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Peter Letts

Founder of Abyss Scuba Diving Sydney & PADI Course Director
Peter Letts is one of Sydney’s most respected PADI Instructors and the visionary behind Abyss Scuba Diving in Sydney. For over three decades, he’s inspired thousands of people to overcome their fears and discover the magic of diving — from first-time students to professional instructors.

Experience and Qualifications

Peter began his diving journey in Cairns in 1992. What started as a nervous first plunge quickly became a lifelong passion. Since then, he’s logged thousands of dives across Sydney’s coastline and beyond, teaching and mentoring divers at every level.

He became a certified SSI Instructor in 1996 and crossed over to PADI Open Water Instructor in 1997. In 2008, Peter earned the coveted title of PADI Course Director — the highest level of professional instructor rating — enabling him to train and mentor the next generation of instructors.

Peter’s qualifications include:

Over 30 years of diving and teaching experience
PADI Course Director (since 2008)
Emergency First Response Trainer and Oxygen Provider Instructor Trainer
Rebreather and Technical Diving Instructor Trainer
Specialty Instructor in Deep, Wreck, Search & Recovery, and Coral Reef Conservation

Building Sydney’s Premier Dive Centre

In 2000, Peter left the corporate world to open Abyss Scuba Diving with his daughter Rachael Fallon and his first-ever student, Kellie Oldfield. His mission was simple: to create a world-class dive centre where learning to dive felt safe, personal, and genuinely life-changing.

Under his leadership, Abyss Scuba Diving grew into one of Australia’s leading PADI 5-Star Career Development Centres, training thousands of new divers every year and setting the standard for diver education in Sydney.

Peter was among the first in Australia to integrate PADI eLearning into diver training and pioneered the use of social media to make diving more accessible to beginners. In 2021, he was recognised with the Australian Underwater Products “Legend Award” for his lifetime contribution to the dive industry.

Peter Letts and his daughter Rachael Fallon at Abyss Scuba Diving Sydney

Favourite Sydney Dive Sites

Peter loves diving Sydney’s diverse coastline — from the grey nurse shark encounters at Magic Point to the easy entry shore dives at Bare Island and The Steps. His years of guiding dives around Botany Bay and the Royal National Park have given him unmatched knowledge of local conditions, marine life, and seasonal patterns.

“Every new diver starts out nervous — I know, because I was one of them. My goal is to help people turn that fear into fascination.” – Peter Letts

Why I Love Teaching Diving

Peter’s teaching philosophy centres on confidence, comfort, and connection. He believes that diving isn’t just a skill — it’s a mindset that opens people up to a deeper appreciation of the ocean and themselves.

Even after decades underwater, Peter says he still gets a thrill watching a student take their first breath below the surface. He often reminds his team that every diver they teach changes the ocean for the better.

Join a Course or Dive with Abyss

Although Peter now focuses on mentoring instructors and strategic direction, his legacy continues every day through the expert team at Abyss Scuba Diving Sydney. If you’re ready to begin your journey, check out our Learn to Dive course or join a guided Sydney dive to experience the underwater world Peter helped make so accessible.