How to do Scuba Diving for Free
Scuba Diving is an Amazing Activity I definitely advise everyone to try out, if you have the chance. Especially for those of you who love exploring Nature and the Underwater World
In case You are new to the activity, I’ve got all the basics covered in my Scuba Diving Starter Guide
Unfortunately, mainly because of the expensive gear needed and all the necessary safety rules, Diving is also definitely not one of the cheapest activities out there. Depending on the country, it can actually be wildly expensive.
A pretty foolish idea, for those of you more aware than I was.
Scuba Diving in Australia
For those who have never been down under, I’ll make the long story short:
the coast of far North Queensland is not exactly the tropical paradise we have all seen for ages on Instagram
Don’t get me wrong, generally speaking the beaches are beautiful and the reef is (mostly) amazing, but we have few remarkable issues:
CROCODILES. Swimming in the shallowest waters
VENOMOUS JELLYFISHES, hanging around during their season. Which runs more or less from November to May
the actual DISTANCE between the Reef and the coast. Starting from a couple of hours of sailing on average
Especially the last one resulted as the main obstacle towards my cheap traveler diving experience:
No quick and budget diving trips on a slow inflatable in Australia. Just fancy daily boats with multiple dives, food provided and so on. Nothing really against it. Other than the price, starting from about 200$ only for the cruise. which basically means a lift to the Reef area.Then add something for the diving or snorkeling tour, easily rising the daily adventure above 300$!
There are obviously several companies with different offers, destinations and number of passengers. From the best known and crowded Quicksilver, with its fancy catamaran and deluxe launch. About 400$ for the trip and one certified dive. To the smaller and slightly cheaper Diving Centres. I have been asking around for quite a while, but pretty much everywhere the offer is similar
Same story for the diving courses, pretty expensive when compared to Asia or other countries. Most people I met travelling started their diving career in Thailand or some Carribean Islands, where a whole course can cost something like a single diving day in Australia.
I personally took my fist two certificates in my hometown in Italy- Training in the same swimming pool where I was working as swimming teacher. I probably got a better training than in most of the holiday places, but I definitely have spent more on it.
but if you are willing to become a pro diver, holiday places are probably the best and cheapest option, Australia included. The Dive master course, for example, usually costs about a few thousands dollars, with the normal paid training. Obviously less in cheaper countries.
Jumping back to my Queensland story.. not willing to give up on my Reef exploring dream, I decided to look for another way. Until finally find the solution I was looking for:
The possibility to get unlimited dives and certificates for a cheaper price. In some cases even for FREE, doing a DIVING INTERNISHIP
With all the staff needed for the fancy Reef Trips, I discovered Cairns being among the best places also for that. Different companies offer different opportunities. From the 3 to 5 moths long liveaboard, with everything included and completely free. In exchange of a 24-hours work availability. To the less demanding and slightly expensive alternatives.
Some places offer the free training starting from your fist dive, while most will require an Advanced or Rescue diver level. In both cases you will be able to walk the whole path with the same instructor, just paying for the first levels if required.
I’ve been covering a little the different levels in this post, if you want to know more. Or head straight to the Padi website for more details
My Internship Experience
After asking around for a while, I choose as the best fit for my needs the training offer from Cairns dive center.
I was already and Advanced Diver, as I got my first licences in my hometown. So I’ve trained with them only for the Rescue licence, and the start of the Divemaster.
I paid 180$ for the first one and 600$ for the latter. Other than 200$ for the First Aid Response course, which I got from a local training center.
It wasn’t the cheaper option out there, but the less demanding in terms of time and effort. 20 working days for the Rescue and 40 for the Divemaster. 4 days on and 2 off, slightly adaptable to fit other eventual working duties. I was working in a restaurant during the weekend nights, for instance.
Luckily I got to spend half of the time working in the Dive Shop on Fitzroy Island. Helping with renting the gears, booking the trips, filling the tanks, and guiding snorkeling and diving trips. Every dive there was starting from the shore, so no long boat rides needed. Surely the best way to avoid the sea sickness.
The only downside was for our poor feet, required to walk on painful broken corals all the way to the shore.
Working on Fitzroy island
The work on the island was pretty relaxing. Just when the boat was coming to leave the clients we had some kind of rush hour, looking for the best fitting gears and washing all of them after the trip.
When I had to work there for more consecutive days, or there were bookings for a night dive, they also let me sleep in the shop. And waking up on the island was simply Amazing.
Unfortunately after some time they started to allow people to stay overnight only in some very few cases. Probably because they got too many requests to stay from the trainees. Or complaints from the nearby resort.
The diving itself was probably not the best ever, as the visibility in close to the land is usually pretty bad. But the easiness to start and conduct a dive in that place probably makes the island the best place to learn. Both to take the fist breath underwater, for our students, and to be a guide for the interns. I have been able to guiding people underwater after just a few dives there. I admit I got slightly lost the first time, but it wasn’t totally my fault!
Less pleasant but unique duties have been cleaning the glass bottom boat from underneath. Interesting but slightly uncomfortable way of go diving. We basically spent about one hour scraping dirt out of the bottom’s surface with a sponge.
And also being at the port at 6 am to prepare the ferry for the upcoming guests, when leaving from Cairns.
Especially after something like 3 hours of sleep. Hostel life, you know… one more reason why I liked way better overstay on the Island! Even if sometimes go night diving felt pretty cold.
Working on the daily boat
The duties on the boat were pretty similar, just far away more busy. More people with more necessities on a tinier place. More fears to deal with, since they’ll likely have to jump right in the middle of the ocean. And many victims of sea sickness looking for help.
Nothing extremely challenging. Unless you are ill too. In this case, working on the boat is the worst possible experience. You are there willing to help people, but just can’t.
The difficulties of dealing with People
As many places involving customer care, dealing with people is not always easy. Pretending customers are everywhere, especially around a quite expensive activities like diving. But being always calm and smiling will keep you safe.
Another and more peculiar issue is fear. Convince the mind of the actual ability of breathing underwater is not so easy for everyone. Especially people not much familiar with the water environment. Once I spent quite a while talking with a girl about to quit her course at the first attempt. My instructor already gave up, and it hasn’t been easy. But seeing her happiness after overcoming that fear turned out being one of the most rewarding experiences.
On the other hand, better to do not talk about the geniuses defining themselves as good swimmers. And then pretending to wear the fins on their hands. Or asking for someone to hold them during the whole snorkeling tour. Nothing against it, of course. I love helping people, especially in an environment as natural as the water is for me. I just don’t like having troubles because of people over estimating their capabilities.
How to do Diving for Free
If you are not willing or needing to take a pro diving course, there is another cool opportunity to explore the great barer reef for free. VOLUNTEER ON A DAILY BOAT
I got some friends doing it several times. You basically have to spend the whole day working on the boat mainly helping with cooking and waitressing. Or with the dishes, and sometimes gears prep. In exchange of one or sometimes two dives or snorkelling trip.
Of course you will need to be a certified diver. Basically you can dive for free as long as you’re able do take care of yourself. So no first attempts needing an instructor on your benhalf. But in this case you can still opt for a snorkelling trip without disappointment. You will still be exploring the Reef. And for free!
All of my friends did it with Divers Den, leaving both from Cairns or Port Douglas. I actually don’t know if others offer something similar. All you have to do is own a medical insurance and buy their t-shirt for about 40$. Expensive for the item itself, but a fair price for as many diving days as you want. And one of my favourite souvenirs by the way.
The company also offer some multi day trips on better reefs. They obviously want to test people for a few times on the daily trip first. But if you let them know your ability and willpower, one single day can be enough. More days will obviously need slightly harder work, but if you are lucky you’ll be paid back by joining several dives. And even some night ones.
Where to go Diving in Australia
The Great Barer reef is not all the same. Generally speaking, the further from the coast the better. Sometimes for a slightly cheaper price you’ll get to a way worse reef, with bleached corals and not so much life. So if you are planning to pay for a diving day, it is pretty important to gather as much information on the destination and to choose well. Of course we can definitely be less pretending if it’s free.
There are also possibilities to take part to proper Diving Expeditions, spending several days exploring the very best reefs. But for a few THOUSANDS dollars, unfortunately.
Outside the Great Barrer Reef, good diving spots are all around the Country. Worthy of note the Ningaloo Reef, on the West Coast and the Yongala Shipwreck, out of Townsville. I do really regret I didn’t get the chance to visit the last one, as most divers described it as one of the most beautiful sites for the wildlife. Where everything is huge.
I’ve lately discovered there is a very good divemaster internship opportunity there. With accommodation and everything included for a couple of months. Just be ready to book your spot fairly ahead.
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