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. With courses to suit all levels of dive experience Paihia Dive will be able to help you achieve your diving goals.
We offer hands on instruction for brand new divers and divers who are out of practice. For those who have never tried scuba diving before and would like to learn what it is all about, check out the Intro Dive diving session. For licensed divers who aren’t confident their skills are up-to-date we offer Refresher course!
If you’ve never dived, start with an Intro Dive to try it, or go straight to the SSI Open Water course to get certified. Already certified? The Advanced Open Water course is the next step and includes both our wrecks.
Yes. SSI certifications are recognised by dive centres around the world, and your certification card is issued digitally in the MySSI app as soon as you finish.
From 10 for the Intro Dive and the Junior Open Water course, although in Bay of Islands conditions we recommend 12. The SSI Freediver and Stress and Rescue courses start at 12, and the Divemaster course at 18. Anyone under 18 needs an adult with them.
Everyone completes a short medical questionnaire before training. If you answer yes to any question you’ll need a doctor to sign you off before you dive, so please check the form well before your course.
Theory is online through the SSI app or with an instructor at our shop in Paihia. Pool sessions are in the heated pool in Kawakawa, usually around 28°C. Shore dives are at Matauri Bay, and boat dives are on our boat Sentinel in Deep Water Cove.
A one-day first aid and CPR course at our shop in Paihia. Open to anyone aged 12 or over, no diving needed, and it meets the first aid requirement for Stress and Rescue. More about React Right.
Take the first step in your dive career and become a Divemaster. Working closely with an Instructor, you’ll expand your dive knowledge and hone your skills as you become a dive professional.
Freediving opens up a whole new underwater world. The Freediver course takes 2 days to complete, the first day starts in the class reviewing the theory completed online and then we head to the pool for the confined water session. The 2nd day is out on our boat Sentinel in Deep Water Cove putting to practice the skills learned in the pool and depth training.
