Dive shops in Australia
A dive shop and a dive centre are not always the same thing. Some businesses mainly sell equipment, some mainly teach, some run boats, and some do all three.
Several well-known Australian names are primarily equipment retailers, and a number of those are oriented toward spearfishing and freediving rather than scuba. They may still be the best place to buy equipment — they are not necessarily the place to book a course or get a regulator serviced.
A complete Australian equipment directory should cover masks, fins, snorkels, wetsuits, drysuits, regulators, BCDs, backplates, wings, cylinders, computers, lights, SMBs, reels, cameras, technical equipment and CCR accessories — and record which of those a given business actually carries.
A beginner does not need to purchase everything before training. Mask fit matters more than brand, fins should suit your diving style and environment, and exposure protection needs to fit properly to be warm.
A personal dive computer becomes increasingly useful after certification. Regulators and BCDs can reasonably wait until you understand what style of diving you prefer.
Buying decisions should account for how the equipment will be supported over its life, not just how it performs out of the box. Where it can be serviced, and how quickly, matters more over the life of a regulator than the purchase price.
- servicing availability where you live
- parts availability and typical lead times
- environmental sealing for cold water
- port layout for your configuration
- hose routing, particularly for sidemount or twinset
- breathing performance at depth
- intended water temperature
The main styles suit different diving, and the right choice depends on what you actually do rather than what is on the wall.
- Jacket — common in recreational training and rental, familiar and forgiving
- Back inflate — moves buoyancy behind the diver for better trim
- Backplate and wing — modular and durable, popular with technical and experienced recreational divers
- Sidemount — designed for side-mounted cylinder configurations
Regulator ServicingWho services which brands, what oxygen cleaning involves, and why selling a regulator is not the same as servicing it.Cylinder TestingVisual inspection, hydrostatic testing and valve servicing — and why inland divers care most.Nitrox FillsStandard mixes, custom blending, and why a simple yes or no is not enough information.Air FillsThe most basic dive service, and one worth checking for hours, pressure and cylinder requirements.Equipment HireRental gear ranges from basic recreational sets to drysuits, steel cylinders and DPVs.Equipment RetailersA dive shop and a dive centre are not always the same business.
52 businesses have equipment sales recorded. Retail range varies enormously, and a business selling a brand does not necessarily service it.
Queensland
- Bundaberg Aqua ScubaA Bundaberg-based training and equipment business serving the local diving community and southern reef access.
- Scuba World MooloolabaA Sunshine Coast business combining training, retail and local boat diving including the ex-HMAS Brisbane.
- Go Dive BrisbaneA Brisbane business combining training, equipment retail and service support for local divers.
- Dive Dive DiveA long-standing Brisbane business associated with technical training alongside recreational courses, retail and servicing. Technical capability should be audited service by service rather than assumed.
- ADRENO BrisbaneA large equipment retailer with a strong spearfishing and freediving emphasis alongside scuba equipment. This is primarily a retail business rather than a training centre.
- DiversWorldA Queensland equipment and service business. Current retail range, servicing capability and any training should be verified directly.
- ADRENO Gold CoastAn equipment retailer with a spearfishing and freediving emphasis. Primarily retail rather than a training centre.
- Dive Warehouse Gold CoastA Gold Coast equipment retailer. Whether training and servicing are offered in-house requires verification.
- Neptune Spear & DiveA spearfishing-oriented business on the Gold Coast. Spearfishing and freediving businesses serve a different customer from conventional scuba centres.
New South Wales
- Jetty Dive CentreA Coffs Harbour business combining training, retail, servicing and charter access to the Solitary Islands Marine Park.
- Feet First DiveA Nelson Bay operation serving the Fly Point and Port Stephens shore-diving community alongside training and boat diving.
- Terrigal Dive CentreA Terrigal business combining training, equipment support and access to local reef and wreck diving.
- Dive Centre ManlyA Northern Beaches operation with a long-standing presence at Shelly Beach, offering recreational training, boat diving and technical pathways.
- Frog Dive SydneyA long-established Sydney business associated with recreational and technical training alongside retail and workshop services.
- Abyss Scuba DivingA Sydney operation associated with training across recreational and technical levels, boat diving and equipment services.
- Dive Centre BondiAn Eastern Suburbs operation providing recreational training, local diving and technical pathways.
- Pro Dive SydneyA Sydney training and retail operation serving the metropolitan recreational market.
- Pro Dive BrookvaleA Northern Beaches training and retail location serving local divers.
- ADRENO SydneyAn equipment retailer with a spearfishing and freediving emphasis alongside scuba equipment. Primarily retail rather than a training centre.
- Scuba WarehouseA Sydney equipment retailer. Whether training and in-house servicing are offered requires verification.
- Ocean HutA Sydney dive equipment business. Retail range, servicing and training availability require verification.
- Shellharbour ScubaA Shellharbour operation serving the Illawarra diving community, with access to Bass Point and local reef diving.
- Wilderness Sea n' SkiA far south coast business providing equipment and dive services. Range and training availability require verification.
Victoria
- ADRENO MelbourneAn equipment retailer with a spearfishing and freediving emphasis. Primarily retail rather than a training centre.
- Scuba CultureA Melbourne business providing training and equipment support for local divers.
- The Scuba DoctorA Victorian equipment and service business with an extensive retail presence, located to serve both Melbourne and Mornington Peninsula divers.
- Diveline Scuba CentreA Victorian business associated with technical training and gas support alongside recreational courses.
- Bay City ScubaA Victorian business associated with recreational and technical training alongside equipment and gas services.
- Snorkel & Dive Safari AltonaA Melbourne retail and training business, listed among Victorian operations associated with technical services.
- Extreme WatersportA Victorian business listed among operations associated with technical diving services.
- Dive Gear AustraliaA Victorian equipment business listed among operations relevant to technical diving equipment supply.
- Geelong Dive CentreA Geelong business providing training, equipment and local diving support.
Western Australia
- Perth ScubaOne of the most fully documented operations in Western Australia, covering recreational, professional, technical and freediving training alongside substantial equipment facilities.
- Dolphin Scuba DivingA Perth business providing training, equipment and service support.
- ADRENO PerthAn equipment retailer with a spearfishing and freediving emphasis. Primarily retail rather than a training centre.
- Dive ImportsA Perth equipment business. Retail range, servicing and training availability require verification.
- Spear WestA Perth spearfishing and freediving business. This serves a different customer from a conventional scuba centre.
- Batavia Coast Dive & WatersportsA Geraldton business providing equipment, training and support for divers heading to the Abrolhos Islands.
- Southcoast Diving SuppliesAn Albany business providing equipment and dive services for the southern WA coast, including HMAS Perth access support.
- Esperance Diving & FishingAn Esperance business providing diving and fishing charters to the Recherche Archipelago, along with equipment support.
South Australia
- Adelaide ScubaAn Adelaide business providing training, equipment and local diving support, located near Glenelg.
- Underwater SportsAn Adelaide equipment and service business. Retail range and servicing capability require verification.
- The Dive ShackAn Adelaide business combining retail, servicing and training for South Australian divers.
- Divers DelightAn Adelaide dive business. Retail range, servicing and training availability require verification.
- The Dive Shop Port LincolnA Port Lincoln business providing equipment, fills and dive services — a conventional dive business distinct from the region's cage tourism operators.
- Dive ExperienceA Mount Gambier business serving the region's cave and sinkhole diving community, including equipment and gas support.
Tasmania
- Go Dive TasmaniaA Tasmanian business providing training, equipment and service support for cold-water diving.
- Tasmania Tech and Dive CentreThe Tasmanian operation most clearly associated with technical diving services, spanning recreational and technical training with technical gas support.
- The Dive Shop HobartA Hobart equipment and service business supporting local cold-water divers.
Australian Capital Territory
- Indepth ScubaA Canberra operation that functions as both a training school and a life-support service facility, with cylinder testing and a full range of gas fills.
- Lady of the Sea Diving AcademyA Canberra operation with an unusually complete set of facilities for an inland centre, including an onsite pool, classroom, retail shop and dive boat.