PADI Open Water Diver Course
Ready to explore the underwater world? Dive Zone offers Northland’s premier PADI Open Water Course, designed for total beginners eager to earn their first Diving Certification / Dive ticket. Our course is renowned for its personalized approach—small groups, expert instructors, and three immersive days of hands-on learning. You'll gain all the essential skills and confidence needed to become a certified diver to 18m depth.
Whether you're dreaming of tropical reefs or local marine adventures, this is your first step toward unforgettable underwater experiences. Join us and discover a whole new world beneath the waves!
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Small Class Sizes: Enjoy personalized attention and a supportive learning environment with our small class sizes.
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Expert Instructors: Learn from seasoned professionals who are passionate about diving and dedicated to your success.
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Comprehensive Training: Gain practical experience with 8-10hrs online learning, 1 day pool practice, and 2 days open water diving.
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Top-Notch Gear: Dive Zone Bay of Islands provides high-quality, well-maintained diving equipment for all students.
Availability: In Stock
What to expect on your course
Before the course - Complete your elearning
Once you sign up for the course, you'll receive an email from PADI with access to your online learning materials. With e-learning, you can study for your dive course at your own pace, right from the comfort of your home. Whether you use a smartphone or computer, our digital classroom makes it easy to fit learning into your schedule—though a larger screen can enhance the experience.
If you need any help along the way, we're just a call away. Remember, e-learning must be completed before attending the course, so be sure to allow 8-10 hours to finish all the sections.
Day 1 of the course - Pool session
Day 1 kicks off with us gathering at the dive shop, getting our gear ready, and heading out to the local pool. Once there, you’ll dive into skill-building sessions with our experienced instructors in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. There’s plenty of time to perfect your techniques while enjoying the process. Be sure to bring your own mask and snorkel—if you need one, we can help you choose the perfect fit in-store. Don’t forget your swimwear, towel, lunch, and a water bottle. Get ready for a day of learning, laughter, and underwater excitement!
Day 2 - Shore Diving
We’re thrilled to be the only dive shop in Northland still offering shore diving—a skill we believe is essential for our local divers who will be exploring these waters once they’re certified. Shore diving not only connects you more closely with the environment but also prepares you for countless future adventures.
Our shore dives take place at the stunning beaches of Matauri Bay or Putataua Bay, where world-class reef structures extend out around the point. Get ready to explore vibrant underwater landscapes teeming with life! You’ll encounter snapper, schooling koheru, sandager’s wrasse, moray eels, nudibranchs, and even graceful eagle rays.
We’ll complete two dives here, with a relaxing lunch break in the sunshine. The water temperatures range from a refreshing 16°C in winter to a warm 22°C in summer, making every dive a pleasure. Don’t forget to bring your swimwear, towel, lunch, and a jacket—this is going to be an adventure you won’t want to miss!
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Day 3 - Boat Diving
On the final day of the course, we embark on an epic adventure to one of the Bay of Islands' most breathtaking spots—Deep Water Cove, nestled along the stunning Cape Brett. This area, protected by a Rahui (no-take zone), is a marine paradise bursting with life. Imagine diving into waters teeming with schooling fish, vibrant sponges, graceful rays, and curious eels. And if we’re lucky, we might even encounter dolphins as we explore the bay!
We’ll complete two exhilarating dives in this incredible setting, making the most of a day packed with fun and unforgettable experiences. The journey to Deep Water Cove is a scenic 35-minute cruise aboard our boat, Rika Maru. Don’t forget to bring a windproof jacket for the ride home—you’ll want to stay cozy as you reflect on an amazing day spent in one of New Zealand’s most magical marine environments.
Important Information
Age: The minimum age is 15 for this PADI Diver Course. Younger students (12-15 Years) can complete a Jr Open Water Dive Course.
Max Depth: The maxmium depth we will dive to is 18m on this course.
Medical History: All Divers are required to complete an PADI Medical Form. This form is valid for 12 month. Please click here to download the PADI Medical Form.
Equipment:
To get started, all you need is your own mask and snorkel—we’ll provide everything else! You’ll be fully equipped with a 7mm Beuchat wetsuit, Scubapro fins, weight belt, boots, Aqualung & Scubapro BCD, regulators, and dive computers. For added comfort, we recommend investing in your own gear. Our store stocks a wide range of top-quality scuba equipment, and our instructors are here to help you find the perfect fit for your diving adventures!
Please read before booking
All courses require a min $200 deposit for your online learning: please note that your deposit is non-refundable. Full payment must be made to secure your space on the course. We know life happens so changes can be made to your booking, please note a rebooking fee of $150 applies for sickness (yourself or family), Covid-19 and unexpected circumstances in your life that may stop you attending the course. Students that are a 'No Show' on the day without any contact via email or phone will be removed from the course and are not entitled to any refund.The course must be completed within 12 months if the student exceeds this timeframe without completing the course, the student will need to purchase a new course at the current course price (minus the $200 elearning fee). Please note for safety reasons the course may be postponed due to weather, we will be in touch with you to reschedule if this is the case. Before booking please make sure you have read and understood the Risk Disclosure form that can be found here. Booking into a course confirms that you have read and agree to this document.
