommodate a range of fitness and skill levels within one trip, and you will always have options.

How do we arrange airfare?

We do not arrange airfare in house, however we do work closely with several travel agents. In Australia, we recommend Kim Salter, our Sydney-based travel agent. Contact Kim at kims@travelmanagers.com.au or call + 61 0433 324 455 or toll free within Australia 1 300 640 821.

Why should we travel with Small World Journeys?

LOCAL SUPPORT & KNOWLEDGE
Our office is in Cairns – this means we are right around the corner for 24-hour support, to answer your questions, or if you have an emergency in the middle of the trip.

Local knowledge means we know the restaurant owners who catch their own fish (and then deliciously prepare it for you!), where to buy the real indigenous-made souvenirs, and where the best swimming holes are.

ECO-CREDENTIALS
Being an “eco” tour operator means more to us than just offering walks outdoors. It means we pay to offset the carbon emissions from your trip, give a percentage of profits to local environmental and community organizations, plant trees, recycle, and participate in Rainforest Rescue’s Adopt-a-Square program. See 10 Reasons Why We’re Eco for more on what we do for our environment and community.

HUNDREDS OF HAPPY STUDENTS
We could tell you that we provide highly professional customer service, respond attentively and consistently exceed our guests’ expectations. But don’t believe us! Read some of our testimonials or ask us for references from past guests who are willing to tell you all about their experience with Small World Journeys.

GOODIES!
You get a Small World Journeys water bottle, waterproof fish and coral ID cards, and a 5 square metre of Daintree rainforest adopted in the group's name, plus a certificate detailing where your rainforest square is located. Plus you get an unforgettable trip too.

For international groups: do we need a visa to travel to Australia?

All visitors to Australia need a visa, with the exception of visitors from New Zealand. An Australian entry visa, commonly known as an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) will let you spend up to three months in Australia. In most countries it is easily obtained by the travel agent who issues your ticket, and should be free of charge. You can also get an ETA on line by visiting www.eta.immi.gov.au. There is no need for you to visit an Australian diplomatic office to submit an application, and you do not need a stamp or label in your passport. Upon check in at the airport, the airline agent will be able to confirm your ETA electronically. All visitors will also need a passport, valid for at least six months after the planned return date.


Minimum group size:	10 students
Days:	8 day trip
Dates:	Year round, your choice
Starts/Ends:	Cairns, Australia
Free Teacher:	For every 8 paying students
Topics Covered:	Marine Ecology Biodiversity Climate Change Coral Bleaching SCUBA certification
For a more academic trip:	Add our marine biologist to one or more days of the trip
Options:	Earn university credit from your SCUBA course!