Skip to content
Diving Hubs
Pacific & Great Barrier Reef operators, landscape backdrop for the Diving Hubs Pacific & Great Barrier Reef directory

Scuba Diving · Pacific & Great Barrier Reef

Pacific & Great Barrier Reef Scuba Diving

Explore 189 operators across Pacific & Great Barrier Reef. Maps, contact info, photos, and verified operator profiles, all in one place.

View 189 operatorsGet listed free

About Pacific & Great Barrier Reef

The Pacific holds more world-class diving than any diver will get through in a lifetime. On one edge sits Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral system on the planet; on the other, the ghost fleet of Chuuk Lagoon, where World War II wrecks sit in the quiet of a Micronesian lagoon. Between them stretch fringing reefs, sheer drop-offs, and current-swept channels where the pelagics come to feed. Open Water divers can log easy, colorful reef dives here. So can technical divers hunting deep steel. The region absorbs both without strain.

Fiji earned its nickname, "Soft Coral Capital of the World", the honest way, with reef walls that flare into color the moment current picks up. The Solomon Islands pair thriving coral with WWII wrecks that history left behind. In Papua New Guinea's Bismarck Sea, the draw shrinks to thumbnail scale: macro life on reefs that see almost no diver traffic. Across all of it the species list runs from pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs up through manta rays, sharks, and passing whales.

Liveaboards do the heavy lifting for the region's remote crown jewels: the Coral Sea off Australia, Palau's Rock Islands, the atolls of French Polynesia. A week aboard means several dives a day on reefs no day boat can reach, far from any coastline. For everyone else, dive shops in hubs like Cairns and on Fiji's Viti Levu run day trips and certifications to local sites that give up very little to their offshore cousins.

Then there are the outliers. Vanuatu's SS President Coolidge is a full-scale wreck you can dive from shore, advanced divers walk in off the beach and descend onto a liner. Rangiroa Atoll in French Polynesia serves up grey reef sharks on ripping channel drifts. Many nations here take marine conservation seriously, and the reefs show it. Add a deep bench of professional operators, and the Pacific stays at the top of most divers' lists for good reason.

189 on the map

Loading map…

Tap a pin to open its profile.

Quick facts

Water temp
24–29°C (75–84°F)
Visibility
15–40m
Best season
Varies by site (often year-round)
Highlights
Soft coral, drifts & WWII wrecks
Skill level
All levels
Operators listed
189
Countries
Australia, Fiji, Palau +4 more
Dive areas
4

By region

4 regions in Pacific & Great Barrier Reef

Region 01 / 04

Great Barrier Reef & Coral Sea, Australia

The world's largest coral reef system, running from busy shallow gardens to dramatic outer walls. Push into the Coral Sea by liveaboard and the reward is remote atolls and serious pelagic traffic.

Region 02 / 04

Fiji & Vanuatu

Fiji's "Soft Coral Capital" reputation rests on reef walls that erupt with color in current. Next door, Vanuatu offers the SS President Coolidge, one of diving's great wrecks, alongside healthy coral gardens.

Region 03 / 04

Palau & Micronesia

Palau's channels funnel current and big animals in equal measure, its drift dives are famous for a reason. In Micronesia, Chuuk Lagoon holds the densest collection of World War II wreck dives anywhere.

Region 04 / 04

Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands

Reefs that see few divers, macro life that fills memory cards, and WWII wrecks scattered through the islands. For divers willing to travel far off the main circuit, the payoff is real.

Dive Site Explorer

Dive sites across Pacific & Great Barrier Reef

Tap a dive site to pinpoint it on the map, then open it for depth, entry, and the nearest operator.

Browse all 44 dive sites
Loading map…
  • Details
  • Details
  • Details
  • Details
  • Details
  • Details
  • Details
  • Details
  • Details
  • Details
  • Details
  • Details

All listings

189 operators

across Pacific & Great Barrier Reef

All regions

Watch it live

Live webcams in Pacific & Great Barrier Reef

Eyeball the surface conditions on a public cam before you plan the dive.

All webcams
Map of where the Hawaii Coastal Cams webcam isLocation
Beach cam · Hawaiian Islands, Hawaii

Hawaii Coastal Cams

via LiveBeaches

Watch live
Watch Hawaii Coastal Cams live
Map of where the Waikiki Beach Cam (Sheraton Waikiki) webcam isLocation
Beach cam · Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii

Waikiki Beach Cam (Sheraton Waikiki)

via Sheraton Waikiki / Ozolio

Watch live
Watch Waikiki Beach Cam (Sheraton Waikiki) live

Plan your trip

Plan your trip to Pacific & Great Barrier Reef

Certification Levels

While many sites cater to Open Water divers, signature dives like deep wrecks in Chuuk Lagoon or drift dives in French Polynesia often require Advanced Open Water or even technical certifications. Confirm with your operator, as expectations vary by country.

Marine Park & Conservation Fees

Most countries in the region implement marine park fees or conservation levies. These are often included in liveaboard or dive package prices but may be payable locally. These funds support critical marine protection efforts, and requirements vary by country.

Liveaboard vs. Day-Boat Access

Many world-class sites, especially in the Coral Sea, Palau, and remote parts of Papua New Guinea, are primarily accessible via liveaboard. Day-boat operations are prevalent in more developed areas like the Great Barrier Reef and Fiji, offering different experiences depending on your destination.

Currents, Depth, and Experience

The Pacific is known for strong currents, particularly around atolls and channels, which can make for exhilarating drift dives. Some iconic sites also involve significant depth. Divers should be comfortable with these conditions and have recent dive experience, as requirements vary by country.

Nitrox Availability

Nitrox is widely available on most liveaboards and many larger dive shops throughout the region, especially for multi-day diving. Confirm availability and cost with your chosen operator if you plan on using it, as offerings vary by country and provider.

Dive Insurance & Evacuation

Comprehensive dive insurance, including coverage for medical emergencies and hyperbaric treatment, is highly recommended and often mandatory for liveaboard trips. Emergency evacuation services are crucial given the remote nature of many destinations, and coverage needs vary by country.

Confirm current requirements with the state agency before your trip. Rules and fees change every season.

  • Valid Certification & Logbook

    All divers must present a valid, internationally recognized scuba diving certification card (e.g., PADI, SSI) and are often required to show a logbook demonstrating recent dive activity. This varies by country. Confirm with your operator.

  • Medical Statement

    A signed medical statement confirming fitness to dive is standard. Some operators may require a doctor's clearance, especially for older divers or those with pre-existing conditions. This varies by country. Confirm with your operator.

  • Marine Park & Access Permits

    Access to many prime dive sites within protected marine areas requires permits or payment of conservation fees. These are typically arranged by your dive operator but may need to be paid locally. This varies by country. Confirm with your operator.

  • Minimum Dive Experience

    While not universally mandated, some advanced or challenging sites may have minimum dive count or experience requirements, particularly for drift dives or deep wrecks. This varies by country. Confirm with your operator.

  • Dive Insurance

    While not always a legal requirement, comprehensive dive accident insurance is strongly advised and often mandatory for liveaboard bookings due to the remote nature of many destinations. This varies by country. Confirm with your operator.

  1. 01

    1. Choose Your Destination & Dive Style

    Wrecks, soft coral, or pelagics, decide what you're chasing, then match a country to it. That choice also settles the style question: liveaboard, resort-based, or day trips from a coastal town.

  2. 02

    2. Assess Your Certification & Experience

    Check what the signature dives at your destination actually require before you book. If deep wrecks or channel drifts are on the list, an Advanced Open Water card, Nitrox, or a drift specialty may need to come first.

  3. 03

    3. Research Operators & Book Travel

    Vet dive shops and liveaboards on safety record and reviews, not just price. Flights and berths to remote Pacific destinations fill early. Book well ahead, especially for peak season.

  4. 04

    4. Secure Necessary Documentation

    Check passport validity and visa rules for your destination, and buy dive and travel insurance that covers evacuation. Ask your operator directly about any medical clearance or permit paperwork.

  5. 05

    5. Prepare Your Gear & Fitness

    Get your regulator and BCD serviced, pack for the conditions, and be honest about your fitness. If your logbook has gone quiet, a refresher course before the trip beats fumbling on day one.

01What is the best time of year to dive in the Pacific & Great Barrier Reef region?
There's no single answer across a region this large. The dry season (winter and spring in the Southern Hemisphere, summer and autumn in the Northern), generally brings calmer seas and clearer water. Specific animal encounters like mantas or whales run on their own calendars, though, so check the season for your particular destination.
02Do I need a special certification for diving in this region?
Open Water covers most basic reef diving. The iconic stuff (deep wrecks, strong channel drifts, certain pelagic sites), often calls for Advanced Open Water, Nitrox, or a proven track record in current. Ask your operator what a given site demands before you count on diving it.
03Are marine park fees common, and how are they handled?
Yes, most countries in the region charge marine park or conservation fees, and the money goes toward protecting the reefs you came to see. Liveaboards and dive packages usually fold them in, but some are collected locally on arrival or departure, so keep some cash handy.
04Should I bring my own dive gear or rent it?
Bring your own mask, fins, and wetsuit, fit matters most there. BCDs and regulators rent easily from shops and liveaboards across the region. If you're planning weeks of diving rather than days, hauling a full personal set starts to pay for itself in both comfort and cost.
05What kind of marine life can I expect to see?
The full range: dense soft and hard coral, clouds of reef fish, sharks (reef species year-round, hammerheads and whale sharks in season), manta rays, turtles, and dolphins. On the small end, the macro life is just as deep, Papua New Guinea in particular rewards divers who slow down and look closely.
06Is dive insurance necessary for this region?
Yes. Many of the best sites sit days from the nearest hyperbaric chamber, and evacuation from a remote atoll is expensive without coverage. Comprehensive dive insurance covering hyperbaric treatment and emergency evacuation is strongly advised, and most liveaboards make it mandatory.

When to go

Season by season in Pacific & Great Barrier Reef

Spring (September - November)

The dry season opens across the Southern Pacific (Fiji, Vanuatu), bringing calm seas and long sightlines underwater. Parts of Australia see whale sharks in this window, and Palau's manta season is warming up. A reliable shoulder season: stable weather, comfortable conditions, fewer crowds than the peaks.

Summer (December - February)

Wet season on much of the Great Barrier Reef, cyclones are possible and coastal visibility drops, but the Southern Pacific hits its stride. Palau's manta numbers peak, hammerheads show in French Polynesia, and water temperatures reach their annual high. Pick your side of the region carefully in these months.

Autumn (March - May)

The transition months tend to be kind. Australia's wet season winds down and the water clears; the central Pacific settles into calm seas. Pelagic action in the Coral Sea is strong, and visibility runs good to excellent almost everywhere. An underrated window.

Winter (June - August)

Dry season on the Great Barrier Reef: consistently clear water, cooler temperatures, and humpback whales on their migration. Up north in Palau and Micronesia, seas calm down and visibility opens up, though the water can run a touch cooler than the summer months.

Watch & learn

Watch & learn, Pacific & Great Barrier Reef

  • YouTube

    UNCOVERING AUSTRALIA HIDDEN GEMS ︱ BARRIER REEF AND CORAL SEA | WORLD BEST SCUBA DIVING︱4K HDR VIDEO

    MOKEN PLANET

    0
  • YouTube

    BLUE CORNER - Palau´s famous dive site under water (4K)

    Marcel Steuermann

    0
  • YouTube

    Diving in Fiji 4K // Kadavu Island // South Pacific

    Tom Vierus

    0

Free tools

Your free outdoor toolkit

View all tools

In your pocket

Take every dive site with you.

Free, no account needed. Dive-site charts, coastal webcams, and your dive log in your pocket.

  • Every dive shop and charter in your pocket

  • Reefs, wrecks, and walls charted on the map

  • File a dive plan before a remote shore entry

  • Coastal and harbor cams before you make the drive

Download GoHubs
See how Diving Hubs compares
The Diving Hubs app dashboard

For operators

Run your dive business?
Launch your branded surface.

Get your own branded surface in the Diving Hubs app and a directory listing in minutes. Bookings, digital waivers, and your whole operation live in one cockpit.

Get started free How it works