The next step up the chain. This course builds on the skills learnt at Open Water level but has lots less emphasis on skill sets and more on diving. A very good course to build self confidence and experience under the watchful eye of an instructor. 5 dives in the open water (no pool). You will do a Deep dive (30 metres) a Night dive (awesome!), a Navigation dive (learn how to use that damn compass properly!) a Wreck dive on the ex-HMNZS Canterbury and a Search & Recovery dive. We run courses on demand so let us know if you’re interested. As a guide we do around three or four courses a year, and the entire course is done over a weekend of diving.

The Advanced Open Water course is a great way to get more dives under your belt while continuing to learn under the supervision of an instructor. You don’t need to be “advanced” to  take the course – in fact it’s designed so you can go straight into it after the Open Water course. It will help you increase your confidence and build your scuba skills so you can become more comfortable in the water. It also certifies you to dive to 30m (compared with the 18m you are certified to with your Open Water).

The course is run through Northland Dive and will cost $495 (excl. gear) and $545 (incl. gear). If there are 8 people, accommodation and food will be provided by the wonderful people at the Cowshed Backpackers.

The course is run as follows:

Drive up to Northland Dive (Bay of Islands, see directions here) the night before the course starts.

Day 1

• Out on the boat for the 1st dive (wreck dive).
• Picnic lunch on the beach.
• 2nd dive (navigation dive).
• 3rd dive (night dive).
• Back to Northland Dive for gear washing, theory, dinner, drinks and bed.

Day 2

• Out on the boat for the 4th dive of the course (deep dive).
• Picnic lunch on the beach.
• 5th and final dive (search and recovery).
• Back to Northland Dive for gear washing and last theory session.
• Drive back to Auckland.

The course costs ($545) includes:

• Two nights accommodation with hot showers, fire place, sky tv! (bunk beds in a dorm, BYO sleeping bag).
• Full set of dive gear to use for the course (if you have all your own gear the course will cost $495).
• Five dives at the spectacular Bay of Islands including at least one on the Canterbury wreck.
• PADI fees (course book and actual certification).
• And they will throw in food if we get enough people (breakfast and picnic lunch both days as well as a roast dinner on the night of Day 1).

Please note, you must already have your Open Water certification (PADI or other) to do this course. You also need a current (no older than one year) recreational dive medical.

If you are interested in doing an Advanced course email Katherine at openwater@akunidive.com to get more information and sign up.