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.

This certification is recognized worldwide and is the best way to become a qualified diver on an adventure that will last a lifetime. The combination of personalized instruction and practical training sessions ensures that you gain the skills and experience of a confident, safe diver. At the end of the course you will receive the SSI Open Water Diver certification.Open Water Diving CourseYour first step into the world of recreational diving!Whether you want to dive with us in the beautiful Bay of Islands, or in any of the world's other amazing dive locations, your Open Water certification is the ticket you need.Our scuba diving course will run over 3 days.We use the MySSI app to complete the theory before starting the course. Once signed up to the course we will send you the codes so you can get started.The confined water sessions are done in a heated swimming pool. This allows you the time to master the skills required to progress to the open water.The first dive day is at the beach at Matauri Bay, this gives you a taste of shore diving. On the last day we head out to Deep Water Cove to complete the last 2 dives of the course. This area is a reserve so the diving is awesome!Upon certification you will be qualified to dive with a buddy to 18 metres/60 feet.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.

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 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!

The Rainbow Warrior was Greenpeace’s flagship. On its way to protest France’s nuclear testing on the Mururoa Atoll when it was sunk by French saboteurs on July 10, 1985, in Auckland Harbour.After the bombing Greenpeace gifted the Warrior to the sea and she now lies as an artificial reef in the Cavallii Islands, a refuge for the marine life she was sunk trying to protect.At a max depth of 26m the Warrior is now home to a huge variety of aquatic life and is a world renowned dive site.The Warrior is an one of the world’s premier wreck dives, and truly is the ‘Jewel of the North’. “When man has destroyed the world through his greed, the Warriors of the Rainbow will arise to save it again”.Rainbow Warrior Dive Day...We start the dive day at 7:45am at our dive shop on Williams rd. We organize equipment and paperwork and load our minibus and trailer for an 8:30am departure. We drive 45 minutes north to Matauri Bay were we launch our 7.5m inflatable boat from the beach. Once at Matauri Bay we set up scuba gear, put wet suits on, and do the safety briefing. Launching the boat is lots of fun from the beach and makes it a very short boat ride of 8 minutes to the wreck of the Rainbow Warrior.After the wreck dive, we head to one of the beautiful beaches on the Cavalli Islands for some lunch/snorkelling, and if we have any reef/DSD divers on board they do their first dive.After lunch we then head to one of the many great reef dive sites in the Cavalli Islands. This is normally an 18m or less dive exploring the volcanic reef areas. We have plenty of swim throughs, tunnels and caves, so if you are keen on this let us know!Once all the diving is done, we head back to Matauri Bay, arriving at about 2:30pm and back to Paihia around 4:00pm. 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!RequirementsUse this section to list all participant requirements and obligations. Specify prerequisites (e.g. minimum age, certification level, logged dives, medical clearance), as well as what participants must bring themselves, such as personal equipment, swimwear, towel, logbook, certification card, or dive computer. Clearly state any mandatory documents, forms, or prior training that must be completed before the activity. Click the edit icon on the right to modify or update the content.Please bring your swimsuit, towel, sun block, camera, and something warm to wear after diving. You are welcome to bring your own lunch, or we are happy to provide a packed lunch for $15.00. Just let us know if you would like the meat or vegetarian option.Note: The Rainbow Warrior lies in water deeper than 18m/60ft. As such, any Open Water Divers who wish to dive the wreck must do so in conjunction with a Deep Adventure Dive (which will contribute to their Advanced Adventurer certification). This costs an additional $50. You must be a certified diver to dive the wreck.As the Rainbow Warrior wreck is a deep dive, on a wreck in temperate water we require that you have dived within the last year before doing this dive as a Deep Adventure Dive. If you are Advanced Certified or higher we require that you have dived with the last 2 years. If you are concerned about your diving skills, then booking a refresher day trip before wreck diving is advised.