Specialist dive travel wholesaler Diveplanit Travel has hosted a targeted familiarisation tour for North American dive club managers, in partnership with Fiji Airways, highlighting new opportunities for travel agents to sell commissionable, multi-destination scuba diving packages to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.
The program forms part of Diveplanit’s inbound dive tourism strategy and demonstrates the ease of combining Tropical North Queensland and Fiji via Fiji Airways’ direct Nadi–Cairns service, operating three times per week, with seamless one-stop connections from Los Angeles, Dallas–Fort Worth and Vancouver.
Cairns showcased as a multi-day dive and touring destination
The 12-night itinerary commenced in Cairns, where participants experienced four-star accommodation, a three-night Ribbon Reefs liveaboard aboard Spirit of Freedom, and immersive topside experiences including the Daintree Rainforest and Mandingalbay Indigenous Cultural Tours.
The program then continued to Fiji, with resort-based diving at Waidroka Bay Resort and Volivoli Beach Resort, demonstrating how two of the South Pacific’s most in-demand dive destinations can be packaged together efficiently.
Commissionable dive packages for travel agents
Diveplanit works with retail and wholesale travel agents to create fully commissionable scuba diving holiday packages, managing complex dive logistics including international and domestic airfares, accommodation, liveaboards, dive permits, equipment hire and transfers.
Packages can be tailored for group travel, dive clubs, special interest groups and FIT travellers, removing operational complexity for agents while delivering high-value product to clients.
Confirmed group bookings underline demand
Participating dive travel coordinators represented established clubs with hundreds of members across the United States, each committing to return with group bookings of 10–20 divers, with at least one confirmed group of 24 divers already secured as a direct result of the program.
Diveplanit Business Development Manager Deborah Dickson-Smith said the initiative highlighted strong trade potential for agents selling specialist dive travel.
“Dive travel can be complex to package, which is why we work closely with travel agents to provide commissionable, end-to-end solutions that make it easy to sell,” said Dickson-Smith. “This program shows how Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef can be packaged confidently for North American clients, with strong demand already confirmed.”
Airline and destination support
The familiarisation tour was supported by Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) and regional partners including Spirit of Freedom, FNQ Nature Tours, Mandingalbay Authentic Indigenous Tours, Cairns Aquarium, Dundee’s on the Waterfront, Pullman Reef Casino and Pacific International Hotel.
According to Mark Olsen, CEO, Tourism Tropical North Queensland, improved international air access is key to the region’s growth:
“The Fiji Airways Nadi–Cairns service strengthens Tropical North Queensland’s connection with key North American markets and supports our strategy to attract high-value international visitors, particularly in the dive and nature-based tourism sectors.”
Flights for the fam group were provided by Fiji Airways, whose new Cairns route supports efficient, multi-destination itineraries across the South Pacific.
“The direct Nadi–Cairns route is a transformational step in connecting North American travellers to Tropical North Queensland,” said Kamal Haer, Chief Marketing & Sales Officer, Fiji Airways. “It not only broadens access to one of the world’s most iconic marine environments but also enhances tourism exchange between our regions, making it easier for travellers to fly between North America and Northern Australia.”
Ongoing trade engagement
Diveplanit’s broader trade strategy includes ongoing participation in key international dive and travel trade events, including the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) Show, consumer and trade dive expos in Long Beach and Atlantic City, and targeted marketing across scuba trade media.
