Open Water Diver Course PADI
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 Boat diving.
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Gear Included: Dive Zone Bay of Islands provides high-quality, well-maintained diving equipment for all students.
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The Ultimate Graduation Dive: Your final certification dives are an experience in themselves—an exploration of the protected Maunganui Bay rāhui, a sacred area teeming with marine life that will take your breath away.
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.
First Weekend (Pool & Ocean Dives 1 & 2)
On Saturday morning, you'll arrive at our dive centre to meet our crew and your fellow budding divers. We’ll start with a review of your online theory before heading to the pool. This is a huge, exciting day where you'll get fully comfortable with your scuba gear and learn foundational skills in a calm setting. We'll also complete a simple swim test to ensure you're relaxed in the water. The next day, the real adventure begins! We’ll take our fast boat out to a sheltered local reef, where you’ll complete your first two ocean dives, putting your new skills into practice while being mesmerised by the underwater environment.
Second Weekend (Ocean Dives 3 & 4)
The following Saturday marks your final step to becoming a certified diver. We’ll take you on an unforgettable trip to the pristine waters of Maunganui Bay (Deep Water Cove). As a rāhui (marine reserve), this area is a vibrant nursery for marine life, offering some of the best diving in New Zealand. Here, you'll complete your final two dives, demonstrating your skills and truly feeling the freedom of exploring the underwater world. Your course concludes back on land, where we’ll log your dives and officially welcome you to the global family of PADI certified divers.
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.
