Diving in the Bay of Islands

Wreck SpecialtyMany of the best dive sites in the world are on wrecks. Over the course of time, countless sea creatures have conquered these impressive structures as habitats, so that you dive through living history on every dive. Wreck diving is unique and incomparable. The SSI Wreck Diving Specialty course teaches you everything you need to know and master in practice and theory to become a safe and confident wreck diver. First, you will learn how to safely plan and conduct dives on wrecks and artificial reefs to a depth of 30 meters without penetrating deeper. You can then try out your newly acquired skills on real wrecks in open water. Upon completion of the course, you will receive your SSI Wreck Diving Specialty certification. Continue your adventure and become a wreck diver. Start today.We have two of the best wrecks in the world on our doorstep which makes us a great place to earn your wreck specialty! This course can be done over 2-3 days and takes you through exploring, mapping and penetrating shipwrecks as well as buoyancy control and techniques to avoid disturbing silt or the wrecks inhabitants. We dive the HMNZS Canterbury and the Rainbow Warrior* so you get to see two very different wrecks with very different histories.*The Warrior is dependent on weather.

The SSI Advanced Open Water Course is the next step in your diving career. The course consists of 5 dives and with us will see you diving the Rainbow Warrior and Canterbury wrecks.The Course takes 2 days to complete. There is theory to complete for each dive however, the focus is on learning through experience. There is no final exam like the Open Water Course and after you have completed the theory and the 5 dives you will be certified to dive to 30m anywhere in the world.The course includes a dive day on the Rainbow Warrior, and then a day to the Canterbury wreck. Depending on trip schedule we can swap these days around.Rainbow WarriorDive Day (2 dives)We meet at the shop at 07:45am and sort out paper work and gear. We then load our trailer and minibus and set off for Matauri Bay. At Matauri Bay we load our 7.5m 250hp powered inflatable with gear and launch it off the beach. From here it is a 10min ride to the Wreck of the Rainbow Warrior. We do the wreck as the Deep dive or the Wreck dive if done as the 2nd day of the course. The Warrior lies on a sandy seabed at 26m deep. She has been down for 30 years and has an incredible amount of fish life and encrusting life. After the wreck dive it is a quick ride to the beach for lunch and then another short ride to a reef site in the Cavalli Islands. This reef dive is one of the elective dives, but normally we do Fish ID, Photography, Boat, or Peak Performance Buoyancy. There are hundreds of dive sites to choose from and our experienced skippers will select the best one for the conditions. After the reef dive we head back to the beach to retrieve the boat and head back to Paihia. We are typically back around 04:00pm - 04:30pm.Canterbury DiveDay (3 dives)We meet at the shop at 07:45am and sort out paper work and gear. We then load our trolleys and stroll down to the Paihia Wharf (100yards from the shop). Here we load or 11.5m twin 300hp powered hard top aluminium boat. After a short safety briefing we cast off and head through the beautiful Bay of Islands. It is a 40min ride to deep water cove where the HMNZSCanterbury is resting bolt upright on a sandy seabed at 36m. This is either the Deep dive or Wreck dive. The wreck is 114m long and is 14m deep at its shallowest and 36m at its deepest. There is a lot to see including, gunning mounts, telephones, bridge, helicopter hanger and missile room. Deep water cove has been a marine reserve for 10yrs now and this really shows with abundant fish life and a wreck covered in anemones, crayfish and eels. After the wreck dive we head to a shallower reef area to do the Navigation Dive. We then have some lunch on the boat and then head to a reef site for our third dive. This is the last elective dive and you can choose from one of the many options. Our experienced skipper will pick the best site for the conditions on the day. After our last dive it is back to Paihia wharf to unload and log those dives. We are typically back around 03:30pm - 04:30pm depending on numbers and what we see whilst in the bay!

The SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Specialty course is the best course to learn how to protect yourself and other divers. You will learn how to recognize stress, avoid accidents and apply practical techniques for performing rescues and emergency care. With a combination of pool and open water training, you will be well and safely prepared to deal with emergency and rescue situations. After completing the course, you will receive the SSI Diver Stress & Rescue Specialty certification.Scuba divers describe the SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Specialty as the most challenging, yet most rewarding course they’ve ever taken. Why? Because you learn to prevent and manage problems in the water, and become more confident in your skills as a diver, knowing that you can help others if needed. During the course, you learn to become a better buddy by practicing problem solving skills until they become second nature. Plus, the course is just fun – it’s serious, but still allows for lots of laughter in between the focused learning.To start this course you need to be certified as an Open Water Diver, minimum age is 12 years. You also need to have First Aid(React Right) training within the past 24 months. You can complete this training during the Rescue Diver course. Your instructor may also offer the React Right specialty diver course at the same time.What will you learn?The Rescue Diver course prepares you to deal with dive emergencies, minor and major, using a variety of techniques. Through knowledge development and rescue exercises, you learn what to look for and how to respond. During rescue scenarios, you put into practice your knowledge and skills. Topics include:Self rescueRecognizing and managing stress in other diversEmergency management and equipmentRescuing panicked diversRescuing unresponsive diversHow can you start learning now?Download the SSI app to start now. You progress through knowledge development sections using a web-based system that lets you learn at your own pace through an easy-to-use, interactive program.What scuba gear will you use?You’ll use your Complete dive system. During exercises, you’ll work with an oxygen unit, floats, marker buoys and perhaps CPR mannequins. Your Instructor will explain the equipment that you need and may suggest additional gear, such as your own first aid kit, which will be useful throughout your diving career.We require a minimum of 2 students booked for the course to go ahead at this price. If you're the only person booked then the course will run as a private course($999.00 total price) or be rescheduled to another date.

Advanced Wreck SpecialtyMany of the best dive sites in the world are on wrecks. Over the course of time, countless sea creatures have conquered these impressive structures as habitats, so that you dive through living history on every dive. Wreck diving is unique and incomparable. The SSI Advance Wreck Diving Specialty course teaches you everything you need to know and master in practice and theory to become a safe and confident wreck diver. First, you will learn how to safely plan and conduct dives on wrecks and artificial reefs to a depth of 30 meters without penetrating deeper. You can then try out your newly acquired skills on real wrecks in open water. Upon completion of the course, you will receive your SSI Advanced Wreck Diving Specialty certification. Continue your adventure and become a wreck diver. Start today.We have two of the best wrecks in the world on our doorstep which makes us a great place to earn your advanced wreck specialty! This course can be done over 2-3 days and takes you through exploring, mapping and penetrating shipwrecks as well as buoyancy control and techniques to avoid disturbing silt or the wrecks inhabitants. We dive the HMNZS Canterbury and the Rainbow Warrior* so you get to see two very different wrecks with very different histories.*The Warrior is dependent on weather.

This specialty course provides you with the knowledge and advanced skills you need to navigate safely and confidently underwater. You will learn the correct use of the compass, natural navigation techniques, estimating distances, leaving and returning to a given point and simple navigation patterns. You will also learn how to combine navigation techniques to optimize your diving experience. All of this will sharpen your underwater observation skills, increase your diving safety and help you get the most out of every dive. Upon completion of the course, you will receive the SSI Navigation Specialty certification.

Love scuba diving? Want to share it with others on a whole new level? Take the Divemaster course and do what you love to do as a career. Scuba divers look up to divemaster's because they are leaders who mentor and motivate others. As a divemaster, you not only get to dive a lot, but also experience the joy of seeing others have as much fun diving as you do.The Divemaster program is the first step on an exciting journey. Earn the respect of your dive buddies and become an ambassador for diving by completing the Divemaster program. All you need is 40 verified dives and certifications in Deep Diving, Navigation, Night & Limited Visibility or at least 5 verified dives in each area plus Diver Stress & Rescue. Upon successful completion of the Divemaster program, you will be certified as a Dive Guide. If you want to turn your passion into a profession by guiding certified divers, teaching ecology programs, assisting instructors or even becoming an instructor yourself, your next step is the Divemaster upgrade with at least 60 logged/verified dives. You can upgrade to Divemaster immediately or later by studying the Science of Diving materials yourself and passing the Digital Final Exam, which makes you an SSI Professional. There are thousands of job opportunities worldwide for the next generation of highly qualified divers.The Divemaster course is your first level of professional training. Working closely with an SSI Instructor, you’ll fine-tune your dive skills, like perfecting the effortless hover, and refine your rescue skills so you anticipate and easily solve common problems. You’ll gain dive knowledge, management and supervision abilities so you become a role model to divers everywhere.As a Divemaster, you’ll lead others as you supervise scuba diving activities and assist with diver training. Whether you want to work at a faraway dive destination or close to home at a local dive shop, the adventure of a lifetime awaits you.What will you learn?The SSI Divemaster course teaches you to be a leader and take charge of dive activities. Through knowledge development sessions, waterskills exercises and workshops, and hands-on practical assessment, you develop the skills to organize and direct a variety of scuba diving activities. Topics and practical workshops include:The role and characteristics of the SSI DivemasterSupervising dive activities and assisting with student diversDiver safety and risk managementDivemaster conducted programs and specialized skillsBusiness of diving and your careerAwareness of the dive environmentDive setup and managementMapping an open water siteConducting dive briefingsOrganizing a search and recovery project and a deep diveConducting a scuba review and skin diver courseYour instructor may also offer the Deep, Night and Navigation specialty diver courses along with your divemaster training to help you meet all requirements and to broaden your abilities.How can you start learning now?Sign up for the Divemaster – SSI online Learning option – to start now. You can work through eight knowledge development sections using a web-based system that lets you learn at your own pace. You also have access to an online version for reference during and after the course.

The former Navy Frigate Canterbury F421 now rests in Deep Water Cove near Cape Brett. Upright and intact, she makes for an impressive sight in a great dive location! Divers hit the bow at about 20m and can swim through the bridge to the helicopter hanger at 27m.The upper deck, bridge and first floor levels are easily within recreational diving range. The lower levels are for more advanced divers with the stern resting at approximately 36m. Fish are already making themselves at home aboard the Canterbury, with resident schools in the bridge and around the funnel.This is just beginning as the location of this Frigate will ensure it quickly becomes a haven for dozens of fish species. We are a official dive operator for the Canterbury. Check it out now and watch the fish life grow!Bay of Islands Dive Day...We start the dive day at 7:45am at our dive shop on Williams rd. We organize equipment and paperwork, then load the boat on Paihia wharf for a 8:30am departure. If you are staying in Russell, we are happy to pick you up from the wharf in Russell at 8:45am. Just phone the shop to arrange equipment.On the way out to the dive site, we cruise through the islands and often see Dolphins, Penguins, Seals and marine bird life. It takes approximately 30 minutes on Sentinel to get to Deep Water Cove, on the way out we can also organize gear and brief for the wreck dive.First up is normally the Wreck Dive, we then cruise to a reef area for some lunch/snorkelling and if we have any Reef divers/Refreshers or Discover Scuba Divers on board they do their first dive.Intro DiversAfter the wreck divers are up we move to a shallow reef site, gear up and enter the water. We do some basic skills to get you comfortable with breathing underwater, and then we descend to a maximum depth of 12 metres. Once you are comfortable we take you for a tour of the underwater marine life.After lunch we then head to one of the many great reef dive sites in the Bay of Islands. This is normally a 18m or less dive exploring caves, arches, and swim throughs. Deep Water Cove is a marine reserve, so the marine life in this area is incredible. There is also the chance for more snorkelling at the second site and if time allows a second dive for the Intro Divers (this carries an extra charge).Once all the diving is done we cruise back though the islands to Paihia, arriving at the wharf around 3:30pm. Arrival at Paihia can vary depending on how busy the boat is and if customers require to be back for a bus. If you are catching a bus in the afternoon, please let us know!