Sundive Byron Bay
Sundive Byron Bay
4.8
Scuba & SnorkellingShark DivingBoat ToursWater SportsNature & Wildlife Tours
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Full view
About
Welcome to Sundive Byron Bay located in Byron Bay, one of Australia's most popular travel destinations, Julian Rocks Marine Park is rated as one of the top five scuba diving locations in Australia. The mixing of tropical warm currents with cooler temperate waters makes the diving near Byron Bay unique. Due to its amazing diversity and abundance of fish life with over 1000 recorded species of tropical, temperate and pelagic fish, Julian Rocks has earned a reputation as being one of the most prolific fish dives in the world. Whales, Dolphins, Manta Rays, Leopard Sharks, the endangered Grey Nurse Shark and three species of Turtle are all common visitors to Julian Rocks. All the action is just 10 minutes from Byron Bay's main beach! Sundive is Byron Bay's only PADI 5 Star Dive Centre. Since it was established in 1988, Sundive has earned numerous PADI service awards and is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence in diver training.
Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia
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Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.8
687 reviews
Excellent
599
Very good
67
Average
11
Poor
4
Terrible
6
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Kate H
1 contribution
Feb 2025 • Family
Fabulous introduction to snorkeling. The guides could not have been more helpful and attentive - very reassuring for an older first timer. I felt very safe and had a great experience - turtles, sharks, puffer fish and a multitude of other beautiful fish.
Written February 21, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
simekelly
Runaway Bay, Australia19 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
Organised. Friendly. Gian was overly and made my teenage girls feel comfortable. Good equipment condition. Good dive site just 5 minutes offshore. Only annoying thing is no free parking nearby (10min walk).
Written June 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Saskia301
Amsterdam, The Netherlands44 contributions
Feb 2025 • Couples
TOP diving school
We even drove back after a few days to be able to dive another day with them. In total we dived for three days and what a party it was. The best in Australia we have dived with so far.
Super good briefings, fantastic staff, always helpful and super nice and cozy.
Thank you for the incredible dives and fun with you guys! Thank you Adam (I don’t forgot your pic), Gian, Lochie, Mark, Matt and Ben and all the crew members I now forgot of forgot the names. You where all incredible!!!
Be carefull and take care with cyclone alfred. I hope to see you all again in the future ❤️
We even drove back after a few days to be able to dive another day with them. In total we dived for three days and what a party it was. The best in Australia we have dived with so far.
Super good briefings, fantastic staff, always helpful and super nice and cozy.
Thank you for the incredible dives and fun with you guys! Thank you Adam (I don’t forgot your pic), Gian, Lochie, Mark, Matt and Ben and all the crew members I now forgot of forgot the names. You where all incredible!!!
Be carefull and take care with cyclone alfred. I hope to see you all again in the future ❤️
Automatically translated
Written March 6, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna W
Auckland Central, New Zealand3 contributions
Feb 2025 • Solo
Nguthingulli Julian Rocks is an incredible place to dive. You will see multiple leopard sharks, abundant marine life, and maybe even a manta ray.
I didn't have the best experience with Sundive Byron Bay and I wouldn't dive with them again. I am an experienced diver >70 dives, and at times still found the strong currents at the dive site a challenge, but my negative review is as a result of feeling unsafe with Sundive. Our guide didn't check in with group members before the dive about their diving experience, time since last dive, level of confidence, nor share that knowledge with us. Buddy checks were brief and we were encouraged to roll into the water before they were complete. After descending down the mooring line our guide swam quickly away into the current, with nothing more than a cursory attempt to assess if the divers in the group (first dive with Sundive for several of us) were OK, and no assessment about whether we were happy or able to manage the challenging conditions of the currents. My experience was that our guide took little care of the group, rarely monitoring how much air we had left despite challenging swimming conditions, not noticing when a divers fin was swept off in the current or attempting to help, not checking in that the group was comfortable in the currents, and often swimming directly into the current at relative speed which was exhausting and stressful for me to follow.
There was almost no sharing of any information about the dive site, the history of the area, the cultural significance of Nguthingulli Julian Rocks, or any information about any of the marine life we would see. It felt like we jumped on the boat, rolled off, did a dive and then went back to shore ASAP. There was no moment to stop and evaluate, share knowledge or information about what we had seen, no check in with the dive members about their experience, no-one took time to say goodbye or thank you.
Others on the dive appeared to be happier than me with their experience, but I wonder if they have dived elsewhere and had the chance to enjoy what a safe guided dive tour can be. This experience was the most unsafe I have ever felt on a dive. If you are looking for support, experience, knowledge, safety and a comfortable guided dive I would look to use another dive operator to enjoy this beautiful site.
I didn't have the best experience with Sundive Byron Bay and I wouldn't dive with them again. I am an experienced diver >70 dives, and at times still found the strong currents at the dive site a challenge, but my negative review is as a result of feeling unsafe with Sundive. Our guide didn't check in with group members before the dive about their diving experience, time since last dive, level of confidence, nor share that knowledge with us. Buddy checks were brief and we were encouraged to roll into the water before they were complete. After descending down the mooring line our guide swam quickly away into the current, with nothing more than a cursory attempt to assess if the divers in the group (first dive with Sundive for several of us) were OK, and no assessment about whether we were happy or able to manage the challenging conditions of the currents. My experience was that our guide took little care of the group, rarely monitoring how much air we had left despite challenging swimming conditions, not noticing when a divers fin was swept off in the current or attempting to help, not checking in that the group was comfortable in the currents, and often swimming directly into the current at relative speed which was exhausting and stressful for me to follow.
There was almost no sharing of any information about the dive site, the history of the area, the cultural significance of Nguthingulli Julian Rocks, or any information about any of the marine life we would see. It felt like we jumped on the boat, rolled off, did a dive and then went back to shore ASAP. There was no moment to stop and evaluate, share knowledge or information about what we had seen, no check in with the dive members about their experience, no-one took time to say goodbye or thank you.
Others on the dive appeared to be happier than me with their experience, but I wonder if they have dived elsewhere and had the chance to enjoy what a safe guided dive tour can be. This experience was the most unsafe I have ever felt on a dive. If you are looking for support, experience, knowledge, safety and a comfortable guided dive I would look to use another dive operator to enjoy this beautiful site.
Written February 20, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Talia G
Sydney, Australia63 contributions
Jan 2025 • Friends
Excellent site, lots of leopard sharks, disappointing experience.
As an experienced diver, It's always understandable that conditions may not always be the best, and this cant be helped. However, in situations with bad visibility and strong currents, It is the dive guide's responsibility to ensure the entire group stays together. For $180/dive, I was extremely disappointed when we had to surface after 40 minutes because a diver went missing. The dive guide was a nice guy, but was definitely not keeping a close eye on the group. There were several moments when I was unable to see him, so its no wonder we lost a diver. Sun Dive is without doubt one of the most expensive operations I have ever dived with, and for these prices you'd expect a full hour in the water.
The site itself is spectacular, so its a shame I had a negative experience. I will opt with a freediving company going forward.
As an experienced diver, It's always understandable that conditions may not always be the best, and this cant be helped. However, in situations with bad visibility and strong currents, It is the dive guide's responsibility to ensure the entire group stays together. For $180/dive, I was extremely disappointed when we had to surface after 40 minutes because a diver went missing. The dive guide was a nice guy, but was definitely not keeping a close eye on the group. There were several moments when I was unable to see him, so its no wonder we lost a diver. Sun Dive is without doubt one of the most expensive operations I have ever dived with, and for these prices you'd expect a full hour in the water.
The site itself is spectacular, so its a shame I had a negative experience. I will opt with a freediving company going forward.
Written February 8, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cameron M
Island of Hawaii, HI2 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
Easily one of the best dives I’ve ever done in my life as an instructor from Hawaii! Incredible wildlife and amazing service and support from the staff. Lisa was a phenomenal guide and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a dive in NSW. Great shop, cannot thank them enough or praise them enough. Keep at it!
Written February 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ben K
Australia9 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Excellent dive site. Very professional and efficient team. We saw whales from the boat, turtles Eagle Ray Wobegong and tons of fish while diving. The boat trip out is fun too. Malin, our dive leader was 1st class. She made the dive safe, catered to our mixed abilities needs very well and guided us around all the best bits of Julian Rocks with ease. I highly recommend diving with Sundive.
Written September 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauren
4 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
Cancels dive last minute
My partner and I booked though this place for a dive if some friends.
The weather forecast was not great for the day we planned to dive so we rang up the day before to check if it was still going ahead, they assured us it was.
We then rang in the morning before leaving, and they once again assured us it was still going ahead.
We then left and began the 2.5 hour drive and one of our friends emailed to ensure it was once again still going ahead and they assured us it was.
When we arrived to sun dive, they cancelled the dive in store.
Needless to say we weren't very happy after driving that long
These guys are usually pretty good, but it was just a very frustrating encounter as we called and emailed numerous times and each time we were assured it was still going ahead.
My partner and I booked though this place for a dive if some friends.
The weather forecast was not great for the day we planned to dive so we rang up the day before to check if it was still going ahead, they assured us it was.
We then rang in the morning before leaving, and they once again assured us it was still going ahead.
We then left and began the 2.5 hour drive and one of our friends emailed to ensure it was once again still going ahead and they assured us it was.
When we arrived to sun dive, they cancelled the dive in store.
Needless to say we weren't very happy after driving that long
These guys are usually pretty good, but it was just a very frustrating encounter as we called and emailed numerous times and each time we were assured it was still going ahead.
Written April 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julien B
1 contribution
Dec 2021 • Solo
Julian Rocks was full of marine life I really enjoyed diving there. We saw plenty of Leopard sharks, turtles, Wobbegone sharks, a moray eel, an octopus, stingrays, bull rays and schools of fish. The highlight for me was when a 4 meter Bull shark cruised past us...yikes!
Yuko and the team were professionals and made the entire dive experience very enjoyable.
Would be happy to recommend Sundive to take you out and share the natural wonders of this special marine sanctuary.
Yuko and the team were professionals and made the entire dive experience very enjoyable.
Would be happy to recommend Sundive to take you out and share the natural wonders of this special marine sanctuary.
Written December 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Louise T
Aarhus, Denmark3 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
My boyfriend did a trydive and I came along on my 11th dive as a certified diver. We had Beau as our instructor and he did an amazing job. He was thorough yet relaxed and both of us felt very comfortable diving with him. He took his time to point out a lot of interesting animals and to explain everything we saw after our ended dive. Both Beau and the rest of the people from the sundiveteam were service minded and in a great mood that we couldn’t help but adapt to. We even liked it so much that I ended up booking a second dive and my boyfriend is now convinced that he wants to be certified as well ;) Thank you so much for a great dive in a relaxed atmosphere! Cheers
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is the area only reachable by boat? Can I just snorkel of the shore and still see the marine life?
Written September 6, 2017
The snorkelling around the rocks was wonderful, so many fish of so many colours, turtles and carpet sharks and a huge ray (but he was pretty deep down). You don't need to dive to have a great time.
You will see things if you snorkel off some of the beaches with rocky edges and I had dolphins swim past me on the main beach.
Written September 26, 2017
ReneeNKing
Melbourne, Australia
I would love to snorkel on our upcoming holiday in Byron Bay. I will be about 23 weeks pregnant - is that ok?
Written June 27, 2017
Not sure I'm the right person to answer that - check with Sundive and your GP.
Written July 15, 2017
Did you do two dives each person in one day?
Written November 23, 2016
Hi, sorry about the delay in replying, i am new to this. i only did the one dive with them that day. I think that was all they were doing in the morning and time was against me if i recall. If you contact them directly, they should be able to give you a full itinerary, i believe they go out every day. The dive i did do was great, nice drift, 18m depth and great viz. Saw Grey Nurse Sharks, Wobbegongs, Snapper, heaps of fish. And they look after you well too. And they love bad jokes too... Good luck ab
Written November 25, 2016
Hi! I want to know what time Introductory Dive starts, and how long it takes.
Written October 6, 2016
Jenny L
Toongabbie, Australia
Hi, i was wondering if you provide a tour just for snorkeling? If so, is there any information on how the tour runs, whether there's any requirements such as swimming skills and the cost?
Hear from you soon
Jenny
Written September 20, 2015
What is the last time that any of the snorkel tours go out? Reason being I fly into Brisbane at 2:00 and won't get there until 5:00 pm. I am not sure when it gets dark during winter season and how late any of the snorkel boats leave to your? Thanks
Written January 10, 2016
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.