Airlie Beach Dive Centre - Coral Sea
The team at Airlie Beach Dive Centre are a refreshingly down-to-earth bunch, operating right from the marina. We really like that they focus on smaller groups, which makes a huge difference on those local day trips to places like the fringing reefs around Hook Island. They're PADI through and through, perfect if you’re looking to get certified or just want some guided fun in the shallows. We often recommend them for divers who appreciate a relaxed pace and want to avoid the big, crowded boats. What makes them special is their local knowledge. Instead of just hitting the usual spots, they're great at finding quieter corners where you can actually hear the parrotfish crunching. We’ve had some fantastic dives with them exploring the gulleys and bommies around Mackerel Bay, spotting moray eels peering out from cracks and schools of sweetlips hanging still in the current. Visibility here generally sits around the 10-15 metre mark, clear enough to properly appreciate the soft corals swaying gently. A top tip: ask if they’re heading to Manta Ray Bay; it’s a lovely, sheltered spot, especially good for a second dive. If you're staying in Airlie and want an easy, unpretentious day of diving without any fuss, these are your people.
- Location
- Coral Sea, Australia, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -20.269213, 148.720080
- Phone
- +61 404 677 400
- [email protected]
- Website
- https://airliebeachdiving.com/
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI Dive Center [padi:28182]
- Address
- 11/293 Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach Queensland 4802, Australia
Dive Sites Near Airlie Beach Dive Centre
Airlie Beach Dive Centre provides access to 15 dive sites in Coral Sea.
- Anemone Bommies - Lady Elliot Island
- Bait Reef (reef)
- Barolin Point Dive Site
- Black Island “WONDERWALL“ (wall)
- Blue Pearl Bay 2 (reef)
- Butterfly Bay (reef)
- Butterfly Bay “KEYHOLE“ (reef)
- CHIN LONG WEE - 0m (wreck)
- Conical Rocks Reef (reef)
- Coral Gardens - Lady Elliot Island (reef)
- Corroboree Reef (reef)
- Cruise Whitsundays Pontoon
- Dangerous Reef (reef)
- Dangerous Reef (reef)
- Dolphin Point
Other Dive Centres in Coral Sea
Best Time to Dive in Coral Sea
The warmest water temperatures in Coral Sea occur in March, averaging 28.3°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 21.2°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.9°C
- February: 28.3°C
- March: 28.3°C
- April: 27.2°C
- May: 25.0°C
- June: 23.0°C
- July: 21.6°C
- August: 21.2°C
- September: 22.3°C
- October: 24.3°C
- November: 26.3°C
- December: 27.7°C
Marine Life in Coral Sea
Home to 120 recorded species including 73 reef fish, 30 hard corals, 8 seagrass & algae, 3 other, 2 sharks & rays, 1 whales & dolphins.
Notable Marine Life
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Dugong (Dugong dugon) - Whales & Dolphins
- halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- gray mangrove (Avicennia marina) - Seagrass & Algae
- Paddle Grass (Halophila decipiens) - Seagrass & Algae
- Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)
- Common Coral Trout (Plectropomus leopardus) - Reef Fish
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Ward's Damsel (Pomacentrus wardi) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Coral Sea
Based on average water temperature of 25.2°C, currents 5 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 25°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories