Best dive ever! We had an absolute top-notch experience from beginning to end with Martin and Scuba IQ. I’m an occasional diver and so I wanted a one to one guide. Found Scuba IQ on the web, saw the good reviews and arranged the trip via email. Martin was very knowledgeable, professional and personable. My wife snorkels and he arranged both the dive and the snorkeling trip. When we met he was punctual, friendly, and made us feel at ease. The trip itself was excellent; the before-dive briefing very thorough; and especially the 3 dives we did we the best diving I’ve experienced. Martin was an excellent guide and dive master and I’d highly recommend.

enjoyable four days of diving with Scuba IQ.... We recently did four days of three-tank diving with Scuba IQ - three of the days were spent at dive sites around Opal Reef, and one of the days at sites around Agincourt Reef (12 dives total).

Our days were led by personal divemasters every single day (there was nobody else in our group - just the two of us plus our divemaster); our divemasters were Nacho, Michael, and Lachlan and they were all interested, informative, highly skilled, personable, and dedicated to making sure we enjoyed our days with them. We coordinated our arrangements a few months ahead of time with Martin.

Scuba IQ rely on the Calypso line of boats (separate company), which cater mostly to snorkelers but can also have a variable number of divers that they guide themselves.

After all the negative opinions we'd heard about the Great Barrier Reef in terms of diving, we were impressed at multiple sites by the magnificent displays of varied coral species. A decent amount of fish, including a few turtles, reef sharks, barracuda, multiple cuttlefish and octopus, and even a very large hammerhead on the last day.

If we returned to Port Douglas we would unhesitatingly go with Scuba IQ again.

Fantastic experience from start to finish We had a fantastic experience with the Suba IQ from start to finish.

Our experience initially began with some issues caused by a third party booking site, so I reached out directly by email to Martin. He was an enormous help throughout the process, providing all the information and resources we needed to book, and making sure our reservation was sorted. His communication and willingness to help made the whole process much easier.

Once our day started, Martin immediately made everyone feel comfortable. He put genuine effort into getting to know the group and delivered an engaging briefing that helped us feel prepared and excited for the dives.

When it was time to start our first dive, we had a calm and reassuring guide who let us move at our own pace, while providing insightful information about the areas we explored. It was a great balance of allowing us to enjoy the experience ourselves while still learning about the underwater environment.

Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience from start to finish. Martin made a real effort to ensure we had fun in every dive and interaction, even providing us with attraction advice for the remainder of our stay, and his enthusiasm, knowledge and genuine care for the group really stood out.

I would highly recommend this company to anyone looking for an enjoyable, well organised and memorable scuba diving experience.

Dive experience with Lachlan, private guide I had a great day and fantastic experience with Lachlan, my private scuba IQ guide. He makes it all very comfortable and he knows the best spots to visit at each dive location.

An Incredible Couple of Dives with Scuba IQ If you are looking to go diving in Port Douglas, I highly recommend booking with Scuba IQ! I booked two guided dives with Scuba IQ because I was incredibly excited to dive the Great Barrier Reef, I was impressed by their focus on sustainable diving practices, and I wanted a more personal experience. If I could have, I would have booked more dives with them. I had two different guides for each day, Leah and Lauchlan, and I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to dive with both of them.

On the first day, I was with Leah. Right off the get go, I could see how passionate Leah was about diving. Her dive brief of the sites were highly informative, as she clearly explained all of the rules and safety procedures we would follow, the conditions, and the wildlife I could expect to see. The gear we used was in great condition, and as someone who has witnessed and experienced poorly maintained gear, I had no concerns about using this equipment. Leah always ensured we were ready to go right when the boat got to the site, so we could maximize our dive time. During the dives, Leah was highly attentive and had an impressive knack for spotting a wide variety of wildlife, from smallest shrimps on the reef, to a hidden baby white tip reef shark! Overall, she was an incredible guide, and it was wonderful to dive with someone super keen to be in the water.

Lauchlan, the guide I was with on my second day, was just as incredible and attentive as Leah. He checked to ensure he had all the same gear I had used the day before and asked if there was anything I wanted to change. When I was with him, he also ensured we were the first in the water, which maximized our dive time and helped avoid the crowds. He was highly knowledgeable about the sites and had years of experience working in the area, which became evident to me during our first dive together. He ended up taking me to an incredible bommie that the two of us got to enjoy all to ourselves. Lauchlan also ended up taking a fun video of me on our dive, which I wasn’t expecting at all but I greatly appreciate. Overall, his dive profile was very safe, I felt extremely comfortable with him, as he was highly attentive, and he was a very calm and fun person to be around (Thanks again Lauchlan for the best cup of tea ;) ).

Additionally, I would like to do a quick shout out to the crew on Calypso. While Scuba IQ is separate from the Calypso, the crew was so outgoing and kind, especially Pam, Kelvin and Gus. The boat was great and clean, and the marine talks were fun and informative. Definitely appreciate the hot showers they had on board; those were very handy at the end.

If you want to have an incredible time exploring the Great Barrier Reef, I highly reccomend diving with Scuba IQ. The team is very professional and skilled. Thanks again Lachlan, Leah and Martin for the incredible experience; I’ll definitely be back again!

An amazing day on the Great Barrier Reef with Martin of Scuba IQ I was privileged to spend a full day on the outer reef one-on-one with Martin of Scuba IQ to complete a PADI accreditation. The reef was extraordinary, of course, but importantly I was able to relax and take it all in because of the sense of safety and confidence that Martin instilled. From the moment he met me at the mariner I felt at ease, and it very quickly became evident that he knew what he was doing and had my back. From gear checks, to stepping out how the dive will proceed, to keeping a watchful eye on me over the duration of the dive, and then talking through the experience afterwards, Martin's skill, keen eye, and easy nature ensured that the day was spent marvelling at one of the Earth's greatest miracles, and not worrying about what might go wrong.
I got one more dive in a day-or-two later, and the whole experience was a breeze. I was at ease in the water, and with my gear, and the dive instructor on that day - who also knew Martin and spoke exceptionally highly of him - quickly assessed that I didn't need any special hand-holding and allowed me to dive more-or-less unsupervised. That would not have been possible without a day under Martin's instruction.
I couldn't recommend Scuba IQ and Martin more highly.

Great dives with SCUBA IQ I highly recommend SCUBA IQ! As a rule, I always use my own equipment when diving, but for this trip I was unable to bring my gear, which made me very nervous. I've had bad experiences with other companies before. My worries were unwarranted though. SCUBA IQ's gear was in great working order and easy to use. I would absolutely dive with them again!

I booked directly with Martin and initially communicated via email (this was an international trip for me.) He was very helpful in getting all paperwork done ahead of time so things were smooth sailing on the dive days. He also came and picked my friends and I up at our hotel and drove us to the marina since we did not have a rental car. He drove us back home once we were done. This was so very nice of him to do.

My diving guide was Lachlan, he was fantastic as well. He is a great diver and very attentive. I felt very safe with his diving profiles. There were several other larger groups of divers present on the boat that day (which made me very glad I paid the extra money and booked with SCUBA IQ instead). Lachlan took care of all the gear (now I'm spoiled), was able to get us ready ahead of the larger groups and into the water faster so we could see things before the larger groups bumbled about and scared everything away. He also worked his magic so we could have drop-offs and go to the northern most reef, which made my list of best dives I've ever done. It was incredible. If you have the opportunity to dive at Totem, DO IT.

I am an experienced diver, but if you are not and are nervous, Lachlan was a very attentive guide and I think he would be a good and safe person to dive with.

As for the boat, the Calipso, it has bathrooms! And hot showers! They serve hot drinks and crackers between dives, and a tasty lunch. The trip to and from the reef is rockier than I expected, a lot of people became seasick before we arrived. The boat has some supplies to help with this, but if you are seasick prone then I'd prepare for that in advance.

Thank you SCUBA IQ, you guys are great! (:

A wonderful experience! Scuba IQ gave us an absolutely incredible experience and it was all down to Martin who was genuinely friendly, warm and attentive from day one. He began helping us coordinate everything months ahead of time and even gave us some great local tips on things to do and retreats nearby which made planning our whole trip so much easier. Once we were out on the water he was amazing with the kids. Very patient, never pushy and always stepping up to do things before we even had a chance to ask. He really went the extra mile to make us feel looked after and I can't recommend him or Scuba IQ highly enough.

Best dive centre on the Great Barrier Reef I had 2 amazing days diving with Martin on the Great Barrier Reef. He was incredibly knowledgeable and supportive throughout, From identifying and pointing out multiple different species of fish, shark and other aquatic life. I would without a doubt book to dive with him again when I come back to the GBR. Truly amazing experience.

Great Snorkelling Experience it was a delight to meet Martin. He was very welcoming and friendly, he sorted all our equipment for us and was very helpful and knowledgable throughout the day. I would definitely seek him out next time I visit.

Puerto Galera Lead by Scuba IQ I just returned from an epic trip to Puerto Galera planned and organised by Scuba IQ. The trip was seamless from the moment I booked until I returned home. Excellent communication throughout!
The diving in Puerto Galera was the best I’ve ever done, and our dive guide was a brilliant spotter. Our accommodation at Atlantis Resort was very comfortable, and the food was way above my expectations. The service was exceptional and made doing 5 dives a day very relaxing!
I highly recommend any tour or day trip with Scuba IQ!

Exceptional Dive Training Experience Recently completed my dive courses through Scuba IQ and had an outstanding experience from start to finish.

Michael was an exceptional instructor, incredibly knowledgeable, calm, patient, and clearly passionate about diving and teaching. He took the time to explain concepts thoroughly, build confidence in the water, and ensure everything was done safely while still making the experience enjoyable.

The entire course was professionally run, well structured, and tailored in a way that made learning both comfortable and exciting.

A big thank you to Michael and the wider Scuba IQ team for such a great experience. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to start diving or continue their certifications.

Amazing dive experience for a SCUBA newbie Michael from ScubaIQ gave me an amazing dive experience. It had been two years since my last dive, and I had only dived 3 times in my life. Michael put me at ease and gave me all the gentle reminders I needed. He correctly estimated my weight needs the first time, talked me through all the sites before we arrived, and had all the gear perfectly organized. Even with below-average visibility, we saw a lot of great stuff. Michael took me through the maze of coral and surfaced us a few meters from the boat every time. I unreservedly recommend ScubaIQ and Michael to anyone. I had an amazing time!

5 stars - great diving Great experience! We are certified divers but with only a handful of of dives under our belt so went with Scuba IQ for a private guided dives. Our dive master, Michael, was fantastic. Felt super safe in every aspect of the trip. Equipment was well maintained, crew were super helpful with getting your gear on and giving you a hand back on board for every dive. We would definitely use again if we were to dive the Outer Reef. 5 stars

GREAT BARRIER REEF with SCUBA IQ! Martin is an outstanding divemaster. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide to get the most out of our visit to the Great Barrier Reef! He communicated well, kept us informed at every turn, and took excellent care of us all day.

Martin is the best guide you will ever have. Book now! ✨ Scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef is one of those rare experiences that carries both awe and responsibility and diving it with Martin from Scuba IQ elevated it far beyond a standard dive trip. I wish I could take Martin on every destination dive.

From the very beginning, Martin brought a calm confidence and depth of knowledge that immediately put us at ease. This wasn’t just a private guide leading a dive; it felt like being invited into the reef through the eyes of someone who deeply understands and respects it. His briefings were thoughtful and tailored—not rushed or generic—and he took the time to understand my experience level, comfort, and what I was most excited to see. That intentionality carried through every moment underwater. We even used a dinghy several times to get to even more!!

Beyond the professionalism, the experience was genuinely fun. Martin has a way of making the dive feel effortless and playful while still being incredibly safe and intentional. We moved at the perfect pace, spotted incredible marine life, and shared those quiet, wow-filled moments underwater that make diving so special. I surfaced smiling, energized, and completely in love with the experience. What could have been just another dive turned into a joyful, memorable adventure—one I’ll be talking about for a long time. If you want an expert guide who makes the reef come alive and makes the whole experience an absolute blast, Martin and Scuba IQ are it. I will definitely dive with Martin again on future trips. He is one in a million.

Best dive experience Fantastic day diving, where we saw so many incredible things and learned a lot. Darcy did a phenomenal job leading us with Toby and Brodie as well. We’d love to come back!

A fantastic dive experience What an amazing 4days/3 nights. Martin made every one of our 14 dives special. We had vip treatment throughout, felt totally safe and were expertly guided. We are both advanced divers who have travelled the world with our hobby but Martin’s knowledge and attention to detail stand out. His use of a wipe board, follow up sessions as we write up our log and attention to detail made this such a memorable trip. I look forward to arranging another trip with ScubaIQ. This really was a premium experience. The boat and crew exceeded expectations but Martin was what made the trip from start to finish.

Reef diving The amazing out fit at Scuba Iq delivered again. My son and I just spent 3 nights diving the barrier reef. Great service and always accomodating.

The best! Simply the best! Martin is a phenomenal divemaster, and my time exploring the reef with him was a highlight of my time in Australia. Don't hesitate to book a dive with Scuba IQ, you will not regret it.

Thanks again!

Great Barrier Reef Diving We had a great time with our dive master Martin who was very knowledgeable and kind. Even though the boat was big with a lot of people of various skill levels, he helped to make it a more personalized experience. He even took pictures/videos of us during the dives which was nice.

Martin is the Man! Simply put as the title implies Martin is the man! Back in July, Martin was our instructor for our SDI Open Water Diving Certificate Course. First and foremost Martin was extremely patient with someone who has done very little diving and someone who has never dove at all. He entertained all questions (no matter how silly) and critiqued skills where he saw the need for improvements. Even though he uses another company's boat (Calypso) the entire process felt very personalized. This factor alone makes Scuba IQ worth it because many of the other operators/shops based in Port Douglas offered courses in large groups. The reef sites themselves were some of the most beautiful awe inspiring places that we have ever seen. Martin was extremely knowledgeable about the marine life at each of the reefs and provided tons of information after and before each dive. A testament to his teaching was a few days later when we went on another dive boat (based out of Cairns). When we asked another diver in our group (who has been diving for 40 years) how did we do he replied "that he would have no clue that we were just certified." This just shows how well prepared we were after completing Martin's course. Martin also was very insightful when it came to all things Port Douglas. He gave us multiple recommendations for restaurants and non dive related activities. He really set the bar very high for us when it comes to divemasters (also bonus points being an extra as an orc in LOTR)!

Martin at ScubaIQ provided an Unbeatable Dive Experience! Martin was our dive guide for two days. He has connections with another company's boat to go to each site, but ensures a personal experience every step of the way. If we went to a similar dive site as before on different days, he ensured we swam a different path or got a lift on a smaller boat to a further location to swim back to the boat. He evaluated our diving abilities and paced our dives to our experience, rather then going with a large group of strangers and being forced to dive to the lowest experience level. He provided education on local marine life at the beginning and then a more relaxed "take-it-all-in" for the last dives. After diving with Martin, we will now be getting private dive guides moving forward. I can not recommend enough!

Sidenote, the boat we went on, Calypso, had a photographer named Roxanne. They took excellent photos to capture your dives!

An AMAZING company to dive with! I did 3 dives at different sites on Opal Reef. Martin was my guide, he was so knowledgeable and great at talking me through the dive. I’m still a little new to diving and he made me feel so at ease and excited to get in the water rather than nervous. The reef was stunning! The coral was beautiful and there were so many different species of fish. We also managed to see white tip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, a maori wrasse and a huge school of barracuda! Martin took some great photos for me on his Go Pro too such a nice touch! The best bit was that we hardly saw any other divers under the water, perfect trip if you want to avoid any overcrowding. Would definitely book again🐠🦈

Dive tour with Martin highly recommended! A full day on the reef with Martin. Whale-watch experience on the boat. Best dive spots ever. Martin as a very nice and very very experienced smart guide took as away from the crowd and showed us the best parts of the reef. Highly recommended!

Awesome day achieving my solo diver ticket Completed my solo diver ticket with Martin and absolutely loved the entire day, he is full of knowledge and experience to share. If you’re in Port Douglas or that area I could not recommend him more for all dive courses or just heading out for a fun day of diving to explore the reef! I found the day so beneficial in improving both my skills and knowledge of scuba diving. Thanks so much Martin!

A brilliant trip to the Philippines I’ve just returned from an incredible dive trip to Puerto Galera in the Philippines with Martin, and I can’t recommend it enough.

The 7-day trip was filled with fantastic diving every day, most of it just a few minutes boat ride from the resort, with a wonderful variety of underwater terrain and creatures. Highlights included seeing lots of colourful, healthy reef, numerous turtles and a day trip to Verde Island. “The Pinnacle” dive was totally breathtaking.

The Atlantis Resort was also excellent, with comfortable accommodation, lots of tasty food choices, and really friendly and attentive staff, including our fun and knowledgeable dive guide, Wilson.

Throughout it all, Martin was a great host (as always!), bringing the group together through his enthusiasm and knowledge for diving, which made the experience even more enjoyable. My dive buddy and I took the opportunity to complete some additional certifications on the trip, and his instruction was clear and helpful.

I’m still buzzing from this trip, and would happily do it all again!

Best Instructor, best divesites I did my Solo diver course with Martin. And the course was a lot more than what I expected. Martin is a great Instructor, full of knowledge passion and experience. He took me to the most stunning dive sites. I work in the local Industry as a dive instructor, I come everyday to the outer reef, buf the sites he took me to were a dream He also reminded me how important is safety, not taking shortcuts, even on something you do every day. Thank you Martin for the beautiful energy you put into teaching.

Such a great experience! The Dive trip to the Great Barrier with Martin was really good! He is a very experienced and professional diver, knowledgeable, attentive and kind to all participants. He made us feel very welcome, accompained and comfortable at all times and the dive experiences were incredible!
Thank you Martin for allowing us to experience the Coral Reef with you and for making us have such a great day! :) Moltes gràcies!

What an Experience My wife and I spent a lot of time researching who to dive with when travelling to Australia and I must say that we both made the right decision on booking with Scuba IQ. We dove with Martin who was incredible from the start of the booking process and all the way through the dives as well. Martin has a great ability to ensure you are learning without feeling as if you are learning and made both my wife and I really comfortable in the water where we were lucky enough to see three different species of shark during the dives. If we are ever back in Australia we would definitely reach out and book again.

Great GBF diving experience! Michael from Scuba IQ gave us a really good experience! We got to refresh our diving skills in our own tempo while seeing amazing corals and fish. He took his time to explain the sites and was a good underwater-guide, pointing out a lot of cool things. We really recommend doing two days of diving with these guys!

FUNtastic diving trip at the GBR Stop searching! Martin and Squba IQ are the best option for an amazing scuba diving trip at the GBR!
Communication was great even before the trip and Martin explained everything that needed to be done when it was needed to be done so that all forms were filled and submitted correctly on time.
Martin has a wonderful way to make a diver feel at ease during the dives, carefully explaining the route. He is very knowledgeable of the reef and keeps all the safety requirements. During the dive he constantly pointed out points of interest and explained what everything was on his writing board.
I had so much fun diving with Martin at the GBR and I highly recommend him and his center!

An incredible diving holiday I had the most amazing time with Scuba IQ! Martin was extremely helpful, knowledgable, professional and entertaining. My friend and I both felt safe and relaxed, which is particularly important when diving with a less experienced diver. The rented equpment was is great condition! Communication was clear and easy, which made planning our trip super easy. I will be returnining to dive with Martin again!

A Must-Do for any Diver visiting Port Douglas We had an amazing day at the Reef. Have seen plenty of fishes and even dived with a turtle.
Thanks Martin from Scuba IQ for accompanying us through this wonderful day.
I can absolutely recommend this guided trip to the Reef - this was the best part of our holidays in Australia.

Scuba IQ provides an exceptional experience; HIGHLY recommend! Martin played an enormous role in making our honeymoon the trip of a lifetime! He was able to accommodate us on very short notice and provide an exceptional experience while getting our Open Water Certification. Martin was extremely patient, knowledgeable, and creative. He not only made sure we developed the necessary skills to be competent and confident in our diving capabilities, but made every single dive fun, engaging, and something to remember. We cannot thank him enough and our trip would not have been the same without this experience; we strongly recommend Scuba IQ!!

Scuba IQ : Our Dive on the Great Barrier Reef Thanks Scuba IQ!!
Excellent organization for our dives. we dived with the Bateau Calypso team: serious, professional and very friendly team.
Our dive guide Mickaël was perfect: punctual, professional, serious, pleasant, and very attentive to us. The two of us did three dives with Mickaël, each one as beautiful as the other!
On board the boat, hot drinks, small cakes, very hearty lunch, refreshments or hot drinks in the afternoon. Toilets and Showers on board: everything is very clean. Excellent day ! Nathalie and Christophe.

Highly recommended! Martin is an excellent guide, I recommend going with him for private dives! If you ever get the chance to dive in the Great Barrier Reef, go with Martin! He’s very communicative, insightful, knowledgeable, and professional. Marrin also takes excellent photos and videos, and captured some great shots while diving.

1st dive on the Barrier Reef We had a wonderful experience and thoroughly enjoyed our day on the reef and It was made all the better by Martin Connolly’s extremely professional guidance. His patience and individual coaching made us all feel instantly relaxed and the day all the more enjoyable.

Very good dive personal. Will get you the best viewing for any given dive conditions. Excellent dive group. Michael was a great guide, very helpful with our gear and he pointed out a lot of interesting critters and fish.
The boat was provided by Calypso Divers, which was very well equipped.

Spectacular Martin was an amazing ambassador for the reef and spirit guide for the dive. I hadn’t been diving for a long time, and Martin made me feel completely safe and confident and made sure my more experienced diver husband had a great time too. He is very enthusiastic and friendly, and he clearly loves what he does. He was always looking to improve our experience. He could not have been better.

Amazing Dive Martin is a very experienced and friendly dive guide. He was super nice and helpful. You can tell immediately that he really enjoys it. I didn't have to worry about anything. I had an absolutely unique diving experience on the Great Bareer Reef thanks to him. Highly recommended, thank you Martin!

Excellent Dive Operator - Highly Recommend We booked a 3-tank tour to the GBR with ScubaIQ for November 2023. Martin, the owner was extremely responsive over and accommodating as we planned our trip over email and personally picked up my family and me on the day of the dive. He provided an highly experienced and very professional dive guide, Michael, who took the time to ensure a very personalized and safe set of dives for us. Each dive was outstanding and it felt as if we had the ocean to ourselves. The equipment was in excellent shape and it was clear that Martin runs a high quality operation and is invested in providing an excellent client experience.

As a fellow PADI professional, I highly recommend Martin and ScubaIQ. Our experience was an absolute pleasure and I hope we get the opportunity to dive with them again in the future.

Amazing first experience at the GBR! Wow, I am so glad we booked this tour for our first dives at the GBR! Our guide Martin went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and having fun. He even held the GoPro we rented the entire time and took AMAZING photos and videos of us. I am so grateful for the 1:1 experience as well, I feel we explored much more of the reefs than the other divers on the boat because of having an experience guide with us. Thanks so much Martin, we will definitely book with you again when we return!