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Marine Academy PADI Scuba Diver Training

A guide for international students, their parents and agents.

The Marine Academy is operating on a Friday during the school term. Attending the Marine Academy means students may miss two or more learning blocks of their other subjects. It is the student’s responsibility to catch up on work missed. There are timetabled learning blocks from Monday to Thursday (2.5 hours) in which students are supervised, providing them with time to focus on other subject areas where needed, if students choose Marine Academy as a 6th subject. 

Students are issued with PADI dive manuals appropriate for the level of training they are about to undertake. There may be students who already have a dive certificate/ qualification/ license. This is very likely to be either the PADI Junior Open Water Diver or an SSI certification. If this is the case they would normally follow the PADI Advanced Diver course. So that we can plan for a student’s arrival, it is helpful if we know what qualifications and experience a student has before they join the Marine Academy program. 

Details we require: 

  • Name
  • Gender 
  • Age 
  • Date of birth 
  • Dive qualification and date certified 
  • Approximante number of dives logged 
  • Date of arrival in New Zealand and number of terms in Marine Academy 

Please bring your certification card, or it can be emailed to the school.

Diver Certifications & Time Required to Complete Training

PADI Dive CertificateTime Required
Open Water Diver
One term of training
Advanced Diver
One term of training
Rescue Diver

One term of training
Training can be completed in any term of the school year (term one, two, three or four).

Application Forms

Dive Medical
Parental Consent
Health Profile & Medical Consent
Marine Academy Student Contract

Diver Training Fees

Programme
Duration		Cost ($NZD)PADI Dive
Certificates
4 terms of training

$5200
Approximately 36 dives will be logged
(includes 3-day Northland dive trip)

3
3 terms of training
(terms 1-3 or 2-4)

$4300
(includes 3-day Northland dive trip)

2
3 terms of training
(terms 3,4 and 1)

$4000

2
2 terms of training
(terms 1-2 or 2-3)

$2900
(includes 3-day Northland dive trip)

2
2 terms of training
(terms 3-4)

$2600

2
1 term of training
(terms 1 or 3)

$1400

1
1 term of training
(term 2)

$1600
(includes 3-day Northland dive trip)

1
1 term of training
(term 4)

$1200

1

Generally speaking, it takes one term to complete any PADI certificate with the Marine Academy. However, it is possible for students to complete the more demanding PADI Advanced & Rescue Diver courses more quickly if required, for example when an international student has less time available. In this situation we would require students to attend one or two weekend training sessions at the Dive Zone, Whitianga Dive Centre. There would be no additional costs associated with this but students must make themselves available on some weekends to guarantee successful course completion.

If a student does run out of time and does not complete a course before returning overseas then PADI has a system in place for them to continue their education elsewhere. There is likely to be an additional cost with payment being paid to the new PADI training facility. We are pleased to say that to date; we have never had to refer a student to another training facility in order to complete their course. 

What to Expect in Term 1

PADI Open Water

Open water divers will have the opportunity to complete 8 dives (4 shore dives and 4 boat dives). Both the practical and theory components will be completed and students will gain their PADI Open Water dive license.

PADI Advanced PADI Rescue

Advanced & Rescue Divers will complete 10 dives (4 shore dives & 6 boat dives) Although students will begin both theory and practical there will not be enough time to complete this course in Term 1. Students are likely to play a leadership role in supporting the novice divers during their training and also refining their own dive skills.

What to Expect in Term 2

PADI Open Water

Students joining the Marine Academy programme this term can complete this course within the term. It is likely that they will have one pool training session, followed by 10 dives (4 shore dives & 6 boat dives). 

PADI Advanced PADI Rescue

There is more diving this term and a focus on ‘adventure dives’ and rescue management skills. Students are likely to log 12 dives (4 shore dives, 8 boat dives). 

Night Diving

As part of the ‘PADI Adventures in Diving’ course all students will be able to go on a night dive. 

What to Expect in Term 3

PADI Open Water

Students joining the Marine Academy programme this term can complete this course within the term. It is likely that students will have one pool training session, followed by 10 dives (4 shore dives & 6 boat dives). 

PADI Advanced PADI Rescue

There is more diving this term and a focus on ‘adventure dives’ and rescue management skills. Students are likely to log 12 dives (4 shore dives, 8 boat dives).

Scallop Season

With the opening of the scallop fishery on the 1stSeptember, students will have the opportunity to dive on a scallop bed and collect the bag limit of 20 scallops.

There is presently a rahui on scallop beds in our area so no scallops will be taken until the rahui is lifted. 

Night Diving

As part of the ‘PADI Adventures in Diving’ course all students who have not already completed a night dive will be able to do so.

What to Expect in Term 4

PADI Open Water

Students joining the Marine Academy program this term can complete this course within the term. It is likely that students will have one pool training session, followed by 6 dives (2 shore dives & 4 boat dives). 

PADI Advanced PADI Rescue

There is more diving this term and a focus on ‘adventure dives’ and rescue management skills. Students are likely to log 8 dives (2 shore dives, 6 boat dives).

Once students have gained mastery in diving they are encouraged to learn more about the marine life that they will encounter on a local dive. We believe that students who have spent two terms diving with the Marine Academy will have logged a range of dive experiences that prepares them well for a lifetime of safe diving practices around the globe. We like to think that our Marine Academy divers are highly respected and a number of our former students are working as instructors in the diving industry, training to become marine scientists or indeed are practicing marine scientists/technicians.

Adventure Dives

‘Adventure dives’ cover:

  • Boat
  • Deep
  • Drift
  • Navigation
  • Night/Limited Visibility
  • Peak Performance Buoyancy
  • Photography
  • Search & Recovery
  • Wreck
Dive Zone Whitianga boat in Mercury Bay, New Zealand

Please note: the number of dives during training and when/where they occur will be related to weather and conditions at sea. 

MBAS HOUSE POINTS

Buffalo 

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Tainui 

0/0

Mercury 

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Matahaorua 

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