Diploma in Professional Scuba Instruction

Diploma FAQ's

Do I need to know how to dive before the course?

No. No experience is required we will take you right through your certifications starting with basic snorkel-ling lessons, skin diving, and scuba skills.

What are the hours?

Full-time courses run Monday to Thursday 9 am—5 pm. Or Tuesday- Friday 9 am-5 pm. There are some days where you will finish earlier and some night diving required.

Part-time courses are usually held every other weekend 9 am—5 pm. There are also some evenings for night diving.

How strong of a swimming do I need to be?

Every student must be able to swim 200m or snorkel 300m and float/tread water for 10 minutes at the start of the course. Professional level divers (Divemaster) will need to be relatively competent swimmers. 

What equipment must I have?

This depends on the course you are enrolling in. Diploma students are required to have their own full snorkelling package. This includes exposure suit, mask, snorkel, fins, weights, weight belt, gloves, boots, knife, and torches. We have packages available with supporting payment plans for students. Foundation/leadership students will only need the basic gear. Enquire instore for more information.

What are the medical criteria?

All divers in New Zealand, require an RSTC Medical Questionnaire completed and signed off by a Doctor. Professional divers must obtain an OSH medical if working in New Zealand. Aka a COC.

If I have asthma can I dive?

This depends and can only be answered by a qualified doctor.

Where do you dive?

Here in Auckland, we are lucky enough to be surrounded by marine reserves all along the Haruaki Gulf. We dive mostly around Leigh. Dive sites include; Jones Bay, Goat Is-land, Ti Point and Mathesons Bay. There are also excursion trips around the North Island, which include overnight trips.

What field trips do Dive HQ Auckland have? 

We do four dive trips in the year; Lake Taupo, Rainbow Warrior, Cape Brett, and the Poor Knights. Transport, accommodation and boat dives are all included.

Is it easy to get a job as a dive instructor?

It's always down to the individual, however, PADI is an internationally recognized certification, allowing you the opportunity to travel with your qualifications. On the PADI website alone, there are approximately 5 –10 new jobs advertised EVERYDAY! Dive HQ Auckland also has contacts and graduates working around the globe and offers placement assistance in request after you have graduated. We will support you in all your efforts to get your dive career going. We have two dive stores in the Auckland area and are also in contact with many centers in Nz, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.

Do you dive in winter?

Yes, our Diploma programmes run over 36 weeks, starting in February and August every year. Here at Dive HQ Auckland, you will have experienced, personalised, equipment fit-outs to ensure that you are diving in gear suitable for you and the environment you will be training in throughout the year.

How old must I be?

Diploma/Leadership students must be 18 years old prior to Divemaster.

How do I enrol?

Simply enquire online or instore and we can organise an interview/application process to get you signed up. Contact us in-store on 09 3073590 or email: info@divehqauckland.co.nz or

text “CAREERS” to 

02102508990 

How much does the equipment cost?

You can apply for up to $1000 course-related costs to go towards your equipment. For the Diploma programme, we have packages starting at $1750. Once certified you will be a professional instructor and it is expected that you have your own dive equipment. It is recommended that you have “hardware” (BCD and Regs) throughout the programme so that you can learn in your own equipment and have that gear to head straight into the industry once certified. Here at Dive HQ Auckland, we have payment plans to support students as they are studying.

For the Foundation/Leadership courses, base costs sit around $699. During your first week, your equipment fit-out will look at what you need specifically for your course.

Is my qualification valid worldwide?

Yes, PADI is the world's largest diver training organization and is active in over 180 countries and territories. Due to NZ diving conditions and year-round diving, divers that train with Dive HQ Auckland, gain experience that will enable them to dive and teach in almost any environment worldwide!

We collect personal information from you, including information about your:

• name
• contact information

 We collect your personal information in order to:

• Send students information on our courses

Providing some information is optional. If you choose not to enter contact details, we'll be unable to send them course information.

You have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of your information or to have it corrected, please contact us at info@divehqauckland.co.nz, or 093073590, or 101 Beaumont Street Westhaven Auckland 1010.