SSI Emergency First Response in Cairns - Price, Duration & Booking

Course overview

Learn to respond calmly in an emergency with the SSI React Right course in Cairns, a one-day first-aid and CPR programme that requires no diving experience. You gain the life-support skills that satisfy the prerequisite for SSI Diver Stress & Rescue and Divemaster while preparing for further Great Barrier Reef training. It welcomes divers and non-divers alike.

What you’ll learn

Perform adult CPR and manage an emergency scene as the primary responder
Provide primary care for unresponsive, non-breathing casualties
Deliver secondary care for injuries and illness
Control bleeding and manage shock and suspected spinal injuries
Use barriers and an AED to reduce risk during a rescue

Prerequisites

No diving experience or swimming ability required
No minimum age for participation, suitable for teens and adults
Open to divers and non-divers
No medical form required for this land-based course

What's included · What's not

Included

SSI React Right primary assessment and CPR module
Secondary first-aid and injury-management module
Hands-on manikin practice and an emergency scenario workshop
AED orientation and oxygen-awareness introduction
SSI digital React Right learning materials
Digital certification valid as a Stress & Rescue and Divemaster prerequisite

Not included

Flights and airport transfers
Accommodation
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Gratuities

The SSI Emergency First Response pathway

SSI React Right teaches internationally recognised CPR and first-aid skills through SSI's digital platform and is the accepted prerequisite for SSI Diver Stress & Rescue and Divemaster. Certification is typically refreshed every 24 months.

Where you'll dive in Cairns

React Right is delivered in a classroom in Cairns rather than the water, so it is easy to schedule alongside reef trips and to pair with the Diver Stress & Rescue course.

Prefer a different certifying agency?PADI Emergency First Response in Cairns →

Not included? Sort the rest of your trip

Flights and accommodation aren’t part of the course price, here’s how to book them around your dates.

Getting there

Fly into Cairns (CNS) · 12-14 hours from India.

Where to stay

Hotels and stays near the dive sites, compare rates and book direct.

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Probability of sightings · month-by-month

What you're likely to see each month, based on historic operator logs.

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Day-by-day itinerary

Day1

Primary and secondary care

Work through SSI React Right theory on the digital platform, practise CPR and first-aid skills with manikins, and complete an emergency scenario to certify in one day.

Verified through iDive

Every partner school in the iDive network is vetted on safety, instructor credentials, equipment standards and student feedback. Talk to a iDive dive pro on WhatsApp for current availability and reviews specific to Cairns.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be a diver?

No. React Right is a land-based first-aid and CPR course open to anyone, whether or not you dive.

How long does it stay current?

First-aid and CPR skills are generally recommended to be refreshed every 24 months.

Is React Right required for Stress & Rescue?

Yes. A current first-aid and CPR certification such as React Right is required before the SSI Diver Stress & Rescue course.

How long is the course?

It is usually completed in a single day.

When is the best time to dive Cairns?

Peak season is Jun–Nov, clearest visibility, calmest seas. Shoulder (May, Dec) is still good with fewer crowds.

Do Indians need a visa for Australia?

eVisa (ETA). Confirm latest requirements before booking flights.

How long is the flight from India?

12-14 hours · one-way fares around ₹40K-65K.

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