- Activities
- Cairns
- Cairns Aquarium and Reef Research Centre: Dive with the Sharks
Cairns Aquarium and Reef Research Centre: Dive with the Sharks
- Cairns
- English
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Free Cancellation prior to 7 days of travel date
- Instant Confirm
Standard Inclusions
- 1. All day admission to Cairns Aquarium
- 2. Dive with the Sharks experience
- 3. Medical check (*must pass to complete dive)
- 4. Introduction to Scuba Dive brief and training session
- 5. All required diving equipment and wetsuit
- 6. Discover Scuba Certificate of Completion
$299.00
1 Key Facts
Included
- 1. All day admission to Cairns Aquarium
- 2. Dive with the Sharks experience
- 3. Medical check (*must pass to complete dive)
- 4. Introduction to Scuba Dive brief and training session
- 5. All required diving equipment and wetsuit
- 6. Discover Scuba Certificate of Completion
Not included
- 1. Transport from/to hotels
- 2. Food & beverages not listed as Inclusions
- 3. Souvenirs
- 4. Travel Insurance
- 5. Any optional extra items (including but not limited to shows / encounters / experiences / photo packages) that are not included in the standard admission. All optional extra items are at own expense.
Destination | Cairns | ||||||||||||
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Depature point | 【Diving with the Sharks】 ● Tour Time*: 12:00 Monday to Friday *not available on Weekends or Public Holidays ● Total duration: 2.5 - 3 hours |
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Address | 5 Florence Street, Cairns QLD 4870 | ||||||||||||
How to get there | ● On foot Cairns Aquarium is within easy walking distance of most accommodation. It is one block from The Esplanade, two blocks from the Lagoon Pool and an easy 5 mins walk from the Cruise Terminal. ● By Car Closest Parking: - 120 Grafton Street Parking (Address: 120 Grafton St, Cairns City QLD 4870), approximately 5 minutes walk - Parking fees apply ● By Public Transport -There are bus services on Lake and Abbott Street, right outside the Aquarium. The Cairns Aquarium is conveniently located in the heart of Cairns, next to Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort and opposite DoubleTree by Hilton. -Please check the Transport QLD timetables (https://translink.com.au/) for more details to plan your trip. |
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Operating hours |
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Check-in requirements | Please ensure you arrive at the Cairns Aquarium admissions counter 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time to allow enough time to check in. Regrettably, failure to arrive before this time will most likely be classified as no-show and result in forfeiting the booking and it cannot be refunded or transferred. If you are not familiar with the area or travelling on a weekend or local public holidays / school holidays, please make sure you've checked your timetable or driving route beforehand, and allow extra travelling time for unexpected delays to ensure you do not miss your check in. |
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What to bring/wear | ● Appropriate clothing for all weather conditions, eg. jacket for cooler months. ● Comfortable enclosed walking shoes ● Prescription mask / /contact lenses (if required) ● Protective clothing, hat, sunscreen lotion, and sunglasses ● Water bottle, Snacks ● Swimwear, towel ● Umbrella / raincoat if rains ● Underwater camera (if desired) ● Money / credit card for optional purchases |
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Other info | 【Important Post-Covid Service Information】 - The educational talks & presentations are temporarily unavailable. ************************************************************************************************************ **BEFORE YOU BOOK, PLEASE READ** ---- Dive with the Sharks ---- ● Divers must agree to the below Terms and Conditions. ● Divers must read and complete the【Dive with the Sharks Medical Form】, please download from Cairns Aquarium's website: https://www.cairnsaquarium.com.au/document/Dive%20with%20the%20Sharks%20Medical%20Form.pdf ● Minimum 1 guest per dive / Maximum 2 guests per dive. ● Minimum age for diving is 14 years old. Any diver under the age of 18 requires parental consent and attendance at the briefing on the day of the dive. ● Divers must be in good health. ● Non-English-speaking guests must be accompanied by a translator for English dive briefing. ● Consumption of alcohol 8 hours prior to dive is not permitted. ● Aircraft travel within 12 hours of dive completion is not permitted. ● Reasonable level of mobility required. ● Guests will need to provide own optical/prescription mask if required, or wear contact lenses during diving. ● Need to have ability to swim and float. ● Guests to undertake pre-dive briefing and pass dive medical. ● If required, guests may need to obtain a dive medical certificate which states they are medically fit to dive. ● If a dive medical is required, it must be obtained prior to undertaking the intro dive instruction and must not be more than 90 days old from dive / water entry date. ● Late arrival or failure to attend the medical and briefing will result in non-admittance and forfeit of dive session. All dives are non-refundable. ● Cairns Aquarium reserves the right to refuse admittance to any person under the influence of drugs, alcohol or behaving in an offensive or uncooperative manner. ● Dive instructors are unable to handle guests' cameras while underwater. ● As Cairns Aquarium cannot predict the behaviour of their animals, this experience does not guarantee each diver will be approached by a shark or other large animals. ---- Cairns Aquarium ---- 【Behaviour Policy】 ● Visitors are expected to behave in an appropriate, respectful and positive manner when interacting with other guests, Cairns Aquarium's staff and animals. ● Unruly or unsafe behaviour that endangers people or animals, disrupts other guests' ability to enjoy their visit, or interferes with business operations will not be tolerated and can result in ejection without a refund. ● Cairns Aquarium requires all guests to wear shirts and shoes during their visit and reserves the right to deny entry and eject any individual without liability from the aquarium and aquarium property. ● When deemed necessary, all bags, backpacks, and packages may be inspected prior to entering the Aquarium. Cairns Aquarium retains the right at all times to refuse admissions or request visitors to leave if they are in violation of Cairns Aquarium's policies. 【Smoking】 ● As per the Queensland Smoking Regulation by-law, smoking (including e-cigarettes) is prohibited anywhere on Aquarium property, including outdoor areas unless signed as a designated smoking area. 【Accredited Service Animals & Pets】 ● For the safety of guest's pet and Cairns Aquarium's animals, pets are not allowed in Cairns Aquarium's facility. ● For the safety of all visitors, Cairns Aquarium requests that pets not be left unattended at any time outside Cairns Aquarium's facility. ● Cairns Aquarium allow accredited trained service and emotional support animals within the Aquarium upon presentation of proper documentation and an identification jacket for the service animal. 【Prohibited Items】 ● For the health and safety of guests and Cairns Aquarium's animals the following items are not permitted to be: -Clothing with offensive or vulgar language -Alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, recreational drugs -Roller blades, roller skates, wheelies, skateboards, child scooters, hover boards (These items may be left with admission staff and collected upon exiting) -Laser pens and pointers -Noise making devices -Any other items deemed to be dangerous or inappropriate by Cairns Aquarium's staff ● Plastic bottles, straws and lids can fall into animal habitats and this can be very dangerous to the animals. While these items are not prohibited Cairns Aquarium do ask that guests take care and dispose of these items responsibly in the garbage receptacles provided. ● Balloons and bubbles can also pose a risk to animal health so these can be left at the admissions desk and collected after visit. Bubbles are also not permitted within the Aquarium as the detergent used in bubbles can pose a risk to animal health. |
2 Overview
【Cairns Aquarium and Reef Research Centre】Dive with the Sharks
Cairns Aquarium
Every day at Cairns Aquarium visitors are provided with guaranteed interaction with some of the rarest and most elusive animals on earth. The incredible biodiversity of the two adjoining World Heritage listed areas, The Wet Tropics and The Great Barrier Reef provides the cast for a show stopping spectacle of colour, shape and movement that you will never see in another single location anywhere else in the world. 16,000 animals from 10 different ecosystems and 71 habitats across Tropical North Queensland are less than a hand span away and their ever-changing activities and behaviours will keep you mesmerised every time you visit.
Dive with the Sharks*
An experience for everyone, whether a certified diver or have never breathed underwater before, can take the plunge into the Cairns Aquarium Reef Tank!
Dive with the Sharks experience begins at 12:00 with a medical check, then experienced dive team will ensure that divers are comfortable with the SCUBA equipment and breathing underwater, before it's time to dive into Cairns Aquarium's underwater world!
*No previous diving experience required
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Highlights
- Total duration: 2.5-3 hours
- Exciting dive experience in the Cairns Aquarium Reef Tank. Come face to face with reef sharks, large stingrays, Queensland groupers and lots more! (approx. 20 minutes)
- Medical check (*must pass to complete dive)
- Introduction to Scuba Dive brief and training session (approx. 90 minutes)
- All required diving equipment and wetsuit
- Discover Scuba Certificate of Completion
- All-day General Admission entry to the Cairns Aquarium
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Itinerary
- 【From 09:00】Admission to the Cairns Aquarium available from 9am onwards on day of dive
- 【12:00】Meet at Cairns Aquarium admissions and complete Dive Medical Check
- 【12:30】Commence dive briefing & dive skills
- 【14:00】Dive with the Sharks in the Cairns Aquarium Reef Tank
- 【14:30】Conclude dive, shower
- 【15:00】Receive dive certificate
Shows and Talks*
*Reference only and subject to change without notice
Enjoy daily talks and presentations provided by the very knowledgeable and entertaining AquaNuts - they are called that because they are crazy about all things aquatic and when you meet them you'll see and hear that for yourselves!
Time | Shows and Talks | Location |
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09:30 | Flooded Billabong River Monsters | River Monsters Amphitheatre (Ground Floor) |
10:00 | Terrestrial Encounter Touch and Talk | Wet Tropics Rainforest Zone (Level 1) |
10:30 | Ribbon Reef Denizens of the Deep | Deep Reef Amphitheatre (Level 1) |
11:00 | Coral Sea Life of Sharks and Rays | Oceanarium (Ground Floor) |
11:30 | Open Ocean Curious & Coloured | Coral Sea Amphitheatre (Ground Floor) |
13:00 | Flooded Billabong River Monsters | River Monsters Amphitheatre (Ground Floor) |
13:30 | Terrestrial Encounter Touch and Talk | Wet Tropics Rainforest Zone (Level 1) |
14:00 | Ribbon Reef Denizens of the Deep | Deep Reef Amphitheatre (Level 1) |
14:30 | Marine Encounter Touch and Talk | Marine Touch Pools (Level 1) |
15:00 | Coral Sea Life of Sharks and Rays | Oceanarium (Ground Floor) |
16:00 | Open Ocean Curious & Coloured | Coral Sea Amphitheatre (Level 1) |

An experience for everyone, whether a certified diver or have never breathed underwater before, can take the plunge into the Cairns Aquarium Reef Tank!

Dive with the Sharks experience begins at 12:00 with a medical check, then experienced dive team will ensure that divers are comfortable with the SCUBA equipment and breathing underwater, before it's time to dive into Cairns Aquarium's underwater world!

Exciting dive experience in the Cairns Aquarium Reef Tank. Come face to face with reef sharks, large stingrays, Queensland groupers and lots more!

Every day at Cairns Aquarium visitors are provided with guaranteed interaction with some of the rarest and most elusive animals on earth.

With over 16,000 animals and unique opportunities to move up close to some of the world's most fascinating, elusive or deadly creatures, every visit is unforgettable.

16,000 animals from 10 different ecosystems and 71 habitats across Tropical North Queensland are less than a hand span away and their ever-changing activities and behaviours will keep you mesmerised every time you visit.

Lurking in the depths of this exhibit are also giant barramundi and one of the largest species of freshwater whip rays. Other fish such as sooty grunters and mangrove jacks may just make an appearance too!

The Cape York and Gulf Savannah region is home to one of the World's rarest and most bizarre fish, the Freshwater Sawfish which can grow as large as 7 metres and has a 2 metre snout or rostrum covered in dangerous bony teeth.

Taking a closer look has its rewards; you might see something you've never noticed before but to really understand the incredible adaptations and behaviours of these creatures you should attend one of the scheduled daily presentations or talks from one of the incredibly knowledgeable AquaNuts.

The 10-metre-high, 200,000 litre deep reef face tank is visible over both levels of the Aquarium so you can see how fish move between the shallows and the ocean depths.

Your journey through the Cairns Aquarium follows a drop of rain as it descends from the tropical rainforest covered range, to join creeks, streams and rivers before travelling through the rainforest, across the mangrove flats and coral reef systems before entering the Coral Sea.

As the only aquarium in the world dedicated exclusively to the habitats and species of tropical North Queensland, the Cairns Aquarium connects visitors with the natural wonders of The Great Barrier Reef, The Wet Tropics, The Gulf Savannah and Cape York regions.

With over 16,000 animals and unique opportunities to move up close to some of the world's most fascinating, elusive or deadly creatures, every visit is unforgettable.

16,000 animals from 10 different ecosystems and 71 habitats across Tropical North Queensland are less than a hand span away and their ever-changing activities and behaviours will keep you mesmerised every time you visit.

The displays highlight these beautiful creatures so you can see what creeps around the tropical forests late at night!

The richest diversity of spiders and insects known in Australia and possibly the world, can be found in Tropical North Queensland.

The Mangroves play an important role in filtering out sediment from mountain water streams and provides a safe nursery for many young reef fish.
3 Policy
Cancellation Policy
● If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee. ● If you cancel between 0 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee. ● If no show, no refund.