Introductory Dive with Diver's Den

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When I first found out that anyone can do an introductory dive on the Great Barrier Reef with no experience, I was surprised, excited, and a bit scared. Diver's Den operates several boats from marinas based in Cairns and Port Douglas which take passengers on day trips to the Great Barrier Reef to snorkel or dive. They regularly run promotions, offering one free introductory dive to anyone who books a snorkelling day trip, so I decided to face my fear and take advantage of this offer. It's important to note that, whilst experience is not necessary, there may be health issues which prevent some people from diving.



On a sunny morning, I boarded the large boat at the Port Douglas Marina. We were offered morning tea and coffee and given some health and safety information and forms to read and complete. Next, the introductory divers were given a briefing during which we were shown some skills that we would be tested on in the water.

These were:
How to remove water from your mask
How to breathe if your mouthpiece falls out
How to retrieve your mouthpiece if it falls behind you

On arrival at the first site, half of the intro divers were taken on their first dive, whilst the rest of us had some time to snorkel. The staff select two sites from nine options, depending on where the best conditions would be on a particular day. Both sites were beautiful, with clear water and plenty of vibrant marine life.

Soon it was time for my first dive. Myself and four other intro divers were instructed to hold onto a rope and descend until we reached a bar that was attached to the boat. This is where our instructor tested us on the skills that we had been shown earlier. After this we went for a swim. As unqualified divers, we had to hold onto our instructor at all times. It felt strange to be swimming and breathing underwater and I found myself spending a lot of time checking how much air I had left. One by one, we were led off by a photographer who was also a dive instructor who took some photos of us diving.



Next, we boarded the boat and enjoyed a delicious hot and cold buffet lunch as we headed to the second site. I did another dive, and found that this time it was more enjoyable as I was more relaxed. We swam alongside a turtle as a reef shark passed below us, and saw a wide range of fish and vibrant corals. After the dive, I went for a snorkel, where I found Nemo and all of his friends. Finally, it was time to get back on the boat, where we had the opportunity to eat some snacks, purchase beverages, and buy photos from the day as we headed back.

Overall, I have nothing bad to say about my experience with Diver's Den. I would definitely recommend this company and the intro dive experience.

#day_trips
#diving
#natural_attractions
#near_port_douglas
#outdoor
#scuba_diving
%wnportdouglas