Learn To Dive During This Seal Season And Get A Free Bonus Seal Dive
Peter Letts Apr 26, 2022
From first breaths to wildlife adventures
Learn to Dive, Then Dive With Seals Near Sydney
Earn your PADI Open Water certification in Sydney, build experience at your own pace, then plan a separate seal-dive adventure at Martin Island near Port Kembla.
Updated September 2026
Learning to scuba dive is the beginning of a much bigger adventure. Once you are certified and comfortable underwater, experiences such as diving with wild fur seals can become memorable goals that keep you exploring, practising and improving.
First: learn to dive in Sydney
The PADI Open Water course at Abyss teaches complete beginners the foundations needed to dive with a buddy within their certification limits. Training begins with online learning and controlled-water skills before progressing to four ocean dives.
Small groups and patient instruction give you time to become comfortable with breathing, equipment, buoyancy and the routines that make diving feel natural. You do not need previous scuba experience, and the equipment required for the course is provided.
- Globally recognised PADI Open Water certification
- Maximum of four Open Water students per instructor
- Pool foundations before your ocean training dives
- Four ocean dives to apply your new skills
- A clear pathway into regular Sydney diving after certification
- Starting point
- No previous scuba certification required
- Training
- eLearning, pool skills and four ocean dives
- Class size
- Maximum four Open Water students per instructor
- Next goal
- Keep diving, build confidence and choose experiences that suit you
Then: plan a Martin Island seal dive
Martin Island—officially Martin Islet—is part of the Five Islands group near Port Kembla, south of Wollongong. Seal-focused boat dives depart from Port Kembla Wharf, making the location a practical day-trip adventure for Sydney divers.
The attraction is the chance to observe wild fur seals in their natural environment. They may rest on the rocks, cruise through the shallows or investigate divers, but their presence, numbers and behaviour change from day to day. Sightings and interactions can never be guaranteed.
Abyss schedules seal dives at Martin Island for certified divers. The exact format, dive profile, requirements and inclusions can vary, so use the live seal-dive page as the final authority before booking.
- Location
- Martin Island near Port Kembla
- Who can scuba dive
- Certified divers who meet the current listing requirements
- Seal season
- Generally strongest during the cooler months; every trip is different
- Wildlife
- Wild seals—sightings and interactions are never guaranteed
Your pathway from beginner to seal diver
There is no need to rush from certification straight into every adventure. The most enjoyable progression is one that matches your confidence, recency and experience.
Become certified
Complete your PADI Open Water course and develop safe, repeatable diving habits with your instructor.
Keep your skills active
Do a few suitable local dives while your training is fresh. Concentrate on relaxed breathing, buoyancy, buddy awareness and comfort.
Choose the seal dive
Check the current date, dive profile and experience requirements. Tell Abyss if you are newly certified, travelling alone or would like extra support.
Let the seals choose the encounter
The best wildlife dives are calm and unforced. Maintain good buoyancy, keep your movements controlled and follow the skipper’s wildlife briefing. Never chase, touch, feed, corner or deliberately entice a seal. If one approaches, remain calm and give it the space required by NSW wildlife rules.
Read the Martin Island seal-diving guide before your trip for current information about the location, certification, equipment, approach distances and responsible wildlife behaviour.
Learn to dive and seal-dive questions
Is the seal dive included with the Open Water course?
No. The Learn to Dive course and the Martin Island seal dive are separate experiences and are booked separately. Complete your certification first, then check the current seal-dive listing.
Can a newly certified Open Water diver join?
The standard Martin Island profile may suit Open Water divers, but the scheduled profile, conditions and booking requirements are what matter. Contact Abyss before booking if you are newly certified or unsure whether the dive suits your experience.
When is the main seal season?
Larger seasonal haul-outs are generally associated with the cooler months. Numbers and behaviour still vary, so choose the trip for the overall Martin Island diving experience rather than expecting a guaranteed seal count.
Where does the seal dive depart from?
Seal dives depart from Port Kembla Wharf, not from Sydney. Divers make their own way to the meeting point and should follow the travel and equipment instructions in their booking confirmation.
What if I have not dived recently?
Check the recency requirement shown on the live trip listing. If you feel rusty or do not meet that requirement, complete a scuba refresher course before joining the boat dive.
Can non-divers see the seals?
The scuba trip requires certification. Non-divers can consider the separate snorkel-with-seals experience, subject to current dates, conditions and availability.
What divers say about seal diving
Start with certification. Keep the seal dive as your next adventure.
Learn the foundations with Abyss, keep practising after your course and choose the Martin Island seal dive when the current trip requirements suit your experience.
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