I don't own a dive shop but I have visited quite a few. Choosing a dive shop can be confusing so I thought I would write a few notes to help you think about it. I am big on safety. There is an old saying that goes "There are old divers and bold divers but there are no old, bold divers". Safety should be your number one concern in choosing a dive shop. Don’t dive with a shop that doesn’t ask to see your certification card or logbook — if they didn’t ask you, they probably didn’t ask anyone, and an ill-trained diver is as dangerous to others as they are to themselves. Feeling comfortable and free to ask questions or raise concerns (of any sort at any time) is a crucial factor in safe diving. There are lots of different people in the dive industry and each shop has a different culture and style. I like to spend a bit of time talking to the people in the shop to get a feel for their passion for diving. I also like to find out a bit about who is leading the dive if I am going out on a boat with them.There are several different schools for diving that can also be a bit confusing. Scuba School International (SSI), Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) or National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI)? ... to name but a few choices. At the end of the day, in my view, the thing that is most important is to learn through a school. Scuba Diving is an extreme sport but with good quality training and experience it gets easier and safer, not to mention, more and more FUN! Equipment is another crucial issue. You should ask to inspect the shop’s equipment, and the dive shop should be quick to comply. If you have done your Advanced Open Water you should be familiar with scuba gear and know how to inspect it. A good dive shop will appreciate your concern, answer any question you have, and be happy to put you at ease. Of course, the most important equipment is not what’s on the rack but what you actually use. Get to the shop early so you have time to double-check your gear. Old gear is not necessarily bad gear, but you should ask for a different BCD, wetsuit, or regulator if the one set out for you makes you uneasy. Do your checks before getting on the boat, so you can swap gear if necessary. Remember, there are no stupid questions! Finally, there are some specific questions you should ask about a shop’s practices. Has their air been tested and certified? Do they carry radios and oxygen? Does the captain always stay with the boat? How many people will be going on your dive? How advanced are they? And how many dive masters or instructors will there be? How experienced are they? Below is a few dive shops that have made me feel at home and assured. I can't guarantee their service or even if they are owned by the same people now. You will have to make your own decision. Ask good questions but most of all ... have FUN! Please feel free to make any comments at the bottom of this page.
Global Dive
offers the best dive training in New Zealand, along with the finest in
diving destinations, operators, resorts, liveaboards and travel, ... Adventure Watersports one of New Zealand's premier diving providers, our water sports include Scuba diving, fishing and boating. Goat Island Dive, Snorkel Goat Island, dive courses, Dive trips ...Come snorkel and dive with Goat Island Dive. We have Snorkel and Dive equipment for hire, PADI Dive Courses and Dive Trips. Only 1 hour from Auckland CBD.Dive TutukakaDiving in New Zealand. Dive with Dive! Tutukaka. Dive the Poor Knights Islands, dive the wrecks Waikato and Tui with Dive! Tutukaka. Tutukaka, New Zealand's ... |