Paihia Dive
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Paihia Dive is the best little dive shop in the Bay of Islands and it’s our pleasure to show you all the underwater wonders of this beautiful part of NZ. We offer trips to the spectacular Rainbow Warrior aboard our fully equipped dive RIB 'Aka Maru', which takes only 7 minutes from the shore to reach the dive site. Dive The HMNZS Canterbury, New Zealand’s last Frigate to be purpose sunk for diving. Sunk 11 years ago, she is covered in jewel anemones and sponges. This wreck is massive and well worth diving! Dive the Bay of Islands with the longest running dive charter operation. Paihia Dive has been taking divers under since 1978, and Craig has been diving in the Bay for 25 years. For a true local experience join Paihia Dive for a day diving. Learn to dive with the best! Paihia Dive is a PADI 5 Star Dive Centre. All our dive courses are taught by experienced instructors, and the classes are nice and small. Start your Open Water Course today!
Paihia, New Zealand
Meets animal welfare guidelines

Awards
Travelers' Choice
2023

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Travelers talk about
(169 reviews)
(52 reviews)
(14 reviews)

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles525 reviews
Excellent
481
Very good
35
Average
5
Poor
4
Terrible
0

Adam S
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
Great dive team/staff. Very knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile for you. Beautiful places to dive. Highly recommend!
Written March 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Martin K
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
Excellent, professional dive operation.
Friendly, and efficient.
Relaxed,safe, fun diving.
Perfect dive group,for paihia and surrounding area.
Thanks for a great time.
All the best Martin and Gill..(UK)
Written February 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LesleyandGraeme
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Solo
These guys were amazing, I got picked up from my cruise ship and did 2 fantastic dives 1 on the Canterbury and a reef dive with loads of life.
I will definitely use them again.
Written February 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Georgia T
London, UK47 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Friends
Had the most fantastic and wonderful time diving with the Paihia Dive team. My friend and I had done the Poor Knights not too long before with a different company and left feeling a little disappointed that it wasn't all it had cracked up to be but both the Rainbow warrior and Cantebury wreck (plus the 2nd shallower reef dives on each respective day) where such wonderful sites and the whole experience made even better by the team being professional, endlessly funny and great company.

Would 100% recommend dive Paihia over any other company to anyone thinking of diving around NZ.

Especially if Craig and Kat are involved, absolute pair of legends.
Written February 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

l0ve2travel93
London, UK230 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
Great snorkelling trip! My partner dives, but I don’t so this was a great option for him to dive and me to snorkel.

We got to the shop for 7.45am, had set off by 8.30am after getting our gear. Went to two different spots and were lucky enough to see some dolphins on the way and we’re back by 2pm so still had some time for other activities.

The crew were all lovely!
Written February 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wendy S
Auckland Central, New Zealand72 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Solo
I dive with this shop every year, and love them! Craig and his team are awesome, everything is so well organised, and as a solo diver, I always feel safe with them. They buddy you up with people of similar skills, so no one gets left out. The dive boat is great, plenty of room for everyone. And if you dive The Rainbow Warrior, getting in and out of the Aka Maru is part of the experience!
Can’t speak highly enough of this dive shop, thanks to Craig, Rob, Sophia, Toby, Byron and Clay.
Written January 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TeM
Munich, Germany3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
We were driving the Canterbury wreck and a close by reef dive with Dive Paihia, and both were incredibly beautiful dives. The Canterbury is well preserved, with big openings made to fit divers, so you can dive in and out of different rooms without hustle. Most beautiful, I find, are the colorful anemones growing on the wreck. Amazing!
But also the second dive was incredible; so much friendly (they come up really close!) fish, swaying kelp, nudis.. so much to see!
And everything else was great as well: personnel, equipment, boat, planning, briefings, info given on animals, guides always in a good mood. I had a great time! Would always recommend this company to anyone wanting to dive in Paihia! Thank you guys!
Written January 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Boyce R
Kansas City, MO12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Solo
After plotting out my itinerary in New Zealand, the very next thing I did was start researching dive shops in Paihia for my ventures out to the HMNZS Canterbury and the Rainbow Warrior. When I settled on Paihia Dive, my initial interactions with Craig were incredibly helpful as he guided me through the process and his suggestions for my dive plan while in country. He was also kind enough to provide a rental discount for the array of gear I brought with me. In addition, when I was in New Zealand, I lost a dive light due to a loose manufacturer's knot, and Hamish was kind enough to start a successful search pattern to reacquire. Indeed, from Craig to Hamish to Kat, each of the dive masters at Paihia Dive were absolutely exceptional. The wreck dives were well planned and incredibly beautiful. Be sure to get Craig to bring his camera! Should I ever return to New Zealand, Paihia Dive will be at the top of my list.
Written January 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NorthStar42748054758
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Solo
Amazing team who ensured all different levels of divers were given the best available dive adventures , very knowledgable got some great pictures of Rainbow Warrior but unfortunately not with HMS Canterbury , Cest le vive delicately recommend for anyone wishing to dive in bay of islands
Written January 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brian W
Romsey, UK124 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
Craig and his team were excellent at managing a variety of levels of scuba comfort/skill of their customers.
You get to see some pretty spectacular stuff and Craig and team know a lot about marine.
They make it a great fun and informed adventure.
Highly recommend
Written January 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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PAIHIA DIVE - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)