31 January 2026 11:36 am

31st January 2026

The new year is underway and local divers have been getting some diving in when and where the going has been good! The weather that is… Thoughts have also been with those experiencing the most negative affects of the adverse weather further north.

There was a little adventure that involved dealing with the wind for the recent Dive Day ,but divers had great conditions underwater. Dive Courses kicked off in 2026 with an Open Water Diver course for some visitors from Ohakune! And a local too… all now certified PADI Open Water Divers!

Advanced Open Water and Specialty Courses are getting some interest and sign ups too, also PADI Rescue Diver for those completing their core courses. Core courses, 5 PADI Specialties and 50 logged dives earns you your PADI Master Scuba Diver rating!

PADI are celebrating their 60th year of operating this year with some exciting things happening. This includes custom certification eCards for divers earning certifications this year. Just think about having a custom, one time only, 60th anniversary PADI Master Scuba Diver eCard!

Safe Diving,

Tony and Peter

5 January 2026 8:44 am

Modern technology and advancements in scuba diver training have seen many a scuba diver certified with the minimum of time and effort. In as little as 4 days you can become a certified PADI Open Water Diver! This is great news for people looking to take up the sport and get out diving with your buddies but… do you have all the knowledge and experience to be safe and confident in the mix of underwater environments out there? Do you know how things really work? Could you help a diver in distress? Have you ever dived an underwater shipwreck? With enough training you could be getting more out of every dive and diving more.

Improved Safety

Examples: Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver and Emergency Oxygen Provider

Dealing with emergencies and good practice are certainly covered in your dive courses. A few scuba divers enjoy a long career in the shallows without any serious incidents on a simple Open Water certification. But even more divers enjoy the benefits of good training; having gained the knowledge and skills to dive the many fathoms of the underwater world in comfort. These divers understand that their continued training was what they actually needed to enjoy the sport thoroughly and safely.

Greater Confidence

Examples: Advanced and Rescue, Navigation Specialty, Deep Diver, Boat Diver, Drift Diver, Equipment Specialist, Peak Performance buoyancy and Solo Diver.

Nobody likes to feel anxious, especially when diving.All trained scuba divers who have been through a PADI Rescue Diver course will know that panic is any divers worst enemy. Continuing education courses allow you as a diver to make rational, informed decisions about situations underwater and on the surface. Any Advanced Open Water diver will understand better their air consumption rate at different depths and a Rescue Diver will know how to keep themselves and others calm when faced with adversity.

Specialty courses come into play here as well. Underwater Navigating with greater confidence and ease will improve every dive and enable you to better enjoy the experience. Deep and Boat diver specialty ratings keep you knowledgeable and on Que when diving these scenarios. You’ll want to know how do dive in a current plus – drift diving is loads of fun!! An Equipment Specialty certified diver will understand their equipment requirements giving them confidence in knowing it will work when required. Any diver with a Peak Performance Buoyancy rating will glide through the water with ease and know how to maneuver themselves underwater with style.

Diving by yourself is not recommended but being the Solo Diver Specialty will prepare you if you do get separated from your buddy. Be confident you’ll know what to do should the situation arise.

Understand the Underwater World

Examples: Advanced Open Water, Underwater Naturalist Specialty, Project AWARE, Underwater Archaeology, Wreck Diver and Research Diver Specialties.

Entry level divers can miss out on so much of what’s going on around them, a scuba instructor will tell you how much they see their beginner students missing out on. Knowing where to look and how to behave to bring around the interesting species is only the beginning. Understanding historical dive sites and their significance brings about great satisfaction for many. You’ll want to know how every thing interacts and how to find out the details on things you discover on your many underwater adventures. Investing in diver training will get you informed and motivated!

Skills for Different Conditions and Environments

Examples: Advanced Open Water, Drift Diver Specialty, Deep, Night, SMB Diver Specialty, Wreck, Solo etc.

Safe diving comes into play again here for obvious reasons. Be prepared for the thrills of Drift diving and diving at Night. Learn safe techniques for planning, executing and enjoying the many varying environments to be enjoyed. Navigate and understand an underwater ship wreck, launch an SMB or try a Solo Diver specialty. Plus, did we mention all dive courses are a bucket load of fun?!

Better Equipment Selection and Knowledgeable Operation

Examples: Equipment Specialty, Sidemount, Dry Suit, DPV, Enriched Air Diver, Emergency Oxygen Provider, Search and Recovery, Underwater Photograpy/Videography Specialty courses and Technical Diving.

Take a load off when it comes to equipment selection and operation, take a course in how your new dive gear works. Knowing your gear and correctly diving it will take the hassle and stress out of the whole game. Take a DPV for a spin, get yourself a nice warm Drysuit, get into Sidemount diving and become a Technical Diver with well honed underwater Photo and Video skills!! Enriched Air makes for comfortable diving and even extends your no-decompression limits.. Take a PADI Equipment Specialty and learn about your Scuba gear, what makes it work and what is needed to keep it working the way it is supposed to.

MORE FUN!!!

Examples: Every dive course ever conceived.

8 December 2025 9:08 am

Summer is here and only a few days left until Christmas! This means it’s the holiday season and the time when a lot of people want to get underwater together. Our store is open 8am to 5pm right up to Christmas day. We do close for 4 days over the Christmas period and 2 days for the new year. Getting in early and getting organised before then is best to make sure get what you need.

Christmas Presents for Divers

Our excellent range of expert selected dive gear is sure to have something for every diver. The next piece of kit for the aspiring diver and the “go-to” items for regular divers like a fresh set of dive gloves! Shearwater Dive Computers in store are the best available, Gear Packages get your new kit together while selected Fins, BCD’s and Regulators to “swish-up” your kit.. If you’re worried about havign the correct size, unused and as new dive gear items can be exchanged for the right size after Christmas. Fill Cards and Gift Vouchers are excellent Christmas presents and offer flexibility. Also popular for “secret Santa” events!

Gear Servicing and Cylinder Testing

Gear servicing and Cylinder testing over the Christmas New Year period can be slower than usual. Allow plenty of time for these services or get in early, at least a week before Christmas is a likely time to recommend. You can still bring your kit in during the 2-3 weeks over the Christmas/New Year time but be aware it may be early to mid January for some things to be ready.

Enjoy and Practice SAFE Diving

If you’ve not been underwater for a little while then checking over your kit and planning a simpler and shallower dive to get re-acclimated is highly recommended. Your last dive might be fresh in your mind and kit might have worked fine last time. But sitting in the shed for a month or two, even a few weeks can require a good quick check of your dive kit. Put it together, check your gauges, mouthpieces, regulators and BCD inflators are working.

Keep hydrated a day or two before and during diving activities. Even a few weeks or so without diving means it’s good to ease back into it with an easy dive or two. Watch the weather and be careful when there are lot’s of people out.

Have a great Holiday!

2 November 2025 2:22 pm

Now that you have a few dives under your belt, you’re finally getting the hang of this diving thing and you’ve been bitten by the diving bug! Congratulations on that.. If you’re looking for ways to breakthrough from beginner to experienced, we have a simple trick for you. Keep an up-to-date diving logbook!

Always know how much weight you need

Sure, you can ask the PADI Divemaster for help calculating your weight every time you dive, but your aim should be to become a little more switched on about your diving requirements. A record of the amount of weight you need with various combinations of gear will save time and help you pinpoint the right amount of weight to optimise your buoyancy.

Nailing your buoyancy is the first milestone to reach if you want to become a better diver.

Write down equipment needs and repair notes

If you regularly forget your snorkel keeper or octi holder, use your logbook to write a reminder. You can also make a note of any repairs needed after a dive while it’s at the top of your mind. Doing this makes it easier to remember later.

Good divers have a well-stocked equipment bag and well-maintained equipment.

Record your milestones

Some dive locations and advanced dive courses require a certain amount of logged dives. You don’t want to limit yourself because you don’t have enough proof of experience via logged dives. Record your dives in your logbook because you might need proof later.

Keep a list of fish sightings

Good divers are always learning and sharing. Take notes on the marine life you see so you can look it up later. Expand your fish identification knowledge, so you can share it and help improve the dive experience for others.

Remember your dive trip

An up-to-date logbook is a present to your future self. The days you spend diving can be the happiest days of your life. Take the time to write down your adventures, keep track of the lessons learned, and improve on what you did last time. Doing this has the added bonus of providing inspiration for your next dive!

17 October 2025 4:38 pm

Taking your PADI Open Water Diver course is an exhilarating, fulfilling and empowering experience. On the PADI Advanced Open Water Course, divers learn to explore more and gain confidence underwater. So what is the PADI Rescue Diver Course for then you ask..

Why take a PADI Rescue Diver course?

Often divers are unsure of the benefits of taking the PADI Rescue Diver course. Put it off because they think it is beyond them or they want to hone their skills with more practice beforehand. The fact is, these are the things you gain from doing the PADI Rescue Diver course.

Anybody Adventure diver up can take it… ANYBODY

The PADI Rescue Diver program focuses and encourages individualised techniques. This means that the best way to perform the task is the way that you find SUITS YOU best. While one technique may seem beyond one diver, for another it is more suited when an easier method did not make sense. A macho-weight lifting, giant might seem like the only candidate but in fact, the truth is anybody can perform the skills. It’s as simple as finding the method that best suits the diver, plus we’re all weightless in the water anyway right?!

Your skills ARE good to go.

Maybe you don’t see why you should take the course or you are not sure your skills are up to scratch? Part of the PADI Rescue Diver course take’s another look at some of the Open Water Diver skills as well. There is added practice where you’ll find your skills are much better than you originally thought. When you practice these again with your Dive Instructor you’ll get the extra help as well, it’s part of the course.

Your dives will NOT be interrupted.

Being a PADI Rescue Diver does not mean your dives are interrupted by helping wayward divers. The Rescue Diver in a group is actually less likely to be interrupted by “calls to duty” because less problems occur. The course helps to safeguard your diving from issues by teaching you what to look out for. In part this helps with keeping your diving experiences on a good plane, preventing issues, often before they arise. Being a certified Rescue Diver makes your diving less problematic rather than the opposite.

22 September 2025 10:23 am

Some of the greatest joys of Scuba Diving are breathing underwater, the sense of being unencumbered, enjoying neutral buoyancy and the fluid nature of the underwater world. These combine with nature for a truly unique experience every time.

Breathing Underwater

The fascination around our feeling of wellbeing around water is one thing. But getting in the water and enjoying being able to breath underwater is a next level sense of, sometimes enlightenment, and an amazing thrill too.

You have your scuba diving equipment allowing you to breath, but your natural instincts are telling you not to breath. This appears to put our logic and instincts in a state of disarray! But at the same time we experience an unexplainable sense of empowerment, fulfilment and achievement. This experience is unique to scuba diving and why so many find the desire to enjoy the activity so compelling.

Being Unencumbered

Unlike terrestrial (land based activities), limitations around your movements are almost non-existent. With just the flick or your fins, a BCD adjustment and or just a change in the way you are breathing; underwater you have the ability to move in all directions! Forward movement, backward movement, going up or down no longer requires the ground, steps, or any other kind of assistance. If that is where you want to go, just head in that direction! ITS GREAT!

You get time

Scuba diving allows you plenty of time to stay underwater and look around without needing to go up for a breath. Normal limitations underwater include the amount of time just one breath can last, but scuba divers have many breaths in just one cylinder.

Although we must breath continuously for safety reasons, being able to breath allows you to spend around 10 to 30 times longer underwater or even more with good technique. This makes scuba divers comparably unencumbered by the limitations experienced when not on scuba, or a rebreather for that matter.

Enjoying Neutral Buoyancy

Probably never going into Space? probably not going to be an astronaut? Join the club….BUT WAIT! What about Scuba Diving?

The affect of being neutrally buoyant underwater when scuba diving is so much like being in Space, that in fact astronauts training, involves some type of scuba diving. So don’t sweat it, if you are never going to space, you can enjoy similar sensations when exploring the untouched beauty of our underwater world. Oh yes, back to Enjoying Neutral Buoyancy..

Body and Mind

Floating on the surface when swimming is great fun, Neutral Buoyancy underwater is 10 times the fun! When you get it “dialled in”, you can hover effortlessly and do this at any depth. Neutral Buoyancy literally takes the weight off both physically and philosophically too! Your body and equipment feels like it weighs nothing, you sink into the moment and your stresses melt away. You relax your arms, legs, neck.. forget your problems, you name it. You can just let go.

The Fluid Nature of things

Underwater everything slows down a notch. But as we have discussed, moving around underwater, for divers and marine life alike, is a different experience to how it works on land. Things are no longer rigid, rather movement is much smoother and even delayed. The smallest movement enacts an uninhibited reaction. A kick with your fin, twists you around in an unanchored way. Moving around underwater takes time to get used to and to master. The process and mastery is a great joy.

Watch fish and other underwater life move around, it’s almost like a delayed slow motion version of what happens out of the water. Or even compared to on the surface. Moving around underwater takes smooth, deliberate and fluid movements. Limited only by the pressure you can exert against the fluid water around you.

Naturing is a thing

You heard it here first and it’s not just a play on words. Getting out in nature is something that we all benefit from. Historically something taken for granted, now we often live our daily lives mostly cut off from nature. That is bad for you too. So we now have this thing called “Naturing” which involves just purely being in nature. You find this underwater, with all it’s surroundings, with in an extra layer of untouched nature. Only those participating can enjoy and benefit from this first hand.

We all know that sense of wellbeing after diving and this is part of of why.

31 August 2025 2:44 pm

If you have dived during the colder months while wearing a wet suit, you may have experienced loss of feeling in your hands and feet, and what is called an ‘ice-cream headache’ around the upper forehead area. When you try and undo your regulator from your cylinder, your fingers have lost feeling and you use your hands like claws. Warming up in a vehicle with the heater running can be painful for a while until your circulation returns to normal. It is interesting that during the winter we willingly experience this shut down by the body because we enjoy diving so much.

If we look at what is happening we quickly realise that what we are experiencing is a safety response by the brain when the body gets cold. Millions of people experience extreme cold in this world, The wise ones dress for the temperature so they lose as little body temperature as possible. Ideally, we should seek shelter and warmth before we get cold enough to lose circulation. When the body starts to lose temperature, the brain will restrict the flow of blood to the extremities such as our arms, hands, legs and our feet. The flow of warm blood is restricted to our brain and vital organs.

When we begin our dive, our circulation is fully functioning. As we descend, the nitrogen absorbed in our bodies will compress and that space will be taken up by more nitrogen from each breath we take. Once we have reached our dive depth, our nitrogen levels within our fast tissue will quickly reach saturation, while our slower tissue will take longer towards saturation. As we continue with our dive in cold water, our body temperature will drop and the circulation to our extremities will slow.

As we ascend, the pressure around us will reduce and the absorbed nitrogen gas will normally be safely removed during our slow ascent and safety stop. If we are cold, that process will not happen normally as our lack of circulation will prevent the release of nitrogen gas into our blood meaning that gas will form into bubbles which will remain trapped in our tissue. That can lead to decompression sickness or the Bends!

A drysuit is one excellent way of making your winter dives safer. A drysuit is designed to keep you DRY. It has seals around the wrists and neck and separate hood and gloves. Everything other than your head and hands are dry. Under the suit you would wear an undergarment, thinner during summer and thicker during winter. The undergarment traps a layer of air and that is what you heat to keep your body warm. Besides being safer, it takes 20% less energy to heat a body in a drysuit than it does in a wetsuit. Undergarments like ‘Fourth Element’ also wick any moisture, such as sweat, away from the skin to the outer layer of the garment.

During the drysuit dive you will maintain the circulation in your arms and legs, so your head and hands stay warm as well. Dry gloves are an option if you have circulation problems with your hands and thicker hoods are available. More importantly, on ascent, nitrogen in your tissue will release normally from your tissue into your blood and out safely through your lungs. The side benefit of a safe drysuit dive is you will also be warm and comfortable!

18 August 2025 7:58 am

You’re out diving with your local dive group, buddy or on a dive trip and something goes wrong, somebody is a little tired and cannot swim in, falls unconscious or is having trouble at some stage during the dive. Would you know what to do without getting yourself into danger at the same time?

What can you do already?

You can do a tired diver tow now that you are an open water diver and use an alternate air source, these skills are there to keep you safe in a personal emergency but what if a diver is becoming panicked or unconscious? How do you perform CPR in the water or is that even possible? How do you best keep yourself safe while helping a dive buddy or other diver having trouble, or worse, in trouble!

Knowing what to do in these and other scenarios can become the difference between a serious injury or death instead of just an uncomfortable situation handled correctly by a PADI Rescue Diver. We learn that breathing underwater with scuba gear is a privilege to be taken seriously. We also understand that however natural a place it becomes after a few dives, it should be enjoyed with an appreciation for the simple fact that it is not our natural habitat. So it makes sense to get the appropriate diver ratings that include the knowledge and skills to help keep diving a healthy experience to be enjoyed time and time again.

Getting PADI Rescue Diver certified

Getting PADI Rescue Diver certified is also loads of fun! Diver safety is about being comfortable and confident as much as knowing what to do if something went wrong. Being knowledgeable about what can happen builds confidence and an understanding of dive safety. This prevents accidents from happening or becoming serious. Also having the peace of mind from positive experiences helps everybody to stop and think before they act in a challenging scenario.

Trying to simulate rescue scenarios for the first time with your class mates brings out the best of novice acting… or just plain funny situations. Hence Rescue Diver is referred to as fun and rewarding along with the increased safety and awareness.

Getting PADI Rescue Diver certified at NZ Sea Adventures encompasses state of the art PADI eLearning, skill development in our on-site diver training pool plus a day performing scenarios and skills in the Open Water. Our staff are experienced professionals who put your comfort and safety first, this way you can enjoy the best learning environment. There is a recent first aid certificate required so we offer a reduced “Medic First Aid” course in line with a Rescue Diver program when needed.

With a little online study and a fun filled, challenging and rewarding weekend at NZ Sea Adventures. You will leave feeling like a completely new diver! You will be another step closer to becoming a PADI Master Scuba Diver, have greater confidence and experience backed up by First Aid and PADI Rescue Diver skills.

3 July 2025 2:33 pm

The ocean holds many mysteries to explore. With the PADI Deep Diver course/certification you will be able to explore even more underwater, be it reefs or some of the deeper shipwrecks.

After your first few scuba dives, you soon want to explore a bit deeper. There’s something exciting and mysterious about the depth that attracts divers. Many of the more well preserved shipwrecks lie at deeper depths, learn how to get down there and back safely by taking the PADI Deep Diver Specialty.

During the course we show you techniques for diving in the deeper range of 18-40 metres/ 60-130 feet and discuss Deep SCUBA diving equipment considerations. You gain valuable experience in planning, organizing and making deep dives under the supervision of a PADI Instructor.

To take the course you must have an Adventure Diver certification and be at least 15 years old. Adventure Diver is 3 dives of the Advanced Open Water Course or 3 specialty ratings, or if you are an Advanced Open Water Diver then you are good to go!

All our specialties run regularly year round. Our training staff can work out an individual schedule for the specialty courses that interest you.

For the dives we head to one of the many local dive sites or can tie it in with one of our dive trips. Let us know when it works best for you and we’ll work it in.

How do I sign up?

30 May 2025 2:07 pm

An exciting and growing PADI Club offers some great benefits for Scuba Divers. Benefits include annual subscription to Scuba Diver Magazine and ongoing resources to help your diving. Things like discounts on PADI merch’, Speaker Series, DAN Diver Safety, Special eCard offers and a PADI ReActivate eLearning each year make this a valuable investment toward your diving.

Your PADI ReActivate eLearning with each renewal has up-to-date diving knowledge which you can use toward your Refresher course in store at New Zealand Sea Adventures to refresh your dive skills and gain a ReActivated PADI Diver certification. Also, any certified diver, Open Water Diver or equivalent from another training agency can also enjoy these benefits and gain PADI certification.

5% of every PADI Club Membership supports global ocean conservation and marine animal protection through PADI AWARE Foundation.

PADI Club Joining Options:

PADI Website $59.90AUD
With Con-ed; We offer PADI Club for just $20 when purchased with one of our continuing education courses – Advanced Open Water,Rescue Diver and certain Specialty Courses.
PADI Club Membership can be purchased on its own through New Zealand Sea Adventures for just $50.00NZD.

PADI Club membership is renewable yearly.

PADI Club is NOT required for Courses, Dive Days, Night dives or any other product or service through NZ Sea Adventures.

18 May 2025 10:47 am

The Best PADI Specialty Courses: Your Roadmap to Scuba Mastery

Choosing the right PADI Specialty courses can feel a bit daunting. You may find yourself asking which courses to start with, which offer the most dives, or which ones will fast-track you to that coveted Master Scuba Diver rating. In this guide, we break down your options with practical advice on course selection, scheduling, and maximizing diving time.

Which order should you do Specialties?

Some specialties come with specific prerequisites—such as a minimum number of logged dives or even an Advanced Open Water rating. It’s a smart move to begin with courses that reinforce your core skills. Classes like Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Navigation, or PADI AWARE not only refine your fundamentals but also pave the way for more challenging dives such as Search & Recovery, Wreck Diving, or Underwater Imaging.

At New Zealand Sea Adventures, experienced instructors work closely with you, ensuring you’re comfortable and confident underwater.

Which Courses Offer the Most Dive Experience?

Ultimately, diving is about time beneath the waves—and specialty courses are a great way to maximise that experience:

Four-dive specialties: Courses like PADI Search & Recovery, Deep Diver, and Wreck Diving often incorporate four dives, especially if you haven’t completed your Advanced certification.
Three-dive specialties: Options such as Night Diving, Underwater Navigation, and Self Reliant Diving typically involve three dives.
Two-dive specialties: Many popular choices—Peak Performance Buoyancy, Drysuit Diving, and Drift Diving—are designed as two-dive courses while still offering excellent value.

New Zealand Sea Adventures ensures that every course is structured to provide maximum underwater time without overwhelming your schedule. Our tailored approach gives you the dives you’re looking for while honing your overall skills.

Fast-Tracking Your Master Scuba Diver Rating

If reaching Master Scuba Diver is your ultimate goal, you’ll want specialties that combine efficiency with effective skill-building. While shorter courses might seem ideal due to their time demands, availability and local conditions are also factors. When weather or instructor schedules limit your options, courses like Enriched Air Nitrox, Equipment, or Emergency Oxygen Provider deliver great training in a shorter span.

At New Zealand Sea Adventures we are particularly skilled at offering those value-packed courses. With deep local knowledge and a focus on personalised training, we can help you map out the most effective path to Master Scuba Diver status—tailored entirely to your interests and diving habits.

Why Every Course is a Win

Diving education isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s about enhancing every dive you take. Every new specialty, regardless of how often you use the specific skills, boosts your confidence and enriches your underwater adventures. Plus, as you build up your skill set, you become a more comfortable and knowledgeable dive buddy, ready to share insights on those uniquely Kiwi dive sites.
At New Zealand Sea Adventures, the emphasis is on continuous learning, community involvement, and creating memorable experiences. Our approach ensures that every course offers not only current knowledge and skills but also a joyful dive experience that complements your passion for the underwater world.

Ready to take the plunge? With New Zealand Sea Adventures guiding your journey, you’ll soon find yourself better prepared and even more excited about every dive. Whether you’re aiming to complete a few specialty courses or fast-track your way to Master Scuba Diver, our expert Instructors are ready to support you every step of the way.

17 May 2025 2:46 pm

Tips and Hints:

Getting your PADI Master Scuba Diver rating

Finding the time to get out diving after your course with a dive instructor can be hard, you’ve got all those other things which come up that just don’t seem to let you get away, but there is a way….

Make time:

The answer is simpler than you think. What you need to do is make your next dive course one of the things that just come up. Set in your schedule that you need to do your Advanced, Rescue or a Specialty course/s of your choice and you are good to go. Make just one step at a time if you need to, it makes it easier to fit in and soon enough you’ll be out diving regularly and it won’t seem like it’s affecting anything at all.

Get certified:

Getting the certifications for your Master Scuba Diver rating is as simple as finding out when the next course is. Set the dates aside early, to make sure you are free, and contact the dive store to book your place. eLearning for core level courses and some Specialty courses like EANx, Peak Performance Buoyancy and many others can be done in your own time. Make time for a few hours of relaxed study once or twice a week and before you know it, you’re ready for the pool or Open Water dives of your next course.

The staff at NZ Sea Adventures love finding ways to get dive courses in during the week too so can be flexible to meet your required schedule.

Take the opportunities and book in early:

Open Water Diver courses are run regularly but it pays to get in when you can for your Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver courses. These are a little less frequent but like Specialty courses can also be run on request! Specialty ratings are a great way to build quality underwater experience and certifications with your dive instructor; most are available locally with a minimum of 1-2 people and up to 8 people (divers) per course and sometimes more for non diving specialties.

Dive, Dive, Dive, Dive, Dive…

Dive Trips are a great way to log some serious diving. Take a look at our Specialties page for more on Specialty courses, call, email or even better; stop by our store for a chat/tea or coffee and to book in the courses you want to do. Make sure you come along for our dive days for some regular local diving in between as well!

The wanders of the Underwater Word are waiting to be explored, get in and book your next dive course today.

DIVE DAYS SPECIALTY COURSES CORE COURSES

3 May 2025 1:26 pm

Have you ever gone out at Night and felt the excitement in the air? That’s what Night Diving is like except much more exhilarating! Entering the water by torch light is a thrill to say the least. It is a great way to explore and experience the excitement and awe of the underwater world as it takes on a whole new form.

Your SCUBA gear all works the same except for your dive lights, if you don’t normally use a dive light/torch then you will need a good one. The more powerful the more you will be able to see.

From the moment you enter the water your senses go on high alert. With only the light of your dive torch to guide you, the value of your dive skills becomes incredibly clear. Buoyancy control, air management and underwater navigation skills are all put into practice.

Your torch picks up all the colours that are normally hidden by the light being filtered from the surface during the day. Everything looks spectacular like during the day except better! Signalling your dive buddy and other divers is different too because nobody can see your hands.

Fish and other marine life behave differently too.

Sleepy fish are a lot more relaxed so prepare for some really close encounters. Species that stay hidden away during the day come out and show themselves too. You’ll see what appear to be new species and get a better look at other marine life, they too come out in the open during the night, who are normally hidden away during the day.

After a good Night dive you can be left feeling nothing short of elated. Your mind keeps going over the dive and everybody has plenty to talk about. Being Night Diving is a little different you can log the dive knowing you’ve achieved something special.

So give it a go. Try Night Diving as part of your Advanced Open Water course, maybe as an individual “Adventure Dive”. For the expert and those wanting the best of what there is to know and understand, then the PADI Night Diver Specialty is the way to go.

Your SCUBA gear all works the same except for your dive lights, if you don’t normally use a dive light/torch then you will need a good one. The more powerful the more you will be able to see.

Fish and other marine life behave differently too.

17 February 2025 3:08 pm

Diving and Hydration

When it comes to diving and hydration, many divers believe that a big drink of water before a dive will keep them hydrated. This may result in a near-bursting bladder during the dive – it doesn’t hydrate you.

One of the leading preventatives of the Bends, or Decompression Sickness (DCS), is hydration. About 60% of our total body mass is fluid and in diving we lose some of this fluid through sweating. When we exercise, we generate heat and sweat glands secrete water to the skin surface, where the heat is evaporated. This process cools us but also steadily reduces our fluid volume. The amount we sweat in diving depends on: the temperature of the water, whether we use a wet suit or a dry suit, the effort required, our fitness level and our gender. Scuba air is cold and very dry so we constantly lose fluid as we heat and moisturise each breathe.

Although you have peed before getting into your wet or dry suit, you might find you want to pee again during or just after the dive. Diving in cold water causes blood in the arms and legs to move to the core of the body. This increases our blood pressure causing fluids to be flushed by urination. As our fluid volume drops during the dive, our blood thickens and that slows nitrogen elimination thus increasing the risk of DCS. This increase in urination, will further lower our absorbed fluid volume. A diver who has not hydrated correctly, could soon have problems.

So, how should we hydrate for diving? We are told our daily intake of fluid should be about 3-4 litres for men and about 2-3 litres for women. The best fluid to hydrate with is water. Slow and gradual hydration is the sensible approach as too much water drunk too quickly just gets flushed through our system. Don’t wait, feeling thirsty means we are DEHYDRATED.

How to keep hydrated

We need to keep up our daily intake of water prior to and during any dive trip. If we lose fluid through sweating, frequent urination, sun burn, sea sickness, multiple dives – or you have been drinking alcohol, drink more water but be sensible about it. So, every morning drink a glass of water when you wake up, then one with each meal. Try to keep to your daily intake. Take a reusable, BPA-free water bottle with measurement markings and drink 250 mls immediately before and after each dive. Fruit is also good as fruit contains water. Aim for 2–4 litres spread evenly through the day. For further advice, talk to your dive medical expert.

31 December 2024 2:14 pm

2025, A year for Scuba Diving.

Like every year, 2025 will be a great year to get out Scuba Diving. There will be days and weeks of great diving at times and a number of marine life around to see. Our oceans are filled with lots of great dive sites to explore and getting underwater will be a great activity for your health and wellbeing.

Opportunities to go diving are everywhere..

Diving around Wellington is easy compared to a lot of places. Our coastlines are home to a variety of topographies and marine life to explore, most are just an easy walk in off the shore! The Taputeranga Marine Reserve in 2025 will have been in place for 17 Years! The Reserve is a popular diving destination and is visited regularly by Scuba Divers, Snorkelers and Freedivers.

Whitirea Park, Rocky Bay and Titahi Bay are some of the easier to get to dive sites around Porirua and offer some great diving. All levels of diver can explore these dive sites and take in the underwater experience.

Our Dive Days give all divers the opportunity to get together and go diving. All you need is your Open Water Diver rating and let us know you are coming.

Take a dive course

Dive Courses are now safer than ever with highly developed safety protocols. The Knowledge and Skills you develop enable you to enjoy a lifetime of Scuba Diving experiences. Our PADI programs are the best in the world and we pride ourselves on maintaining the quality that divers have come to enjoy. 2025 is no different; dive courses through our Dive Shop in Wellington run all year round and you can sign up and be learning on the same day thanks to PADI eLearning. After just a little online study you can get started learning dive skills in our in-store pool and be out in the ocean exploring in no time!

Continuing Education programs like PADI Advanced Open Water are available to improve your diving experiences. You learn better underwater navigation techniques and do a Deep dive! There are three optional scuba dives in the PADI courses we run around the Wellington and Porirua coasts. The can be things like a Wreck dive (very cool), Buoyancy, Imaging, or Underwater Naturalist (learning about and identifying marine life).

Specialty Courses expand on the Advanced Open Water Dives and the Rescue Diver course builds your dive safety skills. You can earn the PADI Master Scuba Diver rating and join the Honours Board to be remembered for ever! The skills you develop here put you in a class of divers with a high level of recreational diving abilities and skills.

High quality dive gear

At New Zealand Sea Adventures, our Dive Gear is state of the art, quality, durable dive gear designed with the New Zealand Diver in mind. We specialise in selecting the best dive gear available at the best prices available that provides the essential components that make your diving better. And none that don’t. Our expert staff know what works and can help you to make the right choices. So that way you have the dive gear that will work best for you.

Keep up to date

PADI ReActivate and Refresher courses are available in 2025 and other options to keep your dive skills up to date. A half day is all that’s needed for a Refresher or ReActivate and even divers certified from a different agency can complete the PADI ReActivate and get a PADI certification for easier recognition. Speciatly courses are great for keeping your diving progressing and give you the opportunity to get advice and assistance from your Instructor too.

Dive Pro and Leadership

PADI Divemaster courses are the ultimate personal development tool for divers. Gain you access to PADI Professional services and hone your dive skills to a professional level. The Knowledge gained durinng the Divemaster course is an invaluable asset that will add to your diving in ways you didn’t think possible.

16 December 2024 3:56 pm

Becoming a Scuba Diver - What to know, do and when.

There are many mysteries to uncover within the underwater realm. Your Dive Instructors yield seemingly otherworldly knowledge and skills that may seem out of reach. There are many important things to learn when becoming a SCUBA diver and knowing what you can do and when is a valuable skill set to learn.

An Absolute Beginner? Learn to Scuba Dive.

Taking the PADI Open Water Diver course is potentially life changing. From here on you may discover (if not already), a whole new passion for diving and the underwater world. You’ll take your first breaths underwater and experience marine life while exploring the beneath the oceans surface for the first time.

You gain lot’s of essential knowledge and skills before heading to the open water for the first time so no need to worry. Plus you’ll be with a PADI Professional SCUBA Instructor who will help make sure you get things right and get the most out of your time underwater. There is little needed to take the PADI Open Water Diver course; some basic swimming skills, a simple Medical Form/check and a little online study is all that’s needed to be fully prepared for your in-water lessons. No prior experience necessary.

Many people take the PADI Open Water Diver course as it is the most popular scuba diver course in the world. You’ll become certified to SCUBA dive unsupervised to a maximum of 18 metres anywhere in the world!

Got your diving "ticket"? What to do next...

Gain some guided diving experience with the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course. Your continuing education courses are even more enjoyable and fulfilling. Your tales of underwater adventures will start to really resonate and you’ll start to gain a sound understanding of what makes a really great dive. There are 5 different dives in the course including Underwater Navigation and a Deep Dive. Your other three dives are optional with some popular dives being Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck, Naturalist, Fish ID and the Night dive.

Once a certified PADI Advanced Open Water Diver you can take the PADI Rescue Diver course. This is an excellent way to hone in your diving safety, especially if you’re looking to get out diving further a field. You’ll refine some of your Open Water Diver skills and learn new Rescue Diver Skills and expertise to keep yourself and others diving safely. Never long for a dive buddy again as certified PADI Rescue Divers also make great dive buddies, and everybody knows this too.

When the underwater world starts to become your second home.

Have no fear, you’ve only explored the first minute percentage of the underwater world… There is so much to see and do underwater that it’s best to do or start just about anywhere. You’ll never miss a thing if you’re moving forward with PADI Specialties. Every rating builds a knowledge base and certification levels to take you to the very reaches of Recreational Diving. You can learn more about the underwater world and your Equipment with Naturalist and Equipment Specialties. Plus there’s Enriched Air Nitrox diving, Underwater Archaeology and many more.

The PADI Master SCUBA Diver rating highlights and acknowledges a Diver who has achieved Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, 5 PADI Specialty Diver ratings and 50 or more logged SCUBA Dives. The accomplishment is highly sought after and divers with this rating are said to be among the elite divers who are able to dive with the best and at the best dive sites around the world.

5 November 2024 4:19 pm

Great Christmas Gift Ideas for Divers

Christmas Gift Ideass…. Visit our store or shop online (hint, shopping in store gives you more options..) for that diver, family member or friend. Gift Vouchers are available plus the many of the essentials and fun extra bits of gear. A dive course also makes a great Christmas Gift. Don’t forget to drop some hint’s for yourself too..

Dive Boots, Gloves, Gear Bags, Catch Bag’s and lights make up the “socks and undies” of diving gifts. Regular divers will often be in need of replacements either now or in the future so these staples are an easy go-to Christmas Gift Idea as with Air Fill Cards too. Aspiring Spear-fishers might like a leg-up with one of our quality Rob Allen Spear Guns which come with a stack of features and upgrade options. Like gloves and boots or even booties; wetsuits also need replacing occasionally and are sometimes left a little longer than is desirable.

SCUBA Gear is a must and although with good care and maintenance it lasts particularly well.. There is nothing quite like a new modern style BCD or that first set of kit makes a great gift too. Weight integrated BCDs have earnt a strong following for comfort and convenience while diving. New Atlantis Regulators offer excellent performance and serviceability at very competitive price too! Dive Computers are a must and the Shearwater range in store has all the best features. From the Peregrine to the Teric there’s something for Recreational Divers, Tech Divers and Freedivers too.

We stock a quality range of Terminal Tackle with Rod and Reel combos that are popular Christmas Gifts. We can help you put together a “Fishing Pack” for your friend or family member. Pick from our selection of hand fishing tools and add-ons to add that bit of convenience to someones fishing kit.

Visit our bright yellow store at 9 Marina View in Mana, Porirua today for a great Christmas gift.. or two.

25 October 2024 4:28 pm

When to get your Dive Kit

Should I get my own dive gear?
Is hiring dive gear as convenient as I think?
What part’s of my kit should I be considering at different levels?
What if I plan to dive locally and or travel?

Lot’s of new and even experienced divers can get find themselves asking some or all of these questions about what dive gear is best rented or owned. Either for local diving or while traveling, what is a good idea to take with you and what should be rented? As a reputable Dive Store and Diver Training Centre we are well placed to help you pick the right gear at the right times. Our services offer the best convenience for both your current diving and diving in the future. So…

Mask, Snorkel, Fins and Boots.. Gloves?

Certainly at any stage, a Mask, Snorkel, Fin’s and even Dive Boot’s and Glove’s and are a great purchase to get you started. Even if you’re Snorkeling or just giving scuba diving a go, chances are you’ll enjoy it more with a quality piece of dive gear that’s hand picked to suit you. Once you have these you’ll always be that little bit more set up and “ready to go” when diving and snorkelling opportunities come your way. Plus have the added confidence of knowing your kit better too.

Wetsuit’s and Drysuits

Another piece of Dive Kit you should consider early on is your Wetsuit or Drysuit. These come in a variety of styles and thicknesses. A good fitting Wetsuit with the features you need will add a considerable amount of comfort to your Snorkeling, Free-diving and SCUBA diving. We have all the common Wetsuit types in quality brands made using environmentally friendly methods too.

Or in temperate water like Wellington, you might consider a Drysuit for your diving. These are able to be adjusted by the amount of thermal undergarments to keep you warm in any climate. You can purchase a Drysuit to learn to dive in and take the Drysuit Diver Specialty at the same time. Any certified dive can take the PADI Drysuit Diver Specialty at any stage.

Camera’s, Bags and Gadgets

You’ll need a good dive bag for your dive gear. There are bag’s available made from Mesh to keep your smaller dive kit items together like Mask, Fins etc. Right through to gear bag’s for full Spearfishing or Scuba kit. Weight bag’s are handy for dive weights and travel bags when planning overseas trips. When should you get an underwater Camera? Once you’re comfortable doing the activity then an Underwater Camera is a priceless accessory. Capture those experiences to share for a lifetime and snap photo’s of your favourite marine life as you go. Torches are helpful for SCUBA divers especially, these are a great addition to your kit to help bring light to darker crevices , Night Diving, Wreck Diving and much more..

Safety item’s like a dive knife are required for certified divers as with safety sausages and SMB’s (Surface Marker Buoys) for SCUBA diving are an important item to carry also. We have a custom SMB Specialty Course where you can learn how to operate these from under the water too. Surface signaling devices like a whistle or a DiveAlert are a must as well.

SCUBA Gear?

You’re a certified Diver, should you get your own set of SCUBA gear? During your Open Water Diver course you’ll learn what’s needed to get you started and become certified to SCUBA dive with a buddy. Learning what work’s for you take’s experience and likely if you plan to dive for many year’s you’ll end up replacing things and upgrading too. Some divers hire the SCUBA gear initially until they are better set up for and convinced it’s something they want to do regularly.

If you’re looking at continuing through to PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, PADI Rescue Diver and Specialty Diving courses etc. then having your own SCUBA gear adds comfort, convenience and saves you money along the way. Getting your own SCUBA Kit will also helps you fine tune your kit for longer dives and better dives! This also allows you the freedom and convenience to go diving when it suits you, saving you time not having to organise kit for each diving excursion along the way too.

Some essential items for your SCUBA kit include:

A hard wearing, comfortable BCD, preferably Weight Integrated.
Regulator’s; 1st Stage, Primary, Alternate Air Source and a Gauge or Computer. (Dive Computer’s like a wrist option are generally preferable and are sometimes even purchased before a SCUBA Kit. This is particularly true if you’re doing deep and/or multiple dives in a day and multi-day dive trips.
Dive Safety Knife in case of entanglement.
Signalling Devices; Both surface and some underwater options are available.
An SMB or Safety Sausage are important.
Don’t forget a dive bag too.

Dive Tanks.. To buy or to rent?

If you’re going to be diving locally then you might want to look at purchasing your own dive tank or tanks. As with your SCUBA gear, the convenience is second to none, plus you can choose from a greater range including Steel, Aluminium and the size to suit your diving style too. For the occasional dive or when it come’s to dive travel, often renting is a better option. Just remember your weights needed for each cylinder type and wetsuit thickness or drysuit and undergarment configuration.

Going Sidemount or Technical Diving?

You will need a Modular BCD System like our Atlantis or Dive Rite Transpac options and different Regulator configurations too. At these levels our range of options can be configured to suit all divers and situations. Talk to us in store for the right gear for you. Certainly the availability of hire equipment at this level will be very minimal or non-existent so your own Sidemount and Technical Diving gear is almost a given.

Summary

Getting gear with each dive course is an excellent idea, you’ll not only be more comfortable but you’ll learn how to use it correctly. If you’re confident in your abilities, just want a set of kit or to try stuff on your own then of course any time while becoming suitable certified or afterwards is fine. The right answer is different for everybody. Talk with and source your gear from a reputable dive store. NZ Sea Adventures offers as much or as little advice and training as is needed with any dive gear or courses.

7 September 2024 1:14 pm

What does it mean to be a PADI Divemaster?

A PADI Divemaster is a diver with a great understanding of diving physiology, physics, practical knowledge, equipment and enhanced diving skills; but there is even more to it than that. Being a PADI Divemaster is knowing your fellow divers better and being able to easily integrate into any diving situation and dive group in a profoundly positive way.

Imagine almost being able to see things before they happen, being looked to for advice and direction by other divers and seen as an experienced, skilled and knowledgeable diver. A Divemaster is a diver who can also “see through the fog” in a lot of ways too. Knowing when to help another diver and when not to is a great skill to have. The confidence and skills you gain enable better diving experiences both for your own diving and when diving as part of a diving group is second to none.

Skills, confidence, knowledge, respect and safety are all benefits that qualified PADI Divemasters enjoy. On top of this there is also the professional benefits through PADI that include exceptional professional support and access to a great range of resources to benefit your diving and if you choose, a career as a PADI Professional Diver.

You will learn more about yourself as you develop dive briefing and dive management skills that increase your leadership abilities. Taking on Divemaster skill development and tasks is a great personal development tool. We all need to grow and learn as we progress through life. With Divemaster training you can do so more easily by learning about and understanding your own personal strengths and how to put them into action for yourself and for other divers too. By opening yourself up to the challenges during your Divemaster course, you’ll find the process an unforgettable and unmatched tool for personal development.

Don’t waste any more time thinking about it, invest in expanding your own diving knowledge, personal development and diving leadership skills by signing up for your PADI Divemaster course.

19 August 2024 10:09 am

Specialty Weekend and Dive Day

There are some exciting course offers scheduled for divers to knock out some key PADI Specialties with our Specialty Weekend on the 7th and 8th of September. Take any one, two or all three specialties and get a dive in on the Sunday as well.

Equipment, Emergency Oxygen and Enriched Air Nitrox contribute greatly to your collection of Specialty ratings. Attend our Equipment Specialty to increase your understanding of dive gear to help keep your diving equipment trouble free. Emergency Oxygen gets you prepared and develops your understanding of diving first aid further. Then EANx/Enriched Air Nitrox, one of the most popular specialties, helps with extending your bottom time and/or increasing your safety around decompression.

Saturday:

PADI Equipment Specialty

8:30am till around midday.

Learn how your dive gear works and a little equipment “first aid” to help keep your dives running smoothly.

PADI Emergency Oxygen Specialty

1pm till around 4pm

Breathe easy—knowing that you know how to recognize illnesses treatable by emergency oxygen.

Earn important Specialty ratings, get yourself closer to Master Scuba Diver and join in on the dive day for a great weekend all about diving! Specialty ratings also get you entries for the free trip for two!

Sunday:

Regular Guided Dive Day

9am to around 1pm

Gain diving experience and get to know some local dive sites with a dive instructor to lead the way.

PADI Enriched Air Diver

Practical from 2pm to 3pm

Extend your bottom time and increase your safety around decompression sickness.

Open 8am to 5pm – 7 Days

Closed Public Holidays

Related

Improved Safety

Greater Confidence

Understand the Underwater World

Skills for Different Conditions and Environments

Better Equipment Selection and Knowledgeable Operation

MORE FUN!!!

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Christmas Presents for Divers

Gear Servicing and Cylinder Testing

Enjoy and Practice SAFE Diving

Have a great Holiday!

Related

Always know how much weight you need

Write down equipment needs and repair notes

Record your milestones

Keep a list of fish sightings

Remember your dive trip

Related

Why take a PADI Rescue Diver course?

Anybody Adventure diver up can take it… ANYBODY

Your skills ARE good to go.

Your dives will NOT be interrupted.

Related

Breathing Underwater

Being Unencumbered

You get time

Enjoying Neutral Buoyancy

Body and Mind

The Fluid Nature of things

Naturing is a thing

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Related

What can you do already?

Getting PADI Rescue Diver certified

Related

How do I sign up?

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Related

The Best PADI Specialty Courses: Your Roadmap to Scuba Mastery

Which order should you do Specialties?

Which Courses Offer the Most Dive Experience?

Fast-Tracking Your Master Scuba Diver Rating

Why Every Course is a Win

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Tips and Hints:

Getting your PADI Master Scuba Diver rating

Make time:

Get certified:

Take the opportunities and book in early:

Dive, Dive, Dive, Dive, Dive…

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Fish and other marine life behave differently too.

Fish and other marine life behave differently too.

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Diving and Hydration

How to keep hydrated

Related

2025, A year for Scuba Diving.

Opportunities to go diving are everywhere..

Take a dive course

High quality dive gear

Keep up to date

Dive Pro and Leadership

Related

Becoming a Scuba Diver - What to know, do and when.

An Absolute Beginner? Learn to Scuba Dive.

Got your diving "ticket"? What to do next...

When the underwater world starts to become your second home.

Related

Great Christmas Gift Ideas for Divers

Related

When to get your Dive Kit

Should I get my own dive gear?

Is hiring dive gear as convenient as I think?

What part’s of my kit should I be considering at different levels?

What if I plan to dive locally and or travel?

Mask, Snorkel, Fins and Boots.. Gloves?