Our Scuba Discovery program is designed for complete beginners who want a calm and personalised introduction to scuba without committing to a certification course.

You’ll start with the basics on land, learn how the equipment works, get comfortable with breathing techniques, and practise essential skills in shallow water. Once you’re ready, your instructor will take you on a relaxed guided dive at a maximum depth of 9 metres.

This experience is ideal for anyone curious about scuba, nervous divers who want extra support, or travellers wanting a fun first dive in a beautiful, marine-life-filled location.

What's included

• E-learning material

• Theory session

• All diving equipment

• Guided ocean dive straight from the shore

• Small group size (max 4 ppl)

What's not included

This is NOT a certification course, but a safe and enjoyable way to try scuba and see if you love it.

Itinerary

Meet at Squids Dive Co HQ

• Welcome, check-in & introductions

• Gear fitting, safety briefing & dive plan

• Group theory session (up to 4 students)

Travel to the dive site (15mins)

• Set up gear on shore

• Practise shallow-water skills

• Confirm comfort & swimming ability

Guided Shore Dive (2 students at a time)

• Enter the water directly from the shore — no boat used

• Slow, relaxed descent

• Max depth 9m

• 30–60 minutes underwater depending on comfort & air consumption

• Instructor remains right beside you at all times

Debrief

• Debrief & discuss your experience

• Chat about what you saw, ask questions, log dives

• Optional photos

Click Intro to Scuba Diving for prices

Explore the magic of Fly Point – a world-class shore dive and one of Australia’s best kept secrets.

Our local guides will take you on an underwater adventure through a vibrant marine sanctuary, teeming with soft corals, sea turtles, big schools of fish, seahorses, octopus, and the occasional dolphin encounter.

Fly Point is a marine reserve protected from fishing, so the fish life is epic. Conditions are easy and safe when timed with the high tide. We keep our groups small for a personal experience and to protect this incredible underwater ecosystem.

Whether you're newly certified or a confident diver who hasn’t dived here before, we’ll tailor the dive to your skill level. Just bring your certification card and let’s go diving.

📍 This is a shore-based dive – no boats required.

What's included

For all divers:

• Guided shore dive with local certified dive guide

• Tanks & weights

• Dive site briefing and marine life overview

• Safety checks and surface support

• Marine park fees

• Small group experience (max 4:1 ratio)

What's not included

• Refresher course (if it’s been more than 12 months since your last dive)

• Personal items: towel, sunscreen, change of clothes

• Snacks or water (BYO recommended)

Itinerary

Total Time: approx. 3 hours

Meet at Squids Dive Co HQ (at least 1 hour before high tide)
Gear fitting, safety briefing & dive plan

Travel with your guide to Fly Point Dive Site.
Gear up, review dive plan, enter the water for guided shore dive
~45–60 minutes underwater (depending on air consumption)

Return to Squids Dive Co HQ
Debrief, pack down & wash gear.
Chat about marine life sightings, log dives, optional photos

Highlights

Fly Point is one of Australia’s best shore dives — no boat required. Just step off the beach and into a protected marine sanctuary teeming with life. Think big schools of fish, turtles, octopus, soft corals, and maybe even a dolphin if you're lucky.

It’s perfect for certified divers who want max marine life with minimal fuss. Easy access, epic visibility on high tide, and no crowds. Our local guides know the reef inside out and tailor the dive to your skill and comfort level.

This isn’t just a dive — it’s a full immersion into Port Stephens’ vibrant underwater world. You’ll leave with salty hair, big smiles, and stories to tell. Ready to dive in?

Click Guided Scuba Dive to see prices

Discover the underwater world like never before with our PFI Freediver Course. No experience needed—just a love for the ocean. Learn how to hold your breath longer, dive safely, and explore beneath the surface with confidence. Start your freediving journey today.

Ready to explore the ocean on one breath? Join Squids Dive Co for our 2-Day PFI Freediver Course, designed for beginners through to intermediate water lovers.

This internationally recognised course is your entry point into the world of freediving. You’ll learn how to safely dive to 20m depth, extend your breath-hold, improve equalisation, and support a dive buddy.

The course runs over 2 full days in beautiful Port Stephens, and includes eLearning, classroom theory, pool skill development, and open water ocean dives. You’ll be supported by experienced PFI-certified instructors every step of the way.

What's included

• PFI eLearning and certification

• Freediving gear (Cressi wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins, weights)

• Classroom, pool, and open water sessions

• Marine park & pool entry fees

• Instructor-led coaching and skill assessments

• Access to our online freediver community & future training sessions

Itinerary

Before the Course:
Complete 3–5 hours of SDI eLearning (link sent after booking)

Day 1 – Theory + Ocean Dive
8:00 AM: Classroom theory session (Shoal Bay)
12:00 PM: Lunch break
1:00 PM: Open water line diving session
4:00 PM: Finish

Day 2 – Pool + Ocean Dive
8:00 AM: Pool training session (location confirmed after booking)
12:00 PM: Lunch break
1:00 PM: Final open water session
4:00 PM: Finish & certification wrap-up

Highlights

• 2 full days of training with certified freediving instructors

• PFI Freediver certification (internationally recognised)

• Learn breath-hold techniques, equalisation & dive safety

• Small group format for individual attention

• Gear included: wetsuit, fins, mask, snorkel, weights

• Access to post-course training sessions & online community

Click 2 day Freediver Course to see prices

Take the leap into the underwater world and earn your SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Certification, recognised worldwide. Squids Dive Co specialises in small-group training and personalised coaching, giving you more time with your instructor, more confidence in the water, and a smoother learning experience compared to traditional big-group courses.

Across 3 days, you’ll complete your confined water skills, four open-water dives, and all competency requirements using top-of-the-line scuba gear. Our instructors work closely with nervous or new divers and allow plenty of time for practice, questions, and skill refinement.

Your eLearning code will be sent only after your medical form is reviewed and cleared. Once your eLearning is finished, you’ll be ready to start your in-water training and become a fully certified diver.

Divers aged 10–14 years will receive a Junior Open Water certification and must dive with a parent/guardian or a dive professional until they reach the required age for independent diving. At 15 years old, juniors can upgrade to a full Open Water certification through a simple administrative process.

You’ll also have the option to purchase the same gear you train in, making your transition from student to certified diver smooth, comfortable, and familiar.

What's included

• 3 days of training with a professional instructor

• Small groups (max 3 students)

• All scuba hire equipment (premium BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, fins, masks, weights, tanks & tank fills)

• Confined water skills session

• 4 open-water certification dives

• Worldwide recognised scuba certification by SDI

• eLearning access (sent after medical clearance)

• Logbook guidance & certification processing

What's not included

• Personal transport to training locations

• Food, drinks, snacks

• Costs for required GP medical clearance (if applicable)

• Personal gear purchases (optional add-on)

Itinerary

Day 1 — Orientation, Theory & Confined Water Training
Meet at Squids Dive Co HQ for a welcome, gear fitting, safety briefing, and course overview. Review key eLearning concepts with your instructor. Then head to the pool or sheltered site to learn foundational skills: breathing underwater, buoyancy, mask clearing, regulator recovery, ascents/descents, and safety procedures.

Day 2 — Open Water Dives 1 & 2
Gear up and enter the water for your first two ocean dives. You’ll practise basic skills, get comfortable in deeper water, and start exploring real marine environments under close instructor supervision. Slow pace, lots of support, and personalised coaching.

Day 3 — Open Water Dives 3 & 4 + Certification
Complete your final two dives and demonstrate your skills with confidence. Once you’ve met all safety and competency standards, you’ll be certified as an Open Water Scuba Diver, valid worldwide.

Debrief at Squids Dive Co HQ, log your dives, chat through next steps, and explore equipment purchase options if you’d like your own setup.

Click Open Water Scuba Certification to see prices

If it’s been a while since your last dive, a Scuba Refresher is the safest and most effective way to get back underwater with confidence. Led by our experienced Squids instructors, this session revisits essential scuba skills, updates you on best practices, and gives you time to rebuild comfort and buoyancy control in a relaxed, supportive environment.

Whether you learned to dive years ago, are feeling a bit rusty, or simply want a refresher before a trip or course, we’ll take you through everything you need to feel safe, calm, and ready to dive again. Perfect for divers who haven’t been in the water recently or anyone needing to meet “refresher” requirements for travel or certification.

Small groups ensure personalised attention, a slower pace, and plenty of time to ask questions.

What's included

• Instructor-led refresher session

• Confined water skills session or sheltered shore entry

• Review of key scuba skills (mask clearing, regulator recovery, buoyancy, ascents/descents)

• Gear setup & pre-dive checks

• Top-of-the-line scuba gear (BCD, regulator, dive computer, wetsuit, fins, mask, weights, tank)

• Updated safety briefing & dive planning guidance

What's not included

• Additional dives (can be booked separately)

Phone Gai on 0431 082 724 to find out prices and to book