Equipment Retailers
A dive shop and a dive centre are not always the same business.
Some businesses mainly sell equipment. Some mainly teach. Some run boats. Some do all three, and grouping them under one label is how divers end up at a retailer expecting a course.
A complete Australian equipment directory should distinguish retail from training, servicing, fills and charter operations, because those are the services divers are actually looking for.
It should also distinguish scuba retailers from spearfishing and freediving specialists, which serve a genuinely different customer despite the overlap in stock.
Choosing a BCD
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, durable, popular with technical and experienced recreational divers
- sidemount — designed for side-mounted cylinder configurations
What a beginner actually needs
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.
Support after the sale
Where the equipment can be serviced, and how quickly, matters more over the life of a regulator than the purchase price.
Buying locally from a shop that services what it sells is often worth a price difference.
What to establish before relying on a shop
- masks, fins and snorkels
- wetsuits and drysuits
- regulators and BCDs
- backplates and wings
- cylinders
- computers
- lights, SMBs and reels
- cameras and housings
- technical equipment
- CCR accessories
Centres recording this service 60
Queensland 9
Scuba World Mooloolaba
ListedMooloolaba · Sunshine Coast · QLD
A Sunshine Coast business combining training, retail and local boat diving including the ex-HMAS Brisbane.
scubaworld.com.au · (07) 5444 8595
Go Dive Brisbane
ListedWindsor · Brisbane & Moreton Bay · QLD
A Brisbane business combining training, equipment retail and service support for local divers.
godive.com.au · (07) 3857 7255
Bundaberg Aqua Scuba
ListedBundaberg · Bundaberg & Agnes Water · QLD
A Bundaberg-based training and equipment business serving the local diving community and southern reef access.
aquascuba.com.au · 0402 937 765
ADRENO Brisbane
ListedBrisbane · Brisbane & Moreton Bay · QLD
A large equipment retailer with a strong spearfishing and freediving emphasis alongside scuba equipment. This is primarily a retail business rather than a training centre.
adreno.com.au
ADRENO Gold Coast
ListedGold Coast · Gold Coast · QLD
An equipment retailer with a spearfishing and freediving emphasis. Primarily retail rather than a training centre.
adreno.com.au
Dive Dive Dive
ListedTingalpa · Brisbane & Moreton Bay · QLD
A 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.
divedivedive.com.au · (07) 3890 4443
Dive Warehouse Gold Coast
ListedBundall · Gold Coast · QLD
A Gold Coast equipment retailer. Whether training and servicing are offered in-house requires verification.
divewarehouse.com.au · (07) 5531 6511
DiversWorld
ListedCairns · Cairns · QLD
A Queensland equipment and service business. Current retail range, servicing capability and any training should be verified directly.
diversworld.com.au · (07) 4041 4004
Neptune Spear & Dive
ListedMackay · Mackay · QLD
A spearfishing-oriented business on the Gold Coast. Spearfishing and freediving businesses serve a different customer from conventional scuba centres.
neptunespearanddive.com.au
New South Wales 25
Abyss Scuba Diving
ProfiledRamsgate · Sydney South & Botany Bay · NSW
A Sydney operation associated with training across recreational and technical levels, boat diving and equipment services.
abyss.com.au · +61 2 9583 9662
Frog Dive Sydney
ProfiledGladesville · Sydney South & Botany Bay · NSW
A Willoughby PADI 5 Star IDC founded in 1985, teaching recreational through Trimix and rebreather courses with PADI, SDI and TDI, and testing cylinders in-store.
frogdive.com.au · (02) 9958 5699
Pro Dive Sydney
ProfiledSt Peters · Sydney South & Botany Bay · NSW
Pro Dive's inner-Sydney training centre at Alexandria, close to Camp Cove, Clovelly, Gordons Bay and Bare Island, with courses to Divemaster, hire and servicing.
prodive.com.au · (02) 9665 6333
Dive Lord Howe
ProfiledLord Howe Island · Lord Howe Island · NSW
Lord Howe Island's major verified PADI operation, identified as a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort and running the island's certified diving, training and charters.
divelordhowe.com · (02) 6563 2253
Dive Centre Manly
ProfiledManly · Sydney South & Botany Bay · NSW
A Northern Beaches operation with a long-standing presence at Shelly Beach, offering recreational training, boat diving and technical pathways.
divesydney.com.au · (02) 9977 4355
Pro Dive Brookvale
ProfiledBrookvale · Sydney South & Botany Bay · NSW
Pro Dive's Northern Beaches centre at Brookvale, running the 43-foot dive boat Sea Life V alongside courses, hire, air fills and servicing.
prodive.com.au · (02) 9977 5966
Dive Centre Bondi
ProfiledBondi · Sydney South & Botany Bay · NSW
An Eastern Suburbs PADI 5 Star IDC on Bondi Road teaching through Instructor and technical levels, with air, Nitrox and Trimix fills and manufacturer-approved servicing.
divebondi.com.au · +61 2 9369 3855
Jetty Dive Centre
ProfiledCoffs Harbour · Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands · NSW
Coffs Harbour's PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre, running the Solitary Islands dive fleet from the Jetty Strip with training, retail, Nitrox and whale swims.
jettydive.com.au · (02) 6651 1611
Dive Newcastle
ProfiledBeresfield · Port Stephens · NSW
A Beresfield dive superstore teaching RAID courses, with air fills, servicing, rental and a large scuba, freediving and spearfishing range.
neptunesports.com.au · (02) 4966 4900
Central Coast Divers
ProfiledKillarney Vale · Central Coast · NSW
An SSI Instructor Training Facility at Killarney Vale with two full-time Instructor Trainers, onsite servicing for all major brands, and freediving courses.
centralcoastdivers.com.au · +61 2 4389 3483
Grey Nurse Charters
ProfiledNelson Bay · Port Stephens · NSW
A PADI-registered dive boat running charters around Port Stephens, Newcastle and Swansea, with PADI courses to Divemaster and TecRec.
greynurse.com.au · 0408 633 793
Feet First Dive
ProfiledNelson Bay · Port Stephens · NSW
A Nelson Bay SSI centre running Broughton Island boat dives and Port Stephens shore dives, with rebreather and Extended Range training.
feetfirstdive.com.au · (02) 4984 2092
Sundive Byron Bay
ProfiledByron Bay · Tweed & Byron Bay · NSW
Byron Bay's PADI 5 Star dive centre, running three daily departures to Nguthungulli Julian Rocks with training from Try Scuba to Divemaster.
sundive.com.au · (02) 6685 7755
Wooli Dive Centre
ProfiledWooli · Coffs Harbour & Solitary Islands · NSW
The closest operator to North Solitary Island and Pimpernel Rock, with its own 12-metre catamaran and riverside divers' accommodation in Wooli.
woolidive.com.au · (02) 6649 7100
Shellharbour Scuba
ProfiledShellharbour · Wollongong & Kiama · NSW
A Shellharbour Village dive shop giving access to Bass Point and Bushrangers Bay, teaching SDI and TDI courses from beginner to technical levels.
shellharbourscuba.com.au · +61 2 4296 4266
ADRENO Sydney
ProfiledAlexandria · Sydney South & Botany Bay · NSW
The Sydney branch of Adreno, an 850-square-metre spearfishing, freediving and scuba store in Alexandria that also runs SSI scuba courses.
adreno.com.au · (02) 9669 6214
Dive Swansea
ProfiledSwansea · Port Stephens · NSW
An SSI Instructor Training Center 60 metres from the Swansea Bridge shore dive, with boat trips to Moon Island and rebreather and Extended Range training.
diveswansea.com.au · (02) 4972 0940
Geo Divers
ProfiledClyde · Sydney South & Botany Bay · NSW
A Sydney PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre running small-group courses with two PADI professionals, from Discover Scuba through Instructor training.
geodivers.com.au · (02) 9689 1389
Indepth Scuba
ProfiledBelconnen · Jervis Bay · NSW
A 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.
indepthscuba.com.au · (02) 6251 1070
Lady of the Sea Diving Academy
ProfiledTuggeranong (Canberra, ACT) · Jervis Bay · NSW
A Canberra operation with an unusually complete set of facilities for an inland centre, including an onsite pool, classroom, retail shop and dive boat.
ladyofthesea.com.au · +61 407 487 735
Terrigal Dive Centre
ProfiledTerrigal · Central Coast · NSW
A dive shop on the waterside at Terrigal Haven, running boat and wreck dives including the ex-HMAS Adelaide, a few minutes offshore.
+61 2 4384 1219
Scuba Warehouse
ListedClyde · Sydney South & Botany Bay · NSW
A Sydney equipment retailer. Whether training and in-house servicing are offered requires verification.
scubawarehouse.com.au · (02) 9689 1389
Wilderness Sea n' Ski
ListedLiverpool · Sydney South & Botany Bay · NSW
A far south coast business providing equipment and dive services. Range and training availability require verification.
wilderness.net.au · (02) 9822 4112
Ocean Hut
ListedNarooma · Narooma & Montague Island · NSW
A Sydney dive equipment business. Retail range, servicing and training availability require verification.
(02) 4476 2278
Merimbula Divers Lodge
Reported closedMerimbula · Merimbula · NSW
An SSI dive centre with its own accommodation, classroom, shop, air and Nitrox and a purpose-built boat, running small classes on the far south coast.
Victoria 9
The Scuba Doctor
ProfiledRye · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Victorian equipment and service business with an extensive retail presence, located to serve both Melbourne and Mornington Peninsula divers.
scubadoctor.com.au · (03) 5985 3322
Diveline Scuba Centre
ListedFrankston · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Victorian business associated with technical training and gas support alongside recreational courses.
diveline.com.au · (03) 9783 7166
Bay City Scuba
ListedEast Geelong · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Victorian business associated with recreational and technical training alongside equipment and gas services.
baycityscuba.com · (03) 5248 1488
Scuba Culture
ListedBurwood · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Melbourne business providing training and equipment support for local divers.
scubaculture.com.au · (03) 9808 0033
Divein2Scuba (Geelong Dive Centre)
ListedGeelong · Geelong & Bellarine · VIC
A Geelong business providing training, equipment and local diving support.
divein2scuba.com · (03) 5221 3342
ADRENO Melbourne
ListedCheltenham · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
An equipment retailer with a spearfishing and freediving emphasis. Primarily retail rather than a training centre.
adreno.com.au/pages/contact-us-melbourne · (03) 9584 7228
Dive Gear Australia
ListedHallam · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Victorian equipment business listed among operations relevant to technical diving equipment supply.
divegearaustralia.com.au · (03) 9702 3694
Extreme Watersport
ListedCapel Sound · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Victorian business listed among operations associated with technical diving services.
extremewatersportshop.com · (03) 5982 3432
Snorkel & Dive Safari Altona
ListedAltona · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
A Melbourne retail and training business, listed among Victorian operations associated with technical services.
snorkeldivemelbourne.com.au · (03) 9317 1000
Tasmania 3
Tasmania Tech and Dive Centre
ProfiledHobart & Derwent · TAS
The Tasmanian operation most clearly associated with technical diving services, spanning recreational and technical training with technical gas support.
Go Dive Tasmania
ListedHobart · Hobart & Derwent · TAS
A Tasmanian business providing training, equipment and service support for cold-water diving.
godivetas.com.au · (03) 6231 9749
The Dive Shop Hobart
ListedHobart · Hobart & Derwent · TAS
A Hobart equipment and service business supporting local cold-water divers.
thediveshophobart.com.au · (03) 6234 3428
South Australia 6
Dive Experience
ProfiledMount Gambier · Mount Gambier Sinkholes & Caves · SA
A Mount Gambier business serving the region's cave and sinkhole diving community, including equipment and gas support.
dive-experience.com.au · 0478 693 760
Adelaide Scuba
ListedGlenelg North · Adelaide Metro · SA
An Adelaide business providing training, equipment and local diving support, located near Glenelg.
adelaidescuba.com.au · (08) 8294 7744
Underwater Sports
ListedHolden Hill · Adelaide Metro · SA
An Adelaide equipment and service business. Retail range and servicing capability require verification.
underwatersports.com.au · (08) 8263 3337
The Dive Shack
ListedGlenelg · Adelaide Metro · SA
An Adelaide business combining retail, servicing and training for South Australian divers.
thediveshack.com.au
Divers Delight
ListedStepney · Adelaide Metro · SA
An Adelaide dive business. Retail range, servicing and training availability require verification.
diversdelight.com.au · (08) 8363 7518
The Dive Shop Port Lincoln
ListedPort Lincoln · Eyre Peninsula · SA
A Port Lincoln business providing equipment, fills and dive services — a conventional dive business distinct from the region's cage tourism operators.
thediveshopportlincoln.com.au · (08) 8682 1656
Western Australia 8
Perth Scuba
ProfiledCanning Vale · Perth · WA
One of the most fully documented operations in Western Australia, covering recreational, professional, technical and freediving training alongside substantial equipment facilities.
perthscuba.com · (08) 9455 4448
Dolphin Scuba Diving
ProfiledWelshpool · Perth · WA
A Perth business providing training, equipment and service support.
dolphinscuba.com.au · (08) 9353 2488
Southcoast Diving Supplies
ListedAlbany · Albany & Great Southern · WA
An Albany business providing equipment and dive services for the southern WA coast, including HMAS Perth access support.
divealbany.com.au · (08) 9841 7176
Esperance Diving & Fishing
ListedEsperance · Esperance & Recherche Archipelago · WA
An Esperance business providing diving and fishing charters to the Recherche Archipelago, along with equipment support.
esperancedivingandfishing.com.au · (08) 9071 5111
Batavia Coast Dive & Watersports
ListedGeraldton · Geraldton & Abrolhos Islands · WA
A Geraldton business providing equipment, training and support for divers heading to the Abrolhos Islands.
bataviacoastdive.com.au · (08) 9921 4229
ADRENO Perth
ListedO'Connor · Perth · WA
An equipment retailer with a spearfishing and freediving emphasis. Primarily retail rather than a training centre.
adreno.com.au/pages/contact-us-perth · (08) 6424 8480
Dive Imports
ListedMt Hawthorn · Perth · WA
A Perth equipment business. Retail range, servicing and training availability require verification.
diveimports.com · (08) 9443 1657
Spear West
ListedPerth · WA
A Perth spearfishing and freediving business. This serves a different customer from a conventional scuba centre.
spearwest.com.au · 0411 063 351
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy online or locally?
Servicing availability and parts supply are the practical considerations. Equipment bought from a local shop that services it is easier to keep running.
What should I buy first?
Mask, fins and exposure protection, because fit matters most on those. A computer comes next for most divers.