Queensland Holidays - FAQs - Safety

How safe is diving in Queensland?
Queensland has an excellent safety record and Queensland's warm waters are ideal for year-round diving. Dive operators are required to conform to strict health and safety regulations specified by the Queensland Government. Your dive leader will brief you on any potential concerns you may encounter in a particular region.

If I do an introductory or resort dive will I be given assistance?
There will always be a dive instructor in the water with you. It is best to remain close to the instructor so that they can assist you if required. If you have to go to the surface, swim slowly and keep breathing. Your dive instructor will instruct you in the correct procedures to follow.

I am a certified diver - do I need supervision to dive in Queensland?
Some certificated divers do not have extensive or recent training or dive experience when they come to Queensland. Sometimes sea conditions pose special challenges, such as currents, night dives or deep walls. Make sure that the dive operator fully understands your diving experience so that they can plan dives accordingly. Many trips offer check out dives or have guided dives with experienced staff. Guided dives allow divers to see the best things a dive site has to offer with qualified divers available to provide assistance if required. Ask your dive operator about guided dives and go with a guide when they are available.

What processes are in place to ensure no one is left behind on a dive trip?
On each dive trip head counts taken both when the boat departs on the trip and before the boat departs from the dive site. At a minimum each head count is done twice, each time by a different crew member.
Additionally divers are asked to sign a dive safety log after each dive.

What about marine stingers?
During the warmer months, (November-May) when participating in water-based activities, it is recommended that full body coverage in the form of lycra bodysuits or wetsuits be worn to minimise the risk of jellyfish stings. Marine operators will have lycra bodysuits and/or wetsuits available for hire. For more information on marine stingers, visit the Dive and Snorkel Safety pages on this website.

Are there sharks on the Great Barrier Reef and other Queensland reefs?
Yes, there are sharks in every ocean. A variety of sharks inhabit the Great Barrier Reef and reefs along the Queensland coast. What we most commonly encounter are smaller species, which pose no threat to divers or snorkellers. Various operators conduct controlled shark dives and research programs studying behaviour, movements, breeding and growth.

The infamous Great White Shark, does not reside in the tropical waters off the Queensland coast, but is found in the colder southern Australian waters.

What about crocodiles?
Crocodiles are found in coastal estuarine waters in North Queensland - not near reef and island dive sites, so they are not a concern to divers or snorkellers.

Do I need to have a medical?
To participate in any dive course, a dive medical must be completed by a qualified diving doctor, in accordance with the Australian Standard. For introductory or resort dives or snorkelling, you will need to complete a medical questionnaire to ascertain your capability to participate in a dive or snorkelling activity. Refer to Dive and Snorkel Safety pages for more detail.

Does my travel insurance cover diving?
Travel insurance generally excludes high-risk activities such as scuba diving, though some policies may offer you an option for these types of activities. Diver evacuation insurance (Divers Alert Network - DAN) or similar is available internationally and is recommended to cover you for diving emergency evacuation. Talk to your dive operator or travel agent about available insurance options.

Are there recompression (hyperbaric) chambers in Queensland?
Yes. The nearest recompression chamber to the reef is in Townsville, 450km to the south of Cairns, with a second chamber in Brisbane.

Diving, Flying & Altitudes
Planning diving around a tight travel schedule? It is recommended that you should wait at least 24 hours after diving before you travel to more than 300 metres (or 1,000 feet) above sea level. Otherwise decompression sickness may result. Bear in mind that flying, ballooning, parachuting and even driving over a mountain range can put you over this altitude limit.