The Top 5 Dive Training and Certification Centers in New Zealand

Diving is a popular activity in New Zealand, with many people enjoying the country’s beautiful coastline and clear waters. There are a number of dive training and certification centers located around the country, so if you’re interested in learning to dive, or improving your diving skills, there’s sure to be a center that’s right for you. Here are five of the best dive training and certification centers in New Zealand.

1. Dive Tutukaka

Dive Tutukaka is located in Northland, on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island. The center offers a range of diving courses, from beginner to advanced, as well as certification for a variety of diving specialties. Dive Tutukaka also runs regular dive trips, so you can put your new skills to the test in some of New Zealand’s best dive spots.

Tutukaka is a coastal town located on the northeastern coast of New Zealand’s North Island. It’s a popular destination for diving and snorkeling, known for its clear waters, diverse marine life, and stunning underwater landscapes. The Dive! Tutukaka is one of the best dive center operating in the area, it’s a PADI 5 Star Dive Centre, and offers a wide range of diving and snorkeling trips, courses, and equipment rental.

The area around Tutukaka is home to a number of excellent dive sites, including the famous Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve. The Poor Knights Islands are a group of islands located off the coast of Tutukaka and are considered to be one of the top dive spots in New Zealand. The waters around the islands are rich in marine life, and divers can expect to encounter a wide variety of species, including sharks, rays, and schools of colorful fish, as well as kelp forests and rocky reefs.

Dive Tutukaka also offers trips to other dive sites in the area, such as the offshore Hen and Chicken Islands and the Mokohinau Islands, as well as to shipwrecks such as the HMNZS Canterbury wreck. They have different types of diving available such as night diving, deep diving, wreck diving, and underwater photography and videography.

It’s worth noting that diving in Tutukaka is seasonal and weather dependent, the best time to dive is generally from November to May.

2. Dive Wellington

Dive Wellington is based in the capital city of Wellington, on New Zealand’s South Island. The center offers a wide range of diving courses, from beginner to professional level. They also have a retail store, so you can buy all the gear you need for your diving adventures.

Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand and is located on the southern coast of the North Island. While it is not as well known as a diving destination as some other parts of the country, Wellington does have some excellent dive sites in the surrounding area.

One of the diving company in Wellington is Dive Wellington, They offer a range of diving services, including dive trips, courses, and equipment rental. They are a PADI dive center and offer a variety of PADI dive courses, from Open Water Diver to Divemaster. They also offer a variety of dive trips to the area’s best dive sites, including the Taputeranga Marine Reserve and the Island Bay Marine Reserve.

Another diving company in Wellington is Wellington Dive, They are a 5-star PADI dive center that offers a wide range of dive courses and trips for divers of all levels, from beginner to advanced. They also offer a variety of specialties courses, such as Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, and Nitrox courses, as well as dive equipment rental, air fills, and dive gear sales. They organize regular dive trips to the best dive sites around Wellington, including the Taputeranga Marine Reserve and the Island Bay Marine Reserve, as well as the Makara coast and the south coast.

The diving around Wellington is generally suitable for all levels of divers and can offer a variety of marine life such as crayfish, octopus, starfish, sea-urchins, and schools of fish. The diving is weather dependent, the best time to dive is generally from November to May.

3. Dive Auckland

Dive Auckland is located in the city of Auckland, on New Zealand’s North Island. The center offers a wide range of diving courses, from beginner to professional level. They also have a retail store, so you can buy all the gear you need for your diving adventures.

Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand and is located on the North Island. While it is not known as a traditional diving destination, there are some excellent dive sites in the surrounding area that are easily accessible from the city.

One diving company in Auckland is Dive Auckland. They are a PADI dive center and offer a wide range of diving services, including dive trips, courses, and equipment rental. They operate out of Auckland and organize dive trips to the area’s best dive sites, such as the Goat Island Marine Reserve, the Leigh Marine Reserve, and the Poor Knights Islands. They offer a variety of PADI courses, from Open Water Diver to Divemaster, as well as a variety of specialties courses such as Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, and Nitrox courses.

Another diving company in Auckland is Auckland Dive Centre. They are a PADI 5 Star dive center that offers a wide range of dive courses, from beginner to professional level, as well as dive trips and equipment rental. They organize regular dive trips to the area’s best dive sites, including the Goat Island Marine Reserve and the Leigh Marine Reserve, as well as to the more distant Poor Knights Islands. They also offer a variety of specialties courses such as Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, and Nitrox courses.

The diving around Auckland offers a variety of marine life such as crayfish, octopus, starfish, sea-urchins, and schools of fish. The diving is weather dependent, the best time to dive is generally from November to May. However, the area around Auckland is known for having a lot of recreational boating activity, so divers should be aware of the potential for boat traffic and take necessary precautions.

4. Dive Christchurch

Dive Christchurch is located in the city of Christchurch, on New Zealand’s South Island. The center offers a wide range of diving courses, from beginner to professional level. They also have a retail store, so you can buy all the gear you need for your diving adventures.

Christchurch is a city located on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. While it is not as well known as a diving destination as some other parts of the country, there are some excellent dive sites in the surrounding area that are easily accessible from the city.

One diving company in Christchurch is Dive Otautahi. They are a PADI dive center and offer a wide range of diving services, including dive trips, courses, and equipment rental. They organize dive trips to the area’s best dive sites, such as the Banks Peninsula and the Akaroa Harbour. They offer a variety of PADI courses, from Open Water Diver to Divemaster, as well as a variety of specialties courses such as Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, and Nitrox courses.

Another diving company in Christchurch is Dive Canterbury, They offer a wide range of diving services including dive trips, courses, and equipment rental. They are a PADI dive center that offer a variety of PADI courses from Open Water Diver to Divemaster and also offer a variety of specialties courses such as Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, and Nitrox courses. They organize regular dive trips to the best dive sites around Christchurch, such as Banks Peninsula and Akaroa Harbour, which are known for their rich marine life and clear waters.

The diving around Christchurch offers a variety of marine life such as crayfish, octopus, starfish, sea-urchins, and schools of fish. The diving is weather dependent, the best time to dive is generally from November to May. The diving around Christchurch is often considered more of a recreational diving destination, with a good visibility and relatively easy diving conditions.

5. Dive Otago

Dive Otago is located in the city of Dunedin, on New Zealand’s South Island. The center offers a wide range of diving courses, from beginner to professional level. They also have a retail store, so you can buy all the gear you need for your diving adventures.

Otago is a region located on the south-east coast of the South Island of New Zealand, it is known for its rugged coastal landscapes, historic gold-mining towns and its marine life. The diving in the region is well known among the diving community and offers a variety of dive sites, such as rocky reefs, kelp forests, and shipwrecks.

One diving company in Otago is Dive Otago, They are a PADI dive center and offer a wide range of diving services, including dive trips, courses, and equipment rental. They operate out of Dunedin and organize dive trips to the area’s best dive sites, such as the Taiaroa Head and the Shag Island. They offer a variety of PADI courses, from Open Water Diver to Divemaster, as well as a variety of specialties courses such as Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, and Nitrox courses.

Another diving company in Otago is Aquatak Dive Centre, They are a 5-star PADI Dive Center and offer a wide range of diving services, including dive trips, courses, and equipment rental. They operate out of Dunedin and organize dive trips to the area’s best dive sites such as Taiaroa Head, Shag Island and the Catlins coast. They offer a variety of PADI courses, from Open Water Diver to Divemaster, as well as a variety of specialties courses such as Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, and Nitrox courses.

The diving around Otago offers a variety of marine life such as crayfish, octopus, starfish, sea-urchins, and schools of fish. The diving is weather dependent, the best time to dive is generally from November to May. The diving around Otago is considered more of an advanced diving destination due to the exposure to the ocean swells and the colder water temperature.