These 5 Spots Deliver the Best Scuba Diving in Sydney for All Skill Levels
Sydney’s skyline gets all the love, and rightfully so. But have you seen what’s going on underwater? Just beyond the beaches, a whole other world filled with colourful reefs and diverse marine life that makes the city even more special.
That’s why it’s not surprising that many are getting more and more into scuba diving lately.
The tricky part is that there are plenty of scuba diving operators in Sydney, and not all of them offer the same experience. If it’s your first time (or even your tenth), figuring out who to book can feel like a lot.
But don’t worry! We already did the legwork. We’ve reviewed and rounded up the best scuba diving experiences in Sydney so you can spend less time researching and more time exploring!
How much does scuba diving in Sydney cost?
Scuba diving in Sydney may cost between $100 and $800, depending on the course or lesson. A guided boat dive is cheaper than a full open water certification course. Other factors that affect pricing include gear rental and schedule.
1. Abyss Scuba Diving
Address: 278 Rocky Point Rd, Ramsgate
Contact Details: +61295839662
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Saturday – Sunday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Abyss Scuba Diving’s strong safety standards earned our trust. They hold a 5-star Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) certification, the highest level a dive centre can hold.
Apart from that, it’s reassuring to know that they aren’t selective about who they accept. They offer beginner courses, like the learn-to-dive courses, and advanced dives for more experienced scuba enthusiasts.
Plus, their courses typically have low student-to-instructor ratios, with a maximum of four students per instructor. This ensures safety and highly personalised attention.
Courses also include gear rental and maintenance, which we considered a practical option for those who prefer not to bring their own equipment.
We also love the strong community vibe here. They have an active dive community that runs free guided shore dives on weekends, which helps connect divers.
We’re just disappointed to hear a few complaints about sessions feeling rushed, especially for beginners.
Great experience
“We had a great time on our open water dive course this week. Bo looked after us and made us feel safe and confident. My 15 year old daughter had a great time gaining her certification and I had a great time doing a skills refresher. Visibility unfortunately was poor due to weather but we still managed to spot some of the bear island locals. Would highly recommend Abyss.”
-Ms. Lisa Mason, Google Review
Friendly and professional
“Just did my open water course and the team were friendly, professional and gave the assurance that I needed to complete it and become a confident diver.
Shout out to my instructor David who made the experience, phenomenal and equipped me with the necessary skills to start my scuba diving journey.”
-Mr. YeojDjoey, Google Review
2. Scuba Warehouse
Address: 1/50 George St, Clyde
Contact Details: +61296891389
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Scuba Warehouse stood out to us for its large selection of scuba gear, from wetsuits in different sizes to regulators and masks.
Customers we spoke with also shared that the gears are high-quality and well-maintained, making their dives smoother and less stressful.
They also offer personal fittings and on-site certified service technicians. This shows they prioritise proper equipment setup and maintenance, which contributes to safer dives.
Beyond the gears, we love how varied their scuba driving courses are. They offer eLearning for those just starting their journey, guided scuba dives around Sydney, and even courses for kids.
Aside from that, their 20 years of presence in the local diving community suggest familiarity with the city’s dive conditions and best spots. This means a reduced chance of cancellations due to unexpected conditions and more efficient dive planning.
Their instructors are also PADI-certified, reassuring us that they follow recognised safety and instructional standards.
The only thing to note is that they can be a bit salesy when signing up for their courses. Not a deal breaker, but it can be annoying, especially for beginners.
Highly skilled and trained divers
“I did my scuba diving course with Iain Cox from Scuba Warehouse Home of Geo Divers. Iain is a highly skilled scuba diver and trainer. Thorough, patient and very good at his craft. I’m so grateful for his training and also to Judith for helping me with the right gear in the shop. Thanks also to the three very helpful dive masters we had with us during the course. Brilliant!”
-Mr. Robert Valades, Google Review
Great teacher
“I have been doing my rescue and dive master course with scuba warehouse, and Paul harvell has been fantastic! Great teacher, always very professional and super knowledgeable”
-R F C, Google Review
3. Frog Dive Scuba Centres
Address: 288 Victoria Rd, Gladesville
Contact Details: +61299585699
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Operating since 1985, Frog Dive Scuba Centres has a very well-organised operation.
They run in small training groups, max is 8 students. Each class has an instructor and a dive master to ensure safer and more personalised diving lessons.
We love how they designed their training structure to support divers at various stages. Their courses are PADI-certified and target both newbies and those with advanced specialities.
We also think owning their own vessel is a big advantage. It allows them to conduct boat dives around Sydney Harbour with more control over scheduling and logistics.
Another highlight for us is the free guided shore dives every weekend. We see this as a huge plus for those who want regular diving and want to meet other divers without extra cost.
Overall, Frog Dive Scuba Centres tick most of our boxes in terms of safety, structure, and community. That said, we do think their limited weekend hours could be restrictive for those who have busy weekdays.
Patient instructors
“Wow! Can highly recommend Frog Dive. Just finished the open dive course and it was a life changing experience. Sean our instructor was just exceptional- expert knowledge, patient with us newbies and made the experience lots of fun! The small groups and individualised attention means that you are comfortable to ask questions and always feel safe and secure. I learnt so much and can’t wait to get back in the water soon!”
-Ms. Rebecca Franklin, Google Review
Competent instructors
“Great days of diving. Confident with the skills learned. Instructors were competent and knowledgeable. Saw a great range of creatures at the dive sites.”
-Ms. Alastair Moran, Google Review
4. Sydney Dive Charters
Address: New South Head Rd, Rose Bay
Contact Details: +61417417295
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday – Sunday: 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Another well-established diving centre we found through local search is Sydney Dive Charters. Their 40 years in the industry are a positive indicator of their familiarity with local dive conditions and operational stability as well.
What we honestly like about this operator is that they offer a variety of dive options. There’s something for many skill levels, from guided boat dives to even night dives.
Experienced divers also shared that they keep coming back for the wreck dives offered by Sydney Dive Charters.
We also find their rental equipment to be well-maintained and suitable for regular boat dives. This helps reduce preparation time, making the experience simple for those who don’t have their own gear.
Aside from their standard dives, they also offer special offers, such as whale-watching during whale season and private events for groups.
Their team seems to value their divers as well. They’re very accommodating, even serving food on the boat, which left a great impression on a lot of the divers we spoke with.
If there are disadvantages, it’s their poor email communication. Some said the team became unresponsive after booking their courses.
Amazing dive experience
“Amazing diving experience!
I did a double boat dive and everything was perfect: very professional team, clear briefing, great equipment, and a relaxed atmosphere. The dive sites were beautiful and I felt safe from start to finish. Thank you to the whole team !”
-Mr. Erwan Suzur, Google Review
Helpful instructor
“Dived with Jason at Shelly beach, Manly. Was a fantastic dive and Jason was so helpful, giving us all some great tips and guiding us through the dive really well. Saw Wobbegong and Port Jackson sharks, Cuttlefish and plenty of other animals.”
-Ms. Reece Cameron, Google Review
5. PRO DIVE Sydney
Address: G02 Ground Level/184 Bourke Rd, Alexandria
Contact Details: +61296656333
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Saturday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
PRO DIVE Sydney impressed us with the comprehensiveness of their scuba courses. From open water to advanced and deep diver courses, they have it.
In fact, they are famous for their 2.5-day open-water course, which lets you earn an internationally recognised certification.
Aside from that, we also appreciate how they simplify the logistics of their equipment. Instead of divers bringing their equipment, they’ll pack it up for you, so you can just dive straight into the water.
Since they also own a shop and gear hire services, divers have access to quality wetsuits, masks, and fins. Servicing and air fills of equipment are also available.
Apart from that, we find their pricing to be one of the most competitive. Some beginners also shared that they were able to experience diving at such an affordable rate.
However, from what we’ve heard, they tend to overcrowd their pool for swim test – leaving no room for personalised instruction.
Great service and attitude
“Just a quick shoutout to the team at ProDive Alexandria for their services and attitude1 They’re always a great team to deal with, if its their courses or fun dives, its always a delight! Recent shoutout to Caleb for his efforts on our recent double boat dive to Long Reef on 07/02 and to Laurence for his ongoing assistance via email! Can’t wait to continue with the Deep 40M + Nitrox Courses and maybe even their Cairns liveaboard!”
-Mr. Ethan Finchett, Google Review
Incredible experience
“Recently completed my Open Water scuba course at Pro Dive and it was an incredible experience. The team were extremely organised, knowledgable and reassuring throughout the whole weekend. Special shout out to Jules and Jamie for being such great instructors! Can’t wait to come back to complete my advanced”
-Ms. Evie Gardiner, Google Review