I have finished my course but don't have a dive buddy to go diving with?
This one is easily solved. Go Deep Scuba has a very active dive club. There are no formal meetings and it is easy to join up and best of all it is FREE. You will receive regular newsletters with information on dive trips and industry related news as well. You can even meet buddies who have similar interests whether it is taking underwater photos, hunting for crayfish, gathering scallops or just having a good look around. To join up just click here.
How long does a course take to complete?
This is very dependent on you and your schedule. Once you have the book and have worked through the manual, you will need to spend approximately 3 hours in the classroom, reviewing the theory, 3-4 hours in the pool completing the underwater skills practice and then away diving for two days for your open water training. Once this is completed, you will become a certified open water diver. For more information and to download medical and registration forms, just click here.
How deep will I be able to go?
This will depend on the level of training you are completing and your age. If you are a Junior Open Water diver you are restricted to 12 metres and under until you turn 15. If you are a full open water diver you will be trained to 18 metres. Over 18 metres is considered a deep dive and there is additional training that you should undertake before venturing over this depth.
Where will I go diving for my course and what might I expect to see?
For open water training we generally head down to Wellington and sometimes up to Lake Taupo. If we are Wellington the dive site will not be finalised until the day we arrive there. Wellington has a huge variety of dive sites from rocks and kelp to sandy bottoms and of course, a variety of both. You might get to Octopus, Blue Cod, Red Moki, Crayfish, Crabs, Brittle Stars, a variety of Starfish, Paua, nudibranchs (underwater slugs), Terakihi, Spotties and Sea Cucumbers... just to mention a few. Lake Taupo is a great open water dive site as it offers shallow water diving without tidal changes and currents and being fresh water, divers do not need as much lead to get them under the water. The bottom can be stirred up very easily though, so sometimes visibility can be affected if with a larger group. You can get more information about some of the dive sites we go to by looking at our dive sites page.
Will I see Sharks or Stingrays?
This is usually one of the first questions we get asked as people are concerned about Jaws and of course, Steve Irwin's death has brought about a fear of sting rays. We have dived many, many times in New Zealand waters and I have not ever seen a shark whilst diving here. As for stingrays, it may be hard to believe, but they are an incredibly placid animal and tend to move away from divers underwater. Just don't trap them or if you see them, try to remain calm, give them some distance and room to go where they want. We will teach you have to deal with animals underwater as well.
How much will it cost?
The cost of our dive courses are available on the dive courses page. All of our course costs cover travel to and from the dive site, training manuals, certificate and certification upon completion.
I don't have anyone to dive with, can I dive alone?
When you completed your open water course, you would have been told about why we dive with a buddy at all times. This is for your safety. You may be an incredibly good and experienced diver, but that does not mean you won't get into trouble and require buddy assistance. Instead, come along on some dive trips or join our dive club so you can get to know other divers in your area.
Why do I have to read a book and do classroom work? I just want to going diving!
The book will provide you with a lot of information about the effects of scuba diving on your body and how to stay within your limits and to stay safe whilst using scuba. The book covers topics such as the underwater environment, your dive equipment and keeping it well maintained, theory on how to properly use the dive tables to calculate your theoretical nitrogen levels, things that can go wrong and how to help avoid them and many tips on how to deal with different conditions you may encounter when you are diving. If you have difficulties with reading, don't let that put you off, please discuss this with one of our instructors, so we can work out a programme that will suit you.
How much does it cost to set myself up with dive equipment?
This depends on what type of equipment you would like to purchase and how much your budget is. We have some great starter packages available from just $1,999 for a complete dive package. We also have a snorkeling package which is from $499 and gives you the basic personal dive equipment, ordered to your size and colour preferences. For more information, click here.
What is the difference between PADI and SSI?
Both of these training agencies are internationally recognised and they are both members of the RSTC (Recreational Scuba Training Council) that sets minimum standards for the scuba diving industry. SSI has a base in New Zealand so delivery of manuals and certification cards is much quicker whereas all training materials and certificates etc for PADI are sent from the Asia Pacific office in Sydney, Australia.
Why do I have to go to my GP to have my medical clearance signed, declaring I am ok to scuba diving? I am fit and healthy.
This is a requirement to ensure that you have no conditions that are contraindicated to scuba diving, such as asthma, epilepsy, diabetes etc. If you do have these conditions this may not necessarily discard you from learning to dive. We can refer you to a hyperbaric trained GP who will give you a fair assessment for your diving medical. For more information on who to contact, request information to be sent, via email, by clicking here. You could also check out the dive courses page to download the medical forms.
If your question is not listed above, please email us with your question and one of our qualified staff will get back to you as soon as possible.
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