Diving from Airlie Beach in Queensland’s fabulous Whitsundays region is one of the most popular activities available to tourists and holidaymakers. There is a huge diving industry that operates out of the Able Point marina at Airlie Beach and you can take an introductory dive, complete a diving accreditation course or if you are already certified, go on a diving excursion to the local islands or to the Great Barrier Reef itself.
Many backpackers flock to Airlie Beach right throughout the year to join one of the many three-day sailing expeditions around the beautiful islands of the Whitsunday Passage. Most of these offer diving as part of the itinerary, and many have certified diving instructors and dive masters on board to ensure your safety. There are also day tours and extended tours to the Great Barrier Reef for certified divers, some of which will take you to remote and pristine dive locations that are a bit off the beaten track. Airlie Beach also has land-based diving schools with purpose-built swimming pools so you can learn to dive before heading out into the open sea.
Some of the diving that is available around the Whitsunday Islands themselves is fantastic. Places like Langford Reef, Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island, and the northern shores of Border Island have some magnificent coral reefs on display. Reefworld on the Great Barrier Reef itself also caters to divers of all stages of accreditation and their dives are all led by qualified staff. Daily tours leave from Shute Harbour, near Airlie Beach every day, weather permitting, for the Reefworld platform.
In Airlie Beach, you can pick from a huge range of charter boats from small fast catamarans to full-on square-rigged sailing vessels to take you on your chosen Airlie Beach diving adventure.
- Great Barrier Reef Day Cruise to Reefworld
- Maxi Action – Ragamuffin
- Reefjet Whitsunday
- Mantaray Charters
- Anaconda III
- Whitsundays Sailing Adventures
- Pro sail Whitsundays
- Yongala Dive
- Ozil