3 Day Open Water Dive Course
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
Select a highlighted day to see live departure times and the exact price for your group.
Non-refundable booking. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 8 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is 3 Day Open Water Dive Course worth booking?
3 Day Open Water Dive Course is a 72-hour experience in Auckland, New Zealand, from $699 per person. It scores 62 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 8 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 62 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (8)
- Duration
- 72 hours
- From
- $699 per person
Take your Open Water certification in the beautiful waters of New Zealand. Gain an international recognized certification that will allow you to dive anywhere in the world. Take advantage of the opportunity to dive in so
What you get
- Certification fees
- All equipment hire
- Dives from our charter boat
About this experience
Take your Open Water certification in the beautiful waters of New Zealand. Gain an international recognized certification that will allow you to dive anywhere in the world. Take advantage of the opportunity to dive in some of the most spectacular diving areas anywhere. The course is fully inclusive of all of the gear hire, all certification fees & 4 open water dives. Theory is taken online at your own convenience. All you have to do is turn up! We are able to offer you both the highly acclaimed SSI and SDI certifications. Courses are also available as weekend courses.
What's included
Included
- Certification fees
- All equipment hire
- Dives from our charter boat
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transportation to/from attractions
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Auckland
Day 1: We'll meet at the pool around 9:45am, we will confirm the location after booking (most likely Newmarket, Auckland). Day 2 and 3: We'll meet at 8:30 at our dive shop in Warkworth
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Day 1: We'll meet at the pool around 9:45am, we will confirm the location after booking (most likely Newmarket, Auckland). Day 2 and 3: We'll meet at 8:30 at our dive shop in Warkworth
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- New Zealand Diving Ltd
Know before you go
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Minimum age is 10 years
- A maximum of 8 people per booking
- Diving within 48 hours of flying is not recommended. All participants will be required to complete a health questionnaire prior to diving. Some pre-existing medical conditions (eg asthma, heart conditions, etc) may prevent you from diving, please consult your doctor
- Swim test: must be able to swim 200m non-stop, any stroke. Must be able to float for 10minutes.
Photos
Traveler reviews
8 verified traveler reviews for 3 Day Open Water Dive Course. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Best experience with NZ diving
New Zealand diving is very cool; I had a lot of fun finishing my open-water course. The staff are very nice and supportive. I was having a hard time finding an available spot in a short time, all other schools were full or the timing was not suitable for me. NZ diving helped me sort out the time, they are very flexible with time, super helpful. This is my first time being underwater, and I was a bit scared and the water temperature was a bit cold for me. But instructor Benjamen has been very patient and thoughtful. I was taken good care of the whole time. He is very thorough with the courses, teaches us several things, keeps us safe, and makes sure we enjoy the diving. Highly recommend NZ diving, hopefully will have time to do some more dives with them.
via Tripadvisor
3-Day open water dive course with NZ diving
Just completed the 3-day open water dive course with NZ Dive and loved every part of the course. Our instructor, Alex, was friendly, professional and fun. NZ Dive also provided all the gear I needed for the course. I learned a lot from Alex especially many finer skills that I was not really expecting to learn about. Alex was always challenging us to improve our technique pay attention to small things, to be safe and to have fun. I would recommend NZ Dive to any person thinking about getting qualified. You will enjoy every minute and feel confident after the course and the open water dives were absolutely amazing. Thanks Alex, Neil, Jan and Jacqui!!!
Response from the operator: Thank you for the positive feedback Rowan! So glad you did your course with us and we're happy you and your family enjoyed your good dive. Thanks for sharing your feedback, we're thankful for amazing customers like you. We hope to see you again soon!
via Tripadvisor
Open water diving course
Neil as the teacher is very calm and patient, I had a lot of fears to overcome. But very much enjoyed learning all the skills. Even in the middle of winter the 7m dive suits kept us warm.
Response from the operator: I think you have achieved a lot and come a long way. We all enjoyed diving with you & your bubbly company! We look forward to diving with you both again
via Tripadvisor
Scuba course
Completed 3 day course a month ago with my 18yp daughter. Planning in advance from Canada was made easy by Jacqui. Great experience! Such professional instruction. Come prepared and ready to learn! Expectations are high, as they should be! Instructors know the area like the back of their hand! Our last big adventure before we fled home to Canada 🇨🇦 due to Covid-19. Would absolutely connect with this company in the future to dive again!! Thanks Neil!! We made it home safely 😊 Nikki
Response from the operator: Thanks for the review Nikki - it was a pleasure teaching you both and we are so happy you got home safe! Come and dive with us again.
via Tripadvisor
Open Water Course - Highly recommend
Just completed the 3 Day open water course with a group of 6 people. The instructor, Neil, was more than accommodating of the varying skill levels within the group and gave an awesome experience. Would highly recommend this to anyone!! Cheers
Response from the operator: Hi Mitchell. Thank you for kind comments, we really appreciate the positive feed back and hope to dive with you again soon :) Cheers
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 72 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- 11+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 3
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 62
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
3 Day Open Water Dive Course: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Auckland.
How much does 3 Day Open Water Dive Course cost?
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Prices start at $699 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Auckland usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does 3 Day Open Water Dive Course take?
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Plan for about 72 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Auckland is not rushed.
Is 3 Day Open Water Dive Course worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 62 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 8 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Auckland, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule 3 Day Open Water Dive Course?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is 3 Day Open Water Dive Course suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 11. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 72-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book 3 Day Open Water Dive Course?
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Around 3 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Auckland can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Auckland and add a light layer if any part of the 72-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does 3 Day Open Water Dive Course start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Auckland within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Auckland?
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On Outty we rank every Auckland experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch, Hobbiton Movie Set Small Group Tour with Cheeky Kiwi Travel, Hobbiton & Waitomo Glowworm Caves Tour with Lunch from Auckland. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Auckland?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Auckland?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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