Can you scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef without any certification?

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s best place to scuba dive – hands down! This incredible natural wonder is full of thousands of individual reefs all containing their own unique fish, sea and coral species, making it truly the ideal place to chuck on your wetsuit, hook up the tank and get down into some of the world’s most otherworldly ecosystems.

However, scuba diving without certification is a big no-no in Australia, as it is a passion that requires training and, consequently, certification! But this doesn’t mean budding divers can’t learn the trade there, as there are plenty of options for introductory diving in the Great Barrier Reef.

So, what is introductory diving? It’s pretty much as it sounds: you are introduced to this wonderful adventure by an experienced, certified scuba diver who will look after your safety during the dive. This is different to a scuba diving course, and you won’t leave the dive with certification – it’s just an awesome way to see if doing a dive course is something you would want to do in the Great Barrier Reef or beyond!

So, what magical wonder awaits you in the incredible Great Barrier Reef? And why should you certainly find yourself there getting stuck into an introductory dive before taking on the real thing?

Let’s find out below…

The reef is simply magnificent

Stretching over a whopping 2,700km, the Great Barrier Reef is like nowhere else on Earth. That’s not even to mention the thousands of species that inhabit its gorgeous waters and colourful coral, including everything from the giant clam to dugongs, minke whales, clownfish and hammerhead sharks!

There are many places to hop aboard a catamaran and see the wonderful reef, but we recommend heading out from vibrant Cairns, as there are so many amazing spots located a short boat ride from the town centre!

Glass bottom boat tours

So you’ve done your introductory dive, loved it, and are getting set to enrol in an open water diving course. But that doesn’t mean you don’t want to experience the gorgeous reef from above water, does it?

So, why not hop aboard a glass bottom boat and see all the wonders of the reef without having to get back down in the water? Tours operate routinely, and they are simply a fantastic way to see the fascinating life congregating around the vibrant corals…

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.