Snorkelling and Scuba Diving

IMPORTANT INFORMATION – SCUBA DIVING

While Scuba diving offers an incredible experience, it is important to remember that it is a recreational activity that involves inherent risks. Your safety is our priority, and we expect all participants to respect the established diving process and requirements.  A qualified Dive Instructor is present on all scuba itineraries, and a complimentary introductory scuba skills session is offered. This session familiarises divers with vital skills, including breathing rules, equalisation techniques, equipment use, underwater communication, and responsible interactions with marine life.  Discover Scuba Diving (introductory/non-certified) and certified dives are available for a fee charged to your onboard account, please refer to our Scuba Diving Rates.

Our experienced Dive Instructors offer patient guidance for first-time divers through our Discover Scuba Diving program and expertly lead certified divers on all dives. Guided dives are provided for all certified divers. Nitrox dives are not available on Coral Expeditions.

Complimentary 3mm shorty wetsuits are available in a variety of sizes. Guests are welcome to bring their own diving equipment; a different rate applies for those using their own gear. Please inquire for details.

INTRODUCTORY DIVERS

FOR GUESTS WANTING TO SCUBA FOR THE FIRST TIME – DISCOVER SCUBA DIVING

First-time divers are welcome! Our experienced Dive Instructors will guide you through the Discover Scuba Diving program, with all training conducted onboard. Participants must be at least 12 years old and in good health. An introductory dive requires a dive medical assessment, completed by a registered physician with experience in diving medicine (either overseas or in Australia), confirming your medical fitness to dive. A general practitioner may not have the necessary expertise in dive medicine. We require this assessment to be performed by a medical practitioner (Doctor) specializing in dive medicine; assessments from general practitioners will not be accepted.

Please download the Dive Medical Questionnaire. Coral Expeditions require that you undertake this dive medical in order to be able to dive on your cruise.

Dive medicals must meet the following requirements:

• Use the Dive Medical Questionnaire provided by Coral Expeditions (compliant with Australian Standard AS4005.1), or alternatively the SPUMS Medical Risk Assessment for Recreational Diving.
• Be completed in English.
• Be assessed and certified by a registered medical practitioner (Doctor) with experience in diving medicine.
• Be completed within 12 months of the last day of your cruise to ensure validity for the entire voyage.
• Clearly state your medical fitness to dive.
• Include a written statement of medical clearance on the medical center’s letterhead, provided by a registered medical practitioner (Doctor) with experience in diving medicine, in addition to the Dive Medical Questionnaire
• Entire medical assessment and statement to be emailed to [email protected] six (6) weeks prior to your cruise departure for assessment.

Next Steps:

Our team will carefully review the submission of your Dive Medical Questionnaire. If we require any additional information relating to your medical, we will be in touch.

If you are deemed medically unfit to dive, snorkeling is an alternative activity.

Should you experience any illness or injury after your initial dive medical assessment that could impact your diving safety, you may require an additional assessment. Please inform our reservations department immediately if this occurs.

The Coral Expeditions Dive Instructor will make the ultimate determination of a person’s condition and suitability to dive. If you are feeling unwell, show symptoms of a medical condition that is unsafe for diving, have a head or chest cold or display a respiratory condition onboard prior to diving you will not be permitted to dive.

Upon successful completion of your Discover Scuba Dive briefing and in-water skills assessment, you’ll be authorized to dive to a maximum depth of 12 meters. Your first dive, accompanied by an experienced Dive Instructor and a maximum of three other introductory divers, will last between 20 and 35 minutes, offering a fantastic introduction to the underwater world!

Following your first dive, you’ll have opportunities for additional dives at other locations, typically lasting 30 to 45 minutes, also to a maximum depth of 12 meters.

The Coral Expeditions Dive Instructor has the final say regarding a guest’s fitness and suitability to dive. If you feel unwell, exhibit symptoms of a medical condition unsafe for diving, have a head or chest cold, or display any respiratory condition onboard prior to a dive, you will not be permitted to participate.

CERTIFIED DIVERS

FOR GUESTS WHO ARE CERTIFIED DIVERS

All dives are conducted under the guidance of our experienced Dive Instructors, or Dive Masters.

To ensure your fitness for diving, a comprehensive dive medical assessment is mandatory. This assessment must be completed by a registered medical practitioner (Doctor) with specific training and experience in diving medicine, and if possible, is listed on the SPUMS diving doctors list. This assessment confirms your general fitness to dive. We require this assessment to be performed by a medical practitioner (Doctor) specializing in dive medicine; assessments from general practitioners will not be accepted.

Depending on your medical history and the outcome of the initial assessment, additional clearance from a specialist may be required in the form of a written medical certificate. While your medical practitioner (Doctor) should indicate if additional medical clearance is necessary, we reserve the right to request further specialist clearance following our review of your pre-cruise dive medical questionnaire.

To facilitate a smooth and efficient diving experience, certified divers are required to submit copies of their certification card and logbook prior to the cruise, and bring the original documents on board.

Please download the Dive Medical Questionnaire. Coral Expeditions require that you undertake this dive medical in order to be able to dive on your cruise.

Dive medicals must meet the following requirements:

• Use the Dive Medical Questionnaire provided by Coral Expeditions (compliant with Australian Standard AS4005.1), or alternatively the SPUMS Medical Risk Assessment for Recreational Diving.
• Be completed in English.
• Be assessed and certified by a registered medical practitioner (Doctor) with experience in diving medicine.
• Be completed within 12 months of the last day of your cruise to ensure validity for the entire voyage.
• Clearly state your medical fitness to dive.
• Include a written statement of medical clearance on the medical centre’s letterhead, provided by a registered medical practitioner (Doctor) with experience in diving medicine, in addition to the Dive Medical Questionnaire
• Entire medical assessment and statement to be emailed to [email protected] six (6) weeks prior to your cruise departure for assessment.

Next Steps:

Our team will carefully review the submission of your Dive Medical Questionnaire. If we require any additional information relating to your medical, we will be in touch.

If you are deemed medically unfit to dive, snorkeling is an alternative activity.

Should you experience any illness or injury after your initial dive medical assessment that could impact your diving safety, you may require an additional assessment. Please inform our reservations department immediately if this occurs.

The Coral Expeditions Dive Instructor will make the ultimate determination of a person’s condition and suitability to dive. If you are feeling unwell, show symptoms of a medical condition that is unsafe for diving, have a head or chest cold or display a respiratory condition onboard prior to diving you will not be permitted to dive.

Refresher Course

For the best possible scuba diving experience in our unique destinations, we recommend certified divers who haven’t been in the water for 12 months to consider a refresher course with their local dive club.

SCUBA FARES