Paihia Dive is the Bay of Islands only specialist scuba diving charter and dive rental shop.
Experience scuba diving adventures to the stunning Rainbow Warrior wreck with our state-of-the-art dive RIB, the ‘Aka Maru.’ A quick 8-minute journey from the shore takes you to the dive site, ensuring a swift and convenient transition to underwater exploration.
Explore a greater number of Bay of Islands dive sites with us than any other diving company in New Zealand. Immerse yourself in the enchanting and pristine locations that define the magic of the Bay of Islands!
We are also Paihia’s premier fishing tackle shop with a huge range of fishing equipment suitable for beginners to expert game fishermen.
Bay of Islands Diving
Paihia Dive is the far north’s premier dive shop and it’s our great pleasure to show you all the wonders of this beautiful part of Aotearoa New Zealand.
We offer trips to the spectacular Rainbow Warrior – jewel of the north – aboard our boat which only takes 10 minutes to reach the dive site. Whether you want to explore and enjoy the wonders of the underwater world for the first time or you want to launch an exciting career in the dive industry, we will help you realise those dreams with our experienced instructors offering quality PADI dive courses.
We also have great in store deals on quality dive gear, kayaks, fishing and surfing gear.
Dive the Rainbow Warrior wreck, one of New Zealand’s premiere wreck dives
The Rainbow Warrior was Greenpeace’s flagship on its way to protest France’s nuclear testing on the Mururoa Atoll when it was sunk by French saboteurs on July 10, 1985, in Auckland Harbour. Three years after the bombing Greenpeace gifted the Warrior to the sea and she now lies as an artificial reef in the Cavalli Island group, a refuge for the marine life she was sunk trying to protect. At a max depth of 27m the Warrior is now home to a huge variety of aquatic life and is a world renowned dive site. Paihia Dive was there for the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and has been leading dive trips to this historic wreck since 1987. No one has logged more dives on it than Craig.
HMNZS Canterbury Ship Wreck
Former HMNZS Canterbury lies in Deepwater cove at the entrance to the Bay of Islands. 114 meters long she lies in one of the most stunning and sheltered locations in the Bay. Accessible almost every day, a trip to Deepwater Cove will take you through the heart of the Bay of Islands. Paihia Dive is an official operator on a Canterbury trip. Paihia Dive helped organise the sinking of the ex-HMNZS Canterbury wreck in Deep Water Cove and has been offering dives at this iconic site ever since.
The Bay of Islands offers some of New Zealand’s best snorkeling, featuring a marine reserve at Deep Water Cove with stunning reefs, abundant fish, and breathtaking scenery. Here, you can even feed the fish, attracting Sandagers wrasse and large snapper close as you explore the reef.
With water temperatures between 18°C and 23°C in summer, we provide comfortable 5mm wetsuits so you can stay out all day. Feel free to bring your own gear, too!
