Dive services
Equipment Hire
Rental gear ranges from basic recreational sets to drysuits, steel cylinders and DPVs.
Equipment hire and equipment retail are separate capabilities, and a business offering hire is not automatically an equipment retailer or vice versa.
Rental ranges vary enormously. Some centres hire a basic recreational set; others hire drysuits, steel cylinders, stage cylinders, DPVs and technical configurations.
Rental equipment does not need to be new. It does need to be maintained, and that is what is worth assessing.
Equipment does not need to be new. It does need to be maintained, and the signs are visible if you look.
- regulators that breathe smoothly and do not free-flow
- BCDs that hold air and inflate and deflate cleanly
- cylinders within current test date
- gauges and computers that work and are readable
- suits that actually fit, with intact seals and zips
- fins and masks in usable condition
This matters most in Tasmania, southern Australia and remote destinations, where specialist sizes — large drysuits in particular — are not always stocked.
Arriving at a remote destination to find no suit in your size effectively ends the trip.
What a complete listing records
A simple yes or no tells a diver very little. These are the fields that actually distinguish one provider from another.
- recreational sets — BCD, regulator, computer
- exposure protection and available sizes
- drysuits and sizes
- cylinders including steel
- technical equipment and stage cylinders
- DPVs
- lights and accessories
- cameras
86 businesses across 9 states and territories have this capability recorded as verified or advertised. Always confirm current availability and turnaround directly.
Queensland
- Pro Dive CairnsA long-established Cairns operation best known for multi-day liveaboard certification trips that combine Open Water training with outer Great Barrier Reef diving.
- Divers DenA Cairns operation running both day-boat and liveaboard products alongside a training business and retail presence.
- Dreamtime Dive & SnorkelA Cairns day-boat operation with an Indigenous cultural element alongside reef diving and snorkelling.
- Ocean Free & Ocean FreedomSmall-vessel Cairns day trips, positioned around lower passenger numbers than the large reef catamarans.
- Passions of ParadiseA Cairns sailing catamaran day trip combining reef diving and snorkelling.
- Down Under Cruise & DiveA Cairns day-boat operator offering reef diving, snorkelling and introductory diving.
- Quicksilver ConnectionsA large-scale Port Douglas reef tourism operation with pontoon-based access to Agincourt Reef, offering diving alongside snorkelling and other reef activities.
- Yongala DiveAn Ayr-based operation specialising in the SS Yongala, with a shorter boat transit to the wreck than Townsville departures.
- Adrenalin Snorkel & DiveA Townsville operation running SS Yongala trips alongside reef diving and training.
- Pleasure Divers Magnetic IslandA Magnetic Island training and guided-diving operation serving island-based visitors.
- Pro Dive Magnetic IslandA Magnetic Island operation offering training and local diving.
- Airlie Beach Dive CentreAn Airlie Beach operation providing training and certified diving in the Whitsundays.
- Reef Safari DivingA Whitsundays operation providing diving in conjunction with sailing and reef tour products.
- Lady Elliot Island Eco ResortA coral cay resort at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, strongly associated with manta ray encounters and accessed by light aircraft.
- Lady Musgrave ExperienceA Bundaberg-based operation providing day and overnight access to Lady Musgrave Island and its lagoon.
- 1770 ReefAn operation running trips from the Town of 1770 to Lady Musgrave Island and the southern Great Barrier Reef.
- Heron Island ResortA coral cay resort on the southern Great Barrier Reef with an on-island dive operation and sites a short boat ride from the jetty.
- Sunreef MooloolabaA Mooloolaba operation closely associated with the ex-HMAS Brisbane wreck alongside local reef diving and training.
- Scuba World MooloolabaA Sunshine Coast business combining training, retail and local boat diving including the ex-HMAS Brisbane.
- Wolf Rock Dive CentreA Rainbow Beach operation specialising in Wolf Rock, an advanced offshore pinnacle site known for grey nurse sharks.
- Brisbane ScubaA Brisbane training and service business supporting the local resident diving population.
- Go Dive BrisbaneA Brisbane business combining training, equipment retail and service support for local divers.
- Manta Lodge & Scuba CentreA North Stradbroke Island operation combining accommodation and diving, which makes it structurally different from a suburban Brisbane training centre.
- Tangalooma Island ResortA Moreton Island resort with diving and snorkelling access to the Tangalooma wrecks, a shallow, sheltered artificial reef system.
- Gold Coast Dive CentreA Gold Coast training and service business serving local divers and visitors.
- Gold Coast Dive AdventuresA Gold Coast operation focused on guided local diving and charter access to offshore sites.
New South Wales
- Sundive Byron BayA Byron Bay operation running daily Julian Rocks diving alongside introductory scuba and recreational training.
- Byron Bay Dive CentreA Byron Bay operation providing Julian Rocks diving and recreational training.
- South West Rocks Dive CentreThe principal operation servicing Fish Rock, including the reef diving, the grey nurse shark gutter and the cave.
- Jetty Dive CentreA Coffs Harbour business combining training, retail, servicing and charter access to the Solitary Islands Marine Park.
- Wooli Dive CentreA Wooli-based operation providing access to the northern Solitary Islands Marine Park, including North Solitary Island.
- Scuba Haven Port MacquarieA Port Macquarie operation serving local divers with training and charter diving.
- Feet First DiveA Nelson Bay operation serving the Fly Point and Port Stephens shore-diving community alongside training and boat diving.
- Dive NewcastleA Newcastle operation serving local divers with training and local site access.
- Dive SwanseaA Swansea operation servicing tide-sensitive diving around the channel and bridge areas, where local knowledge is a genuine safety factor.
- Central Coast DiversA Central Coast operation serving the local diving community with training and equipment support.
- 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.
- Shellharbour ScubaA Shellharbour operation serving the Illawarra diving community, with access to Bass Point and local reef diving.
- Underwater Safaris NaroomaA Narooma operation providing access to Montague Island and its fur seal colony.
- Merimbula Divers LodgeA far south coast operation combining diving with accommodation, serving the Merimbula and Eden region.
- Dive EdenAn Eden-based operation providing access to far south coast reef and wreck diving.
Victoria
- Academy of ScubaA Melbourne training business offering recreational courses with technical pathways.
- Aquatic AdventuresA Melbourne operation providing recreational training and local diving support.
- 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.
- Ocean DiversA Victorian operation associated with recreational and technical training and access to Port Phillip diving.
- Snorkel & Dive Safari AltonaA Melbourne retail and training business, listed among Victorian operations associated with technical services.
- Geelong Dive CentreA Geelong business providing training, equipment and local diving support.
- SCUBABO QueenscliffA Queenscliff operation, strategically located for access toward Port Phillip Heads.
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.
- Perth Diving AcademyA Perth training business serving the metropolitan recreational market.
- Dolphin Dive FremantleA Fremantle operation serving local divers, with proximity to Rottnest Island departures.
- Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks NingalooAn Exmouth operation running certified scuba diving alongside whale shark and other wildlife tours. The scuba and snorkelling products are distinct and should be booked deliberately.
- Ningaloo Reef DiveA Ningaloo operation based at Coral Bay providing reef diving and training.
- Dive NingalooAn Exmouth operation focused on certified scuba diving, including Navy Pier access.
- Ningaloo Blue DiveAn Exmouth operation running diving alongside wildlife tours. Product categories should be checked before booking.
- Sail NingalooA multi-day sailing and diving operation on Ningaloo Reef, offering a liveaboard-style format.
- 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.
- Extra Divers Christmas IslandThe main dive operation on Christmas Island, servicing the island's wall and drop-off diving.
- Cocos DiveThe main dive operation in the Cocos Keeling Islands, servicing atoll and outer reef diving.
South Australia
- Adelaide ScubaAn Adelaide business providing training, equipment and local diving support, located near Glenelg.
- Diving AdelaideAn Adelaide training and guided diving operation serving local sites and organised trips.
- The Dive ShackAn Adelaide business combining retail, servicing and training for South Australian divers.
- 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.
- Kangaroo Island Dive & AdventuresA Kangaroo Island operation providing local diving and wildlife-oriented in-water experiences.
- 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.
- Eaglehawk Dive CentreThe principal operation at Eaglehawk Neck, servicing the Tasman Peninsula's sea caves, walls and deeper wrecks.
- Bicheno Dive CentreA Bicheno operation servicing the Governor Island Marine Reserve and east coast 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.
- Tasmanian Divers NorthA northern Tasmanian operation serving the Bass Strait coastline and local diving community.
- Tasmanian Divers SouthA southern Tasmanian operation serving the Hobart region and surrounding diving.
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.
Other services
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 RetailersA dive shop and a dive centre are not always the same business.
Frequently asked questions
Is hiring cheaper than buying?
For occasional divers, yes. Divers who dive regularly usually find owning at least a mask, computer and exposure protection worthwhile within a season or two.
Should I hire a drysuit before buying one?
Yes. Fit and style preference vary considerably, and hiring for the course and early dives is the sensible way to find out what suits you.